The
SOUTHERN OCEAN Times Vol. 8 - No. 26
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Volunteering During A Pandemic: How to Help Your Community Safely
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Community News!
─Photo courtesy Geralyn Fraggetta-Drury
Pages 8-11
Geralyn Fraggetta-Drury, Director of Freehold Area Open Door, works in the pantry.
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Pharm Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
By Alyssa Riccardi JERSEY SHORE – During the holiday season, many people strive to donate to others less fortunate or volunteer at pantries where you can help serve a Christmas meal to someone. Yet, with the ongoing pandemic due to COVID-19, there has been a higher
need of donations across the board. So how can one volunteer and help donate in a safe manner? Fulfill, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, has been seeing the demand for food rising during the coronavirus crisis as soup kitchens and schools are closing. According to
Fulfill, they have seen a 40 percent increase in the demand for food since the start of the pandemic. The increase remains steady. Feeding America estimates the number of New Jersey residents struggling to put food on the table will climb to 56 percent within the
coming months and the number of food-insecure children is expected to grow even more, by 75 percent. “The cost of food has gone up exponentially since the start of the pandemic. A year ago, we paid $22,000 for a tractor trailer load of (Help - See Page 4)
Animal Charity Concert Raises $5,000
By Chris Lundy LACEY – The third in a trilogy of fundraising concerts brought in more than $5,000 for charity. Stomp Out Animal Abuse Round 3 was a day of punk and hardcore acts at William Hebrew Park. The money was split between Popcorn Park Zoo, Pup-
pyKittyNYCity, Bridges to Safety Animal Rescue, Wolfpack077 T.A.R. and Helping 4 Paws At A Time pet food pantry, said organizer Jay Baluski. More than 300 people attended the event, held outdoors because that’s the only way to have safe gatherings during the pandemic. A $5 do-
nation was asked, and people were told to wear masks. The following bands were in the line-up: Threat2Society, Departed, DJ Jah Measles and Jay Boxcar, Gloves Off, Silence Equals Death, Useless, Faded Line, and Grimthinker. Previous shows also raised thousands for
animal charities. As the weather is getting cold-
er, this will likely be the last show until spring.
─Photo courtesy Stomp Out Animal Abuse Bands and fans came out to raise money for a good cause.
December 19, 2020
Lacey Police Experience Close Shave After National Campaign
By Bob Vosseller LACEY – Since 2016, each November has become a time for members of the Township Police Department put down their razors for 30 days for a good cause. The officers broke protocol once again last month. During the first four years of participating in the national No-Shave November Campaign their joint efforts with the local Township Emergency Services were very successful. This year, the funds raised have a local focus as part of the department’s “Keep it Local” campaign to raise money locally. Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said “this year’s initiative started on November 1, with the goal to help one of our own community (Police - See Page 12)
Emotional Supports In Place For Students With COVID
By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – When a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, contact tracers will tell everyone they’ve been close to, in order to warn them, and to slow the spread to others. The identity of the student is not made public in order to protect their privacy. But this is 2020. News spreads. Kids fi nd out who is sick. Even if the kids are learning from home, they are all connected on their remote devices. They are texting and group chatting. Soon, everyone knows. This adds a new wrinkle for district leaders in trying to prevent bullies which might be literally adding insult to injury. Districts throughout the area were (COVID - See Page 12)
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