List of Shelters, Charging Stations, Free Food, Water in Toms River

Updated 8 a.m. Nov. 9

A list of where to go for shelter, power and other forms of help. If your organization or business is offering a service please add it to the comments below, email tomsriver@patch.com, or post here.

Food, blankets and cleaning and hygiene supplies available at Presbyterian Church Sunday: The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, working with the Red Cross and the Office of Emergency Management, will deliver food, blankets and other needed items to residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 1 p.m. The First Presbyterian Church of Toms River, 1070 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753

Breakfast, Lunch and supplies Friday: For those recovering from Hurricane Sandy in the Toms River area. Come Friday Nov. 9 to Shore Vineyard Church located 1 South Main Str, South Toms River next to Planet Fitness. We will be serving a hot breakfast and lunch beginning 10am. We also will be distributing blankets, diapers, clothes and personal hygiene items. Call Pastor Maria at 732 674 9486 with any questions.

Supplies Available through Sunday at Pleasant Plains Firehouse: Pleasant Plains Vol. Dept is now stocked with supplies to distribute to those in need. We have Non-Perishable Food Items, Paper Products, Blankets, and Baby items available. Items can be picked up Monday, November 12th through Sunday, November 18th from 10am to 6pm.
Pickup Location: Pleasant Plains Vol Fire Dept, 40 Clayton Ave. Toms River, NJ 08755

Free hot meals, fellowship at First Assembly of God Church: Paul Gifford, Lead Pastor of the First Assembly of God located at 800 Bay Ave in Toms River has arranged with his staff to prepare hot dinners for the community all this week. Stop in during the hours of 4pm-8pm to have a dinner, dessert, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Also you may charge your electronic devices, talk with your neighbor, watch tv and express how else they can help you during this most difficult and challenging time. If you have donations that you would like distributed into the community but don't know where to begin you can leave the items at First Assembly and they will get the essentials into the right hands. Feel free to contact Pastor Paul @ 401 241-5278 for more information or how he can be of assistance to you and your family. 

Cleaning supplies distribution Nov. 10: Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street, has been collecting cleaning supplies throughout the week and has set up a distribution time for residents in need of cleaning supplies. Those in need can come to the church, 415 Washington Street, between 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 10. Additional dates may be announced. 

Free Clothing Available: Congregation B'nai Israel, located at 1488 Old Freehold Road in Toms River, has clothing for those displaced or in need following Hurricane Sandy.  Hours of operation are 10-4 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.  For more information call (732) 349-1244 or president@cbitr.org.

First Baptist Church Offers Free Lunch, Dinner: Starting Nov. 3, hot meals will be distributed from First Baptist Church on Main Street in Toms River.  The North Carolina Baptist Convention Disaster Relief team is housed at First Baptist Church of Toms River, 700 Main Street. Beginning at 11 a.m. they'll be serving free hot meals at lunch and dinner. It's a drive through, pick up your meals, and be on your way service. Signs will be posted for entrance on Main Street and exit on Colfax Street. Meals are distributed from 11am-1pm and again from 4pm-6pm.  People will be able to drive through to get their meals

Charging Station at Ocean County Mall: Ocean County Mall in Toms River, N.J., reopened for business, and resumed regular hours. The mall has set up charging stations for any Tom River-area residents who are still without electricity and would like to come in and power up their mobile devices.

FEMA: FEMA representatives from the Community Relations Team in NJ will be in the Toms River area wearing blue shirts, FEMA Logos and FEMA credentials to render assistance. To contact FEMA, use their website at www.FEMA.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)

YMCA Opens Doors, Provides Varied Services: The Y is inviting Ocean County residents to come in for a shower, charge your cell phone or laptop or just enjoy a hot cup of coffee with friends. Everyone may TRY THE Y and enjoy a swim, shoot some hoops or work out in the cardio or strength centers. http://ocymca.org/assets/files/pdf/YOpenHouseNov2012.pdf For our families working next week, the Y has Holiday Camp running Monday through Friday from 6:30AM-6:00PM. For more information click here http://ocymca.org/assets/files/pdf/HolidayCampNov2012.pdf

Toms River Youth Center Offering Children's Activities: The Toms River Youth Center located at 1505 North Bay Avenue will provide activities for children evacuated and children of emergency responders. For Saturday and Sunday the hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Youth Center will have arts and crafts, Wii, Playstation, Pool Tables, movies, popcorn, ping pong, playground, etc. Transportation will be provided from each shelter. Please call (732) 341-1000 ext. 8436 to arrange pickup.

Free Water, Ice: A large delivery of water and ice was delivered and will be available to the public in need after 1pm Friday November 2nd at Toms River Public Works Church/N. Bay Ave. and all of the township fire stations.

Public Computer Stations Open at Shelters: Verizon Wireless has deployed Mobile Wireless Emergency Communications Centers, which include computer workstations, wireless phones, tablets and other devices, at Toms River High School North on 1221 Old Freehold Road and at Toms River High School East, 1225 Raider Way.

Riverwood Park Soccer Complex Soccer Distribution and Drop-off: The TRFC  taking donations of water, dry and cannned food, medicine, clothing, tarps, towels, blankets and small Halloween costumes. If you are in need, please come by - the facility is off Whitesville Road in Toms River at Riverwood Park in the Indoor Facility (aka soccer bubble). If you have donations, bring them here as well. Need volunteers to help sort and distribute too. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Help for Military Families: A.R.M.S. (American Recreational Military Service) will be setting up disaster distribution center at our building behind the Toms River Armory located at 1200 Whitesville Rd. Toms River, New Jersey for displaced military families and veterans sometime after Nov. 8 when we are expecting truckloads of much needed food and clothing.  If you are a veteran in need, please contact Ronnie Micciulla at Cell-732-890-4914 or  e-mail- usslibertyhouse@comcast.net.  A.R.M.S. will also be accepting new and slightly  used clothes as well as canned goods, water and baby items.  A.R.M.S. has also set up a special Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. All donations can be made to A.R.M.S. and all donations are tax deductable.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, Free Dinner at Toms River Elks: Toms River Elks Lodge #1875 on Washington and Clifton Avenues invites anyone to enjoy a free hot meal and good friendship at the Lodge between 5 and 7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 7. Free,just stop in and enjoy.

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