Residents Collect for Texas Harvey Victims

COURT HOUSE – No strangers to the devastation that flooding can cause, Cape May County residents are pulling together to collect items for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. 
From local churches to veterans to individuals who just want to help, several local groups are rallying to collect donations for those in need.
Special Collection
Catholic Churches in South Jersey held a special collection Sept. 2-3 for victims of Hurricane Harvey. The Most Rev. Dennis J. Sullivan, Bishop of Camden, issued a statement announcing the emergency collection be conducted at all Masses in the Diocese of Camden, which is comprised of 62 parishes in the southern six counties of New Jersey.
The collection will be used to support the humanitarian and recovery efforts of Catholic Charities USA and to provide pastoral and rebuilding support to the impacted dioceses through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Sullivan recounted the devastation that Superstorm Sandy caused to many living along the Jersey shore five years ago.
“It is our turn to offer assistance,” he noted.
Stone Harbor Raises Funds
The Borough of Stone Harbor held a car wash at Stone Harbor Firehouse Sept. 3 to raise funds to aid the American Red Cross. Online donations can be made here.
Brewery Supports Harvey Relief
Cape May Brewing Company donated money from Labor Day Weekend sales to Hurricane Harvey relief. The brewery donated $1 from every pint, flight, growler fill, and packaged beer sold through Sept. 3.
“We could be next,” stated co-owner Chris Henke in a release. “As a fellow coastal community, it feels like the right thing to do.”
Rally Day, Sept. 10
Sunday, Sept. 10 has been designated Rally Day at the Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 702 Seashore Rd., Erma. Members of the church and community are asked to gather at the church starting at noon to make Hygiene Kits to be sent to those in need in Texas.
Hygiene Kits, valued at about $12 each, include a hand towel, washcloth, adult-size toothbrush, adhesive bandages, band-aids, bath-size soaps, sturdy combs longer than six inches, metal nail file or clippers and a one-gallon size sealable plastic bag. One dollar is included to purchase toothpaste. All items must be new.
“All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations,” according to Pastors Glenn Scheyhing and Jennifer Bolton. “It is important that kits only contain the requested items.”
Those unable to join the Rally Sept. 10, can donate the above-mentioned items by noon Sept. 8, at the church.
Legion Collecting Items
Wildwood American Legion Post 184, 4200 Atlantic Ave., and Cape May Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 386, 419 Congress St., have joined forces to collect hygiene and animal items to take to Houston Sept. 18.
According to Commander Harry Weimar, moving boxes, diapers, baby wipes, toiletries, feminine products, clothing, non-perishable food, socks and underwear, dog and cat food, and animal crates are needed. They can be dropped off at either location.
“What we really need at this time are women’s hygiene products, and men’s and women’s underwear in all sizes,” Weimar said. “We also need dog, cat and any other animal food.”
There are four pick-up trucks that will be driven by Legionnaires to Houston to deliver the goods.
“We have a 6-year-old girl who has been collecting items on her own who will be at the Legion Sept. 18 to see us off as well,” Weimar added. He noted that tolls and fuel are expected to cost about $400, should any donors want to help defray the expense of transportation.
Six-year-old Seeks Donations
Joselyn Gonzalez, 6, a first grader at Middle Township Elementary School No. 1, is collecting donations to take to the American Legion Post 184 in time for their trip to Texas. 
According to mom, Dawn, her daughter developed “a love for helping those in need,” which started with a math-a-thon for St. Jude last spring. She raised $335 at that time. 
The youngster has also collected and dropped off donations to The Branches Outreach Center, Rio Grande, which helps the homeless and needy in the area. In addition, they recently dropped off school supplies and clothing donations to Caring for Kids for their back-to-school event.
“I was watching a video of a horse being rescued from flood waters and Joselyn saw it and started asking questions,” Dawn Gonzalez said. “So I told her about Hurricane Harvey, the devastation it caused, and told her that many people and animals have been displaced from their homes and have lost everything. She asked if she could help. Honestly, she wanted to get on a plane and fly out there to help.
“I reached out to my friends on Facebook to please let me know where we could drop off donations,” she added. “I wanted her to be able to help. My sister-in-law tagged me in a post on Facebook about the American Legion Post 184 collecting donations to take with them when they go to Texas. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for her to help and asked if she would like to start collecting. Of course she said yes!”
