By RICHARD VIRGILIO
Coastal Habitat for Humanity, along with local community leaders and partner organizations, came together recently to celebrate a Shark River Family’s return home after more than a year’s displacement due to Superstorm Sandy.
“After Sandy, our home looked like someone took a dollhouse and shook it,” said Tracy Antman, Coastal Habitat’s partner homeowner. “We are just your average, middle class family that was used to doing for other people.
But when it came time for us to ask for help to make our home livable again, we heard ‘declined’ from every place imaginable – until Coastal Habitat actually called me.”
Thanks to its volunteers and major supporters, including the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, the Robin Hood Foundation, Pearl Jam, the Allstate Foundation and Manasquan Savings Bank, Coastal Habitat has been able to help Southern Monmouth County families celebrate the 2013 holidays in their own home.
“It is extremely gratifying to see our grant come full circle and help bring the Antman family home for the holidays,” said First Lady Mary Pat Christie, Chair of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. “We proudly support the critical work of Coastal Habitat and thank all the dedicated volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to not only restore homes, but rebuild lives.”
One year after Superstorm Sandy, the charity’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative has become a key component of the long-term repair and restoration of 18 cities and towns in Southern Monmouth County.
“The Antman family’s story is one of hundreds we have heard over the past year,” said Maureen Mulligan, executive director of Coastal Habitat. “With a five-year strategic plan in place, we will continue to help seniors, veterans and families of all backgrounds who are waiting to return to their safe and repaired home.”
“Because of Coastal Habitat’s involvement, everything has fallen into place,” continued Antman. All she can talk about is making her Dad chicken soup in the kitchen in the home she grew up in.”
Maureen Mulligan, executive director, Coastal Habitat concluded: “With the help of donors – many who have sent $50 and $100 during the past month – we will work until the last home is repaired.”
For information about Coastal Habitat’s impact to-date and goals for the future, visit CoastalHabitat.org and request a copy of the organization’s one-year Repair.Rebuild.Restore. impact summary.
FOLLOW The Coaster on FACEBOOK here.
