TINTON FALLS – The American Red Cross has awarded two grants totaling $2.95 million to the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group and the Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group to support unmet needs following Super Storm Sandy.
The Red Cross grants will be used to repair and rebuild approximately 370 disaster-affected homes to make them safe and secure with sanitary conditions and provide disaster case-management services to help residents achieve long-term, sustainable recovery goals.
“Towns in Ocean and Monmouth County were among the hardest hit by Sandy, and the Red Cross is committed to helping these impacted communities come back stronger and more resilient against future storms,” said Nancy Orlando, regional CEO, American Red Cross South Jersey Region. “By partnering with the Long Term Recovery Groups here, we will continue to support Sandy survivors until all affected residents recover.”
The Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group (MCLTRG) will prioritize and address the needs of Monmouth County residents who have exhausted all other available resources but still have unmet needs as a direct result of Super Storm Sandy. With its $1.1 million Red Cross grant, the MCLTRG will address the greatest of these needs, home repair and rebuilding assistance.
“The generous funding of the Red Cross will help 150 Monmouth County residents repair or rebuild their homes that were damaged or destroyed in the storm,” said Tim Hearne, treasurer of the Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group. “Together, we are enabling our local families to rebuild their homes and their lives.”
Donations to the Red Cross after Super Storm Sandy have led to clear signs of progress and hope throughout New Jersey nearly a year after the storm.
The Red Cross has partnered with numerous organizations to support the recovery of New Jersey families and communities affected by Sandy, including the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Operation Hope, the Points of Light Foundation, Habitat for Humanity International, the Greater New Jersey United Methodist Church, Rebuilding Together, Lutheran Disaster Response, Catholic Charities USA, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, World Renew and NECHAMA Jewish Response to Disaster.
Sandy recovery efforts include housing assistance, case management, mental health services, volunteer coordination and construction services.
Additional New Jersey community grants will be announced in the weeks ahead.
As of Aug. 31, the Red Cross has received $308 million in donations for its Sandy emergency relief and recovery efforts, and has spent or committed $272 million, nearly 90 percent of the donated funds.
More information on the Red Cross Sandy relief and recovery efforts can be found at www.redcross.org/sandy-response.
