Helping Out Local Families This Holiday

Christmas dinner is Cup of Soup noodles. It’s all they could afford.

That’s the reality for some families in need this season, said Toms River Fire Co. No. 1 Firefighter Carl Weingroff. Each year, the fire company adopts a family and collects everything from gifts to décor to food, providing them with what they need so the family doesn’t have to do without.

Several other are “adopting” families in Toms River. It gives donors a chance to devote their efforts toward helping a family in their community, keeping charity close to home.

It also provides the family to ask for specific items unique to their situation, where a larger charity may not allow for personalization.

Ultimately, it’s the community helping one of their own, and of course those in need leaning on their community for help.

Weingroff said this year’s family that Fire Co. No. 1 is sponsoring saw both parents face job lay-offs, and the family is now expecting a third child amid their unemployment.

“There’s a definite need. We hoping to collect enough to make the holidays special amid their financial hardship,” Weingroff said.

The family consists of two children and both parents and a cat living in the Summit East Section of Toms River.

“Both parents are unemployed due to the economy and just prior to the father being laid off they found out mom is pregnant,” Weingroff said.

As a result, the fire company is collecting for a family of four with one on the way. It means donations of maternity clothes, baby items and furniture are all on the list of items their soliciting.

There’s also the 11 year old girl, who likes “anything Twilight,” and a 6 year old boy who is a big Star Wars and Batman fan. Mom is looking for maternity clothes and dad could use some 2XL size sweat shirts.

“When speaking with the father, he and his wife are not asking for much for themselves just for the kids, however we explained to them that we are going to do our best with the support of the community to take care of them all. The only assistance this family is on is Food Stamps,” Weingroff said.

They are asking for specific items for each member such as American Girl Dolls, anything Twilight related, full size bed set, and clothing size 10-12 for the 11 year old female, anything Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones, football related for the 6 year old boy, maternity clothes and newborn baby items for the mother, and Ecko shirts 2xl, thermals, size 10 boots for the father. Food donations are requested as well. All gifts are to be unwrapped and a pickup can be arranged no later than Monday, Dec 19. Contact Carl Weingroff at trfd25no1@aol.com or 732-904-5229. 

has also sponsored a family from Toms River to provide them with help during the holidays.

The Huff Family has three children, and the youngest one, Lillie, was born with many birth defects due to having a stroke in utero. Lillie has had countless surgeries and is not even 2 years old. She has been in and out of Jersey Shore Medical Center countless times due to her uncontrollable Infantile Spasm Epilepsy.

Lillie's parents, Dan, and Kristi, have been trying to make ends meet with their regular bills, as well as all of the medical bills for Lillie. They are wonderful parents trying to do the right thing for their family, said Tom Mauro of the Toms River Fire Co. No. 2, who is sponsoring the drive.

Those seeking to help can visit Lillie's website that the family has set up for her, or you can contact Tom Mauro at tmauro@trfire.org. 

Students at Toms River Regional Schools are also reaching out to individual families they have sponsored for the holidays.

At Toms River High School East, the Future Business Leaders of America club has a family they are helping, and club members have been collecting gifts and items for, with donors dropping items off in the Main Office.

And local churches have often dedicated assistance to help out congregants who seek help. Many have dedicated foodbanks that operated year round, in addition to seasonal assistance during the holidays.

Weingroff said the Fire Company is dropping off the gifts to the adopted family Dec. 20. It's one of the happiest events of the year for the volunteers and "elves" that help out.

"Really, it's what the holidays are all about. Giving everyone that holiday magic is magical for those who help others," he said.

Are you helping a local family this holiday? Let us know at tomsriver@patch.com or tell us in the comments below.