Three Hurricane Sandy Survivor Families to be Welcomed to Repaired Homes – March 20

It’s been nearly two and a half years since Hurricane Sandy made its devastating landfall on the coast of New Jersey in October, 2012. But for many families in southern New Jersey, the impact of the storm is still remembered daily.
On Friday, March 20, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, and its partner, A Future With Hope, Inc., will commemorate the homecoming of three families who moved back into repaired homes within the last three months.
At noon the groups will host a house warming ceremony for the families, who live within a three block radius in Ocean City, NJ. The ceremony will begin at 933 Simpson Avenue and proceed to the other two properties at 624 and 644 Haven Avenue. The day’s events will conclude by 2:00 p.m.
All three homes sustained heavy wind and water damages. Gloria Legette’s home was riddled with mold a year after the storm. She received the keys to her newly renovated home the day before Christmas, 2014.
“Every day I walk around in this house and I just thank my God,” Legette said. She suffered health complications from the mold in the house, which have since subsided.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden case worker Rohan Allen provided case management services for all three families, helping them connect with the resources they needed to rebuild their homes and lives. A Future With Hope, Inc. conducted the home repairs, providing contracting services, materials and volunteer labor. Additional funding came from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden; Salvation Army; Cape May Long Term Recovery Group; and the city of Ocean City.
About Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden
Catholic Charities Diocese of Camden provides vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds. We provide social services to, advocate for, and empower the poor, oppressed or vulnerable on a non-discriminatory, non-sectarian basis throughout the six southern New Jersey counties.
Catholic Charities’ Disaster Case Management Program began during the summer of 2013 to provide case management services to the hundreds of Hurricane Sandy survivors in southern New Jersey. Since then, the program has served 991 individuals and families.
For more information, visit catholiccharitiescamden.org.

About A Future With Hope
A Future With Hope is a nonprofit organization started by the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey to lead relief and recovery efforts after Superstorm Sandy.  Skilled volunteers come from all over the United States to rebuild homes. The organization’s goal is to use 20,000 volunteers to help rebuild 300 to 500 homes and provide case management to affected families.

Through the end of February, they have completed more than 134 homes throughout the state.  In addition to Ocean City, they have completed work in 21 different communities including Atlantic City, Brick, Forked River, Highlands, Keansburg, Little Egg Harbor, Manahawkin, Ocean Gate, Union Beach and others.  For more information please visit afuturewithhope.org or contact Carolyn Conover, Director of Communication at 732-359-1016.
Written by Joanna Gardner