I say it all the time. GSD is we, not me. I can not say it
enough.
In the past I have avoided mixing LFP with GSD, but this
blog is the best platform I have to say what you are about to read. If you have met me you know I talk – a lot,
don’t take he answer no very well, and come hell or high water will stand by
what I believe. The Sandpaper article was great but there is SO much more to be
said. Here it goes…
First and foremost, Tim Kohlhiem. Homeboy is just as much a part of this as I
am. It started day one at my house (after he and Sam hosted hubs and I the
night of the storm) but Tim jumped in FULL FORCE as soon as he saw what was
going on. Again, we not me. Tim utilized
his connections and made calls round the clock just like I did. We had no idea what we were getting
into. We just jumped in. We found ourselves in meetings and situations
we never anticipated. People kept asking
where we were from. One day Tim
responded with “The GSD Coalition”. I
didn’t know what it even meant. When he told me Get Shit Done I smiled and
agreed there is nothing else in the world that could be more appropriate. The
name is all him, I wish I could take credit for the awesomeness of it, but I can’t! I can’t stress enough how much he has done. He managed to GSD around the clock and still
run Shore Fire Grille and Catering. I am fortunate to call him and Samantha
(Mrs K!) friends.
Somehow I ended up on the phone with the Beach Haven EOC and
learned they were just about out of food. 75 workers and volunteers, many of
who lost their own homes, working around the clock to keep things moving and they
were running out of food. I called Tim and we made it happen. Within hours we had a trailer FULL of food
and supplies, clearance to the Island , and off
we went. Where did that trailer full of items come from – YOU. All of the GSD. It was everyone, not just us.
As all of this started happening, my husband was cleaning
out our friends homes countless hours a day. He utilized his knowledge and
equipment from work to help those we know (it’s all about starting where you
can!) and would come home and answer ENDLESS questions and explain things to
myself and those who came to our home and the GSD looking for help. A factor of
Sandy
The GSD met a family of 18 in the beginning. They gave us a list of things they needed.
When they told me six bunk beds, I was a little nervous. Tim called local real estate agent Janis
Olson, and SHE made that happen. 5 of those 6 bunk beads came from her. I understand an article could never mention
every single name I said, that would be impossible! The GSD is what we do
together and what we do on our own- Janis is a wonderful example of this. She has done SO much with GSD and other
organizations. I am lucky that Tim knew he could rely on her, she was a vital
asset to the GSD.
So many people, many who I didn’t know before this, stepped
up and worked round the clock. Kelly
McGee Williams of Abbey Mortgage in Barnegat has been full speed since day
one. I could call with kinds of crazy,
and she never batted an eye. Nicole Archibald helped in more ways than I could list. Laura
Pallotta was the one who got the beds donated from Value City Furniture for the
Dodi Family and so much more. We worked together more times than I can
count. Melissa Prosperi was a HUGE
Source of factual information for GSD.
Melissa works round the clock still making things happen for people.
Melissa and Stephanie Rascio helped fill direct need orders for families and
helped make Christmas happen. Nicole Richards and Bill Tallman adopted a family
for Christmas and drove out to Philly to make magic happen and met me on several
occasions to help get donations from A to B.
Lucinda Manfra –she housed a GARAGE FULL of donations and helped us as
needed. Andrea Soper and Amber Meyers showed up with food upon food to help
feed people. Carolyn Fay and Kerri Gunn did more laundry then I could count,
showed up on a moments notice as needed and brought food to feed an army.
Michele Torres, in the middle of moving, came and picked up more loads of
laundry than I can remember. Laura Lonieski rolled through with paper product
for days. Tania Merideth and Robbyn Lusk came and cleaned my house, lets be
honest, it was a hot mess for a while there! Melissa Colymeyer and Nicole Hilbert
came over with donations to help with direct need families. Tiffany Johnson who
always wanted to GSD despite the damage to her own home. This list is ten miles
long. I am sure by now you get the idea –
the GSD is we not me.
Gift cards came from family in NJ and PA, total strangers,
local PD, Jessica DeFrancia and the awesome Rachel and Meghan at Hello,
Gorgeous Photography. I honestly
appreciate each and every one of you.
I also can’t ever begin to say enough about the Stanish
Family, absolutely wonderful people.
Mark is going to hate me for writing this, but it’s ok. Mark Stanish worked insane hours in the
freezing cold like every other officer. All local Police did a great job,
scratch that, AMAZING job. I have not a
single complaint about any of them, and if you do, keep it to yourself. Our conversation will not go well. Mark
worked insane hours and just about EVERY SINGLE DAY text me asking what we
still needed, what time did he need to be up to use his truck to deliver items,
what could he still do. I would try and
tell him to slow down, but if his beautiful wife and daughters weren’t home (he
barely got to see his family like every other officer) he wanted to be doing
more. Danielle (his wife) was no different, always asking to help and coming through
with delivery. One of the best things
she did for GSD? She introduced me to the Cottons. I don’t even have words to describe my love
for the Cotton family. If I start to get into all they did I will writing for
another month. All I will say is that
they are kind, genuine, giving and AWESOME.
There are big names out there doing big things: Jetty, Waves
for Water, Red Cross, and so many more.
I don’t need to tell you about them.
I want to tell you about the all the names you may not have seen.
There are people like David from David’s Dream and Believe,
Marsha from the Martin Truex Jr Foundation, Joe Mangino, Dan Wilhelm and so
many more who work round the clock to
make a difference. I consider
myself privileged to call any of them friends.
David is the most genuine and self-less person I have ever met who
provides a vital service to people in need.
Marsha NEVER asks for a thank you, and does all her work behind the
scenes. I have spent many-a-night there while we have spent hours getting
things done. I admire her mother in law,
Betty Anne McVey in a way I don’t know that I can articulate correctly. She is
gentle but tough, kind but serious, and dedicated beyond words. Her ability be
direct and make things happen is amazing.
It takes a certain type of person to do what she does all day, and she does
it better than anyone I know. Joe
Mangino is a local hero in my book. Everything you have read and heard is true,
and he is the type of man I am sure most people hope their son grow up to be.
Dan Wilhelm works for ING and has come to our rescue more times than I can
count. What he has done to help our Sandy
Last but certainly not least – Addie Fraser and Jeff Melchiondo
Jr. EVERY SINGLE TIME the GSD needed something, they are there. Be it on their own or through D.O.V.E. We get families that have needs and send them
right there. I appreciate their dedication to our community.
All of these people have their own organizations, and do
their own thing. I am speaking their name because when we have needed help,
they have all come through. The GSD is NOT a “legitimate” organization and will
never be. We are just people of the community who pull together and get things
done. All the organizations were matched directly with needs we came upon, and
worked with the families themselves. That is what GSD is about - you tell us what you need and we can find
out how to try and make it happen. I
want to be clear that any name I mention helped people directly. These
organizations are all very serious about what they do and do it all by the
books. We just have found families with
needs, and these groups were often able to help. The integrity of wonderful
organizations is something that should never be compromised. We all have a role
in the Sandy
Why do I need to bring all this up? Why do I need to type all of this? Because
the GSD is so much more than anyone can describe in a few paragraphs. When out
home, our friends and our neighbors fell upon hard times – we joined together
and made things happen. Thank you from
the very bottom of my heart to everyone who stood up after Sandy
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