St. Robert Bellarmine volunteers spearhead storm-relief effort

Parishioners see project expand to some of hardest-hit towns in Shore area and New York

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — By helping others in need, Pam Stengel and Linda Altini are striving to live the Gospel they hear every Sunday at St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church in Freehold Township.

Through the work of these two township residents, what began as an effort to help those in one town who needed relief after post-Tropical Storm Sandy has blossomed to the extent that the church has now been designated a Diocese of Trenton Hurricane Relief collection site.

Altini, Stengel and a few friends initially made several trips to the hard-hit Monmouth County municipalities of Union Beach and Keansburg with carloads of donations.

Altini, who grew up in Union Beach, said at first the goal was to collect donations for her hometown, which suffered extensive damage from the Oct. 29 storm.

Word got around about their efforts, and one day Altini found on her front porch bags of clothing and donations for the storm victims.

This led to asking Monsignor Sam Sirianni, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church, if she and Stengel could bring the donations to the church and expand the relief effort.

“He was very understanding and totally supported our effort to get involved,” Altini said.

The women used social media to put out the word about the collection site, and the donations came and continued to come. The collection drive ran through Nov. 21.

The two women said they have a great crew of volunteers working day and night — at least 20 per day, who show up to sort donations.

“We have such a loving, caring parish,” Altini said, adding that her husband, Brian, is very supportive and understanding of her volunteer efforts in various capacities for the church.

The women said donations have been coming from other states such as Virginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Sirianni said many parishioners have been eager to help. He added that the relief effort from a religious point of view is in keeping with the Scriptures taught by the church.

Sirianni used a biblical passage to describe the effort: “When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.”

These are the lessons his parishioners are following as they collect donations and distribute them in numerous areas where storm victims live, helping them in any way they can.

“So many affected are hungry for stability right now,” the monsignor said. “And some have had everything taken away from them. If we can help, we help. That is why we are here.”

He added that not only many of his own parishioners, but also people from other churches and faiths have volunteered to help in the effort that has distributed hundreds of pounds of clothing and carloads of food and other items to storm-torn areas.

Volunteers have transported all donations to locations in Union Beach, Keansburg, Hazlet, Highlands, Long Branch, Port Monmouth (Middletown), and as far as Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York. The volunteer effort continues to search for new ways and new levels to help, the monsignor said.

“We have collected and delivered food and clothing, and have affected towns. Now, as we move forward, we are evaluating how we can be of help in the areas affected for the long term,” Sirianni explained.

Stengel said the volunteer team has also done personal shopping for some victims, securing specific sizes and types of items needed. She said they visit social media sites to see what is needed.

“It is an ongoing community effort,” Stengel said, adding, “The parishioners of this church all want to help.”

Altini said she and her friends, the Donofrio family, delivered supplies to Port Monmouth on Nov. 5, knocking on doors to see what people needed.

Also donating his time is parishioner Chris Ives, the owner of Sir Ives Catering in Jamesburg, who donated 1,100 meals for a pre-Thanksgiving celebration in Staten Island, and more than 100 meals for a Thanksgiving dinner in Union Beach.

The relief effort has also partnered with businesses such as Home Depot in Freehold Township, which donated shovels, tools, buckets, tarps, gloves and other materials for the church’s relief effort, according to Stengel.

Anyone wishing to volunteer time or donate to the church’s relief effort may visit the church’s Facebook page at St. Robert Bellarmine Hurricane Relief Effort or email the church at [email protected].