Volunteers Help Ready Union Beach Memorial School for the Fall

In the foyer near the entrance at Union Beach Memorial School, a piece of paper stapled to a cork board recognizes the students of the month for September 2012, all the way from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. 

The school didn't make it through the next month. 

Union Beach Memorial suffered significant loses during Hurricane Sandy as more than a foot of floodwater poured in causing structural and electrical damage and the loss of equipment and school supplies. The damage resulted in the closing of the school and forced Union Beach to scatter its grade school students among four other schools throughout the region.

The goal is to reopen the school in less than a month.

On Saturday, more than a 100 volunteers helped build furniture, paint murals, and create an e-reading center in the school's library for the children. Organized by Jersey Cares, volunteers from Fidelity Investments joined Memorial students, teachers, and faculty in the restoration effort.

"It has been rewarding in a sense," Memorial Principal Brian Walsh said of Sandy's impact on the school. "Just to know that the community has trusted us and been very supportive through this whole thing.

"It will be a great feeling coming back. There's no place like home."

Getting the school back into shape has been a long process, he said. The school's teachers and faculty stepped up almost immediately to lend a hand, volunteering their time even as they themselves were displaced. Organizations like Jersey Cares have also been invaluable. The non-profit group has led multiple volunteer efforts at several storm-battered schools throughout the Jersey Shore.

Heather O'Loughlin, director of corporate relations and service events said the response from corporations looking to lend a hand has been great.

"We've been working 24-7," she said. "As soon as the weather started getting nicer we started putting in calls. After companies have completed a project they ask, 'can we do more?'"

Members of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be at the Memorial School in Union Beach on May 28 from 9-3 pm helping the teachers get ready for the kids to return on Monday, June 3.

The retired teachers have also donated $2125 from our Philanthropic Fund to the Union Beach Education Association to use for the reopening.

The hard work is paying off. Soon they'll be able to update that student of the month sheet, said Walsh.