Just before "Super Saturday" kicked off, the ambulance bays and storage areas at the Bayville First Aid Squad buildings were filled nearly up to the ceilings with donations.
The myriad of items were testimony to the generosity of others, not just from Bayville, not just from Ocean County, but as far away as Florida.
Just ask Bill Vernay - the third generation of a family-owned moving company and Paterson native - who helped truck 350 boxes of donations from Florida residents up to Bayville.
The devastation at the Jersey Shore hit home for many in the Ft. Myers and Coral Gables area, because many are originally from New Jersey, including Vernay, whose parents rented a home in Seaside Heights for many summers.
10,000 pounds of care
"There are a lot of people from New Jersey," Vernay said. "They came to me. One of my drivers brought it up. I flew into Atlantic City and rented a car."
The relief supplies were put together by the Notre Dame Club, The United Irish Club, the Moose Lodge and Eagles Club in Lee County, Florida, he said.
"Each box in essence is a hurricane relief kit that a family may use to help recover from the storm," said Dan McWeeny, President of the United Irish of Southwest Florida.
Some of the boxes and bags came with handwritten notes to storm victims.
"NY-NJ, God Bless" was written in Magic Marker one bag.
"These are people who really care," Vernay said. "They retired from this area. They never expected this to happen."
Donations included clothing of all sizes, shoes, cleaning supplies, personal items, toothpaste, toys, tools, non-perishable canned and boxed foods, paper products, hand-knit afghans, blankets, bedding and even some Christmas items.
The event was coordinated by Central Regional High School Vice-Principal Michelle Ramsay, who credited Superintendent Triantafillos Parlanpanides and Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. for coming up with the idea.
Other donations came from as far as Virginia. Some of the items given away yesterday were from previous local food and clothing drives, Ramsay said.
Yesterday's event ran from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Members of the New Jersey National Guard were also on hand to truck any leftover items to their barracks, where they have been deployed.
"The point of this was also to give back to all who have given to us," she said. "We are happy we are able to help and grateful to those who continue to donate."
At one point yesterday afternoon, a small boy approached one of the National Guardsmen as he loaded boxes on a truck.
"Will you be my Dad?" the boy asked him.
"Son, I'm every kid's Dad," he replied.
Additional Thanks goes to Mark Vannella and his Sanitation crew, Berkeley PD, and Mayor Carmen Amato for their support. Special thanks: CR Board member Denise Pavone-Wilson, Superintendent Dr.Parlapanides, Principal Dr. Corbett, Supervisors Louise Pesci & Felicya Morreale, Assistant Principal Tim Murphy, Central teachers and students that volunteered, and those from the community that graciously stepped in and sorted cloths for hours. This event brought tears to people's eyes, and warmed their hearts with your generosity.