Joint base team assists N.J. county hurt by Hurricane Sandy

Published Nov. 7, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

LINCROFT, N.J. -- Two dozen Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Airmen teamed up with more than 30 additional community volunteers to collect supplies which will be distributed to Monmouth County residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy Nov. 6 at Thompson Park in Lincroft, N.J.

According to reports in the Newark-Star Ledger Nov. 6, 75 percent of the county's residents now have power but 72,000 homes are still in the dark as temperatures continue to drop this week.

The Joint Base team, predominantly comprising of honor guard members, responded to the request for help from the base's first sergeant network.

Bruce Golmick of the Monmouth County Park Service and lead organizer of the drive said he is grateful for the joint base volunteers' assistance.

"I can't say enough about the support we've received from the (joint base,)" he said. "(They) showed up this morning and just took charge; it was fantastic."

The military participation began Tuesday but local volunteers opened up the center Nov. 2. Golmick noted the center was able to unload 22 truckloads of supplies -- work that would have taken much longer without the military's assistance and could have backed up deliveries for hours.

The center's volunteers made 85 deliveries to 22 towns, distributing items such as food, water, blankets and cots. The number of Monmouth County residents aided by these donations and volunteer services "is in the "thousands," Golmick said.

"It's good to help the community," said Staff Sgt. James Davis, a Warren, Ohio, native who is assigned to the 305th Aerial Port Squadron and honor guard. "We saw the request come through and brought 11 of our guys up here to do whatever was needed."
The military volunteers worked tirelessly, unloading the constant flow of trucks and ensuring accountability of all the donated items.

Staff Sgt. Allen Clawson, an instructor with the 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron assigned to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base MDL was assisting in the accountability efforts with members of the Combat Veterans Association, a professional motorcycle rider's organization that features "vets helping vets," Clawson said.

"We were sitting at work at the Expeditionary Center yesterday when we heard about the call for help. We decided we would make more of an impact helping in the community than we would at work today; this whole experience has been great."

The center will continue operations throughout the week and is looking for more volunteers. Thompson Park is located at 805 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft, N.J. For those wishing to donate, organizers are asking for bottled water, nonperishable food, pet food, new clothing, blankets and personal hygiene items including baby items.

"This is a way for residents to help out during this time of need," said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden. "Through this process, donations from those who were fortunate during Hurricane Sandy can assist those who were less fortunate."

Military members can find out more volunteer information from their unit first sergeant.

Visit the JB MDL home page, www.jointbasemdl.af.mil; the flickr page, www.flickr.com/photos/jointbasemdl; and the joint base Facebook page, www.facebook.com/JBMDL; for more information on JB MDL's support in Hurricane Sandy recovery operations