Help for the Storm-Ravaged

BY BILL DAVENPORT

The end of January a huge blizzard swept through the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Snow piled up as high as thirty to forty inches throughout the region. Especially hard hit were coastal areas, where record-setting ocean tides, strong northeast winds, and snow accumulations threatened the Jersey Shore, an area still not recovered from the devastating effects of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. In North Wildwood tidal flooding was recorded at 9.65 feet above normal sea level—the highest ever recorded.

Michael P. Callahan Chapter 955 in Wildwood, New Jersey, along with its partner, American Legion Post 184 in Wildwood, recognized that there was a desperate need for local relief assistance. The city is located on a barrier island thrust into the Atlantic Ocean. Harry Weimar, vice president of Chapter 955 and commander of Post 184, organized an island-wide effort.

Working with Chapter 955 President Bill Davenport and Hall Steward Jack Casey, they converted a large meeting room into a supply depot for local residents. The hall opened January 26 and helped more than five hundred people, some who had lost everything in the flood. The hall remained open until February 9.

As residents arrived at the hall, volunteers greeted them and checked their IDs. Needs and sizes were ascertained, and a list was sent to other volunteers who packaged the items and brought them up front. If food was needed, it was provided at this time. If residents needed rides to get back home, yet other volunteers used their own cars to take them.

More than twenty-four veterans and community members volunteered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, including weekends. Haroula and Joe Rotondi, Lisa Russo, Joe Manzoni, Tracy and Harry Fesler, Vince DePrinzio, and Jane Shell spent substantial parts of that two-week period working in the hall. So did AVVA members Sue Casey, Nat Peacock, Phyllis Bethel, Kathi Weimar, and Nancy Wesley.

There was a tremendous outpouring from the community, both in terms of donations and volunteers. Goods arrived every day and included clothing, non-perishable food, all types of baby items and food, as well as cleaning supplies. When items such as water and baby supplies ran low, volunteers made calls and used Facebook to re-supply.

As a result of this community effort, a committee of veterans and community members has been formed so that VVA will be ready to activate another relief effort should the need arise.