Dawn Gonzalez received permission to collect items at Utsch’s Marina, Cape May, where she works. Dr. Terri Marks, of South Paw Animal Hospital, Cape May Court House, also gave them permission to set up a collection box in the waiting room.
Dawn Gonzalez said she is available to pick up donations for those who can’t make it to either place. Donors can email her at dawngonzalez1978@gmail.com if pick up is needed.
“We came up with Joselyn’s donation wish list after seeing a few different lists of items needed on Facebook,” she noted. She is looking for donations of non-perishable food items, diapers, wipes, formula, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and first-aid supplies.
She is also collecting for the dogs and cats in need and is looking for dog food, cat food and animal crate donations. The Gonzalezes will collect items until Sept. 10.
“I have had quite a few people reach out to me wanting to know how they can help, which she is very excited about,” Dawn Gonzalez said about her daughter. “I want this to be another positive experience for her because it is something that I hope stays with her. I am so proud of her and refer to her as my little humanitarian.”
Helping Displaced Coast Guard Families
Nicole Bove Oditt, a Middle Township High School graduate who is married to the commander of Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, is collecting donations for displaced Coast Guard families.
According to her mother, Linda Dunbar, many Coast Guard families suffered their own losses during the storm. However, they are helping rescue others in the devastated region.
“It’s immensely hard to concentrate on such a high-stress job if you are unsure of how your family is faring and you’ve not been home for days to check on them or your home,” said Oditt. “We have wonderful support from our chaplain, our work-life team, the ombudsman and other spouses who have not been affected by the flooding.  Our ombudsman is working tirelessly to make sure our families can get help, temporarily. 
“They are also following the families who were evacuated to Dallas and Austin ahead of the storm, plus those that needed to evacuate during Harvey,” she continued.
“The chaplain and the work-life members make sure that the Coasties’ emotional needs are tended to during this time and often counsel the members during the work day.”
Oditt said she knew of one family that had sandbagged the doors and boarded the windows at their home, and were still flooded out.  “The flood waters came up through the foundation, popping tiles off the kitchen floor,” she said describing the devastation.
“Within seconds, they had two feet of water inside. They loaded their kids and dogs into the truck and secured kayaks on top, in case they hit moving water.  They drove to the sector in what they were wearing and lost everything else, including shoes that were swept off their feet in the torrent of water between the house and the vehicle.”
Oditt said there are 17 units under the sector command and as of Sept. 1, they still did not know the total number of Coast Guard families displaced, evacuated or in need because many had not yet communicated their status because not all areas have an ombudsman. There is no Coast Guard housing in the Sector, which means the families lived in homes throughout the devastated area.
All enlisted Coast Guard members train at the Coast Guard’s Cape May Training Center.
“The absolute best way to help our displaced Coast Guard families is to send gift cards from Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart in $10 or 20 increments,” Oditt said. “The chaplain, our ombudsmans and our work-life specialist will disseminate them on a need basis. 
“Please also know that a child’s drawing or a postcard with a note has amazing healing power as well,” she added.
Donations, drawings and postcards can be sent directly to: USCG Sector Houston-Galveston, C/O Chaplain LT Kenneth Espinosa, 13411 Hillard St., Houston, TX 77034.
For more information on donations, click here.
Her husband, Kevin, graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1992 and was stationed on the Vigorous in Cape May between 1992-94. 
Oditt met him in Cape May and they were married in Cold Spring Presbyterian Church in 1995. 
“Kevin is doing extraordinary,” his wife said when asked how the captain was doing during the recovery efforts. “His career path and experience in the Coast Guard has prepared him for events such as these.  He is proud to be able to serve in this way.  Even more importantly, he’s supported by thousands of people who have also been training for this their entire career.”
Support has been coming in from all over the country from within the Coast Guard, Oditt said. “They are good at what they do, each member has a job, and they know it well.  They, of course, take on many other roles when needed and do that just as well. That is why the Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus, Always Prepared.”
Oditt said while the flood waters came within a “couple of feet” of their home the evening of Aug. 23, their house is “high and dry luckily.” She has been spending much of her time collecting supplies and helping feed the Coast Guard members.
“The Coast Guard spouse/family evacuees that are starting to make their way home from dryer places have filled their cars with supplies to bring home to the other families, so even when they are in dire straits, they are still thinking about how they can help,” she added.  “It’s quite amazing!”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.