Saint John Vianney High School students, administrators, faculty, staff and alumni are serving the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy.  The students from SJV spent Tuesday, November 20, 2012 volunteering their time at Children’s Wear in Hazlet, NJ. Campus Minister Jeff Johnson coordinated the efforts with Children’s Wear.  Since Hurricane Sandy, Children’s Wear has become the largest distributing center in NJ. They are open every day and are staffed strictly by volunteers.

Children’s Wear has received donations from Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. Kim Castles, a 1989 graduate of SJVHS and a former Union Beach resident collected items and sent them to NJ from North Carolina, where she now resides.

Cliff Moore, the Director of Beacon of Hope is heading the efforts at Children’s Wear. He spoke to the students and explained to them the importance of volunteering, “This distribution center cannot succeed without volunteers. We need to give back to those that have suffered such a great loss due to Hurricane Sandy. “ Mr. Moore also explained how the outpouring of donations has been so overwhelming and amazing, but they have had to turn some donations away because they are completely full and do not have any more room in the facility.

The SJVHS students helped with sorting clothes, mopping the floors, vacuuming the rugs, breaking down boxes and organizing the back stock room. The students were all very happy to lend  a hand in the relief efforts. Many have been volunteering with their families, friends and teams over the past few weeks. Students have volunteered in Union Beach, Atlantic Highlands and Staten Island. They have helped with clean-up and handing out food and drinks to those in need.

Members of the SJVHS Administration spent Tuesday afternoon in “Tent City” in Union Beach. Principal Steven DiMezza, Assistant Principal of Academics John Niesz, Director of Student Activities Michele Langdon and Director of Advancement Kristy Geoghan delivered food, cleaning supplies and other items to those in need. All of the items were donated by the SJVHS community. The “Tent City” in Union Beach is made up of volunteers from around the country. Word spread on Facebook that Union Beach was in desperate need of help. The group of volunteers cooks and serves food to over 1500 people a day and then sleep in the tents located next to Union Beach Firehouse.