By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
 Jacqueline Flores and Willy Klenke discuss work at the Just Be Cuz food pantry on Bangs Avenue in Asbury Park. |
Willy Klenke became disabled from arthritis two years ago and it made all the difference in the 52 year olds life.
I went from employable to unemployable, he said as he helped stock shelves at Just Be Cuz food pantry in Asbury Park Dec. 7.
Klenke worked for 25 years as a glazier at an Asbury Park business before his arthritis became so bad two years ago he was unable to continue working.
Klenke is now homeless and waiting for his Social Security Disability to come through so he can find a place to rent and begin taking care of himself again.
Klenke is now on public assistance and has been placed at a hotel in Eatontown, while his awaits his benefits.
He says half of his monthly intake goes towards his housing, leaving him about $210 per month for food and expenses.
Thats why he found himself at the Just Be Cuz food pantry on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park.
But Klenke who says he never collected unemployment or any kind of assistance in his entire life, is not about to accept something for nothing.
He volunteers as much time as he can to the food pantry and began taking classes twice a week at the Monmouth Ocean FoodBank to learn how to supervise a food pantry and fill out county paperwork so he will be able to process those seeking assistance.
While Klenke has been waiting for his Social Security he says he has been sent to doctors to make sure he is not playing the system.
But Klenke has metal plates in his ankle and slipped discs in his neck, which have caused nerve damage.
The arthritis in his hands is evident, but does not stop him from piling up boxes of food and packing bags for clients.
Im not used to living like this, I had a nice car and a small farm in Howell, he said.
But after needing assistance from Just Be Cuz, Klenke says he wants to return the good will.
They helped me and now Im helping them, he said.
When his Social Security benefits come through, Klenke says he will be able to afford rent at one of the areas senior housing centers.
Although he is only in his early 50s he qualifies for senior housing because of his disability.
You can do anything you put your mind to, Klenke said.
He will be receiving a little over $1,000 from the government and with rent between $250 and $300 per month, figures he will be alright.
He will also be entitled to reduced fairs on NJ Transit so plans to continue helping at Just Be Cuz.
Klenkes story is just one of many that Laura Henry, the founder and manager of Just Be Cuz, hears and is one of the reasons she and her staff go out of their way to make sure all the clients are treated as honored guests when they come to the food pantry.
Theres no shame, Henry said. It could be us any day.
Henry welcomed three men who came in Friday for food as if they were old friends, wishing one, Carl P. Floyd, Sr., a happy birthday.
This is more like a club than a charity, she said. They have a smile when they come and when they go.
Indeed, the atmosphere on this particular Friday was festive as other patrons echoed her sentiments.
They dont make you feel bad when you come here, they dont interrogate you, said a man named Sam, who was hurt on his job as an operator at a water pump station in Ocean County and has been disabled for years.
I love this place, he said. This place is a godsend.
Sam said he was hurt when a cable snapped on an underground elevator at the pump station sending the car he was riding in crashing to the ground.
The accident happened in 1991 and Sam had surgeries performed and tried to return to work, but after several attempts he was finally declared 100 percent disabled in 2000.
I was crushed, he said.
Sam lives in an apartment in Asbury Park, but on his fixed income he is only left with about $200 per month for food and coming to the pantry once a week helps supplement his groceries.
Sam has also used the referral services at Just Be Cuz for counseling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and clothing.
Laura said one time while at the pantry she told Sam she was hungry and did not bring her own lunch.
He went home and came back with a Cool Whip container filled with lasagna for me, she said. And it was still hot.
We dont make them feel humiliated or embarrassed, this is like a once a week meeting place for friends, Henry said, who says she gets as much from her clients as they get from her.
Its the best therapy I stopped taking my blood pressure medicine, I found I can de-stress here, she said laughing.
Client Barry Casrell, has custody of his 13-year-old son and comes to Just Be Cuz on a regular basis not just to pick up food but to volunteer.
I come here to help out, he said as he lifted boxes of food.
Casrell currently lives on general assistance, but says it is simply not enough.
He gives his son $50 per month to buy the kind of food he wants, but when that money is gone he has to take what he can get.
When thats gone hes got to eat whats left. I tell him if you pass the food out to your friends, dont come crying to me, Casrell said.
Casrell met Henry through family members and is only too happy to help out two to three times each week.
Casrell said sometimes the food pantry is so busy clients are lined up all the way back to the elevator.
Jacqueline Flores serves as the pantrys Spanish language translator and unofficial publicity person, bringing in cosmetics from Adlers Pharmacy in Oakhurst, where she used to work.
The owner Kam Patel gave her bags of toiletries to be used as Christmas gifts for teenage girls.
Also the local McDonalds called Friday to donate gift certificates for 70 kids meals for the pantrys Christmas program Dec. 20.
A construction worker from DKR who was working across the street, came in with a $60 donation after Flores sold him a raffle ticket the group was selling.
This is my therapy, Flores, who volunteers three days a week, said. Its beautiful.
Contact Joanne Papaianni at joanne@thecoaster.net.
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