JSU Volunteer Disaster Relief Cabin
Jersey Shore United Inc started serving the Jersey Shore in 2012 after hurricane Sandy hit our shores. Now approaching our Ten-Year Anniversary JSU has realized that being local and long term takes some very special actions to continue; First is a ton of prayer, we have had thousands of folks pray for us from all over America. Without this there is no JSU. Second, we must keep Jesus first place as this is His ministry. During our orientation at the beginning of each week, we share with teams that we must keep Jesus first place and have the joy of the Lord in our hearts as we serve. Everyone experiences a disaster differently. Our job is to give a family hope. Third, serve our community by being the hands and feet of Jesus. With so much darkness in our state families need some light! With a pandemic nearly in our rear-view mirror Jersey Shore United is expanding our most precious God breathed program. “Hope in the Homestretch” is a home restoration program designed to get a family back into their home after a disaster when so many other efforts and organizations have failed. We are their last hope for returning home. JSU will not approve an application from a family after a full vetting process unless we have a specific plan to move them back in to their house. We are not perfect but it is our prayer and mission to do so.
JSU is expanding this program to include a “Community Care” piece to low-income home owners. During hurricane Sandy we spoke to hundreds of families that had homes in disrepair and in many cases unsafe but were not impacted by the hurricane. Jersey Shore United will now accept applications from low-income home owners that need help restoring their primary residence. The home owner must complete a full vetting process and prove they will remain in the home and have the ability to financially cover monthly expenses once repairs our complete. JSU uses the state of NJ low to middle income charts as part of the qualification process. Acceptance will depend on available volunteers and funds. Jersey Shore United will always serve as a Christian disaster recovery organization when needed. Community Care will allow JSU to serve our home land when there are no disasters.
After turning to the Lord and seeking guidance from people much smarter than we are, JSU knew that the only way to continue and survive was to house and host our own missionary volunteer teams. Most Christian non-profits fail because of lack of funds. In disaster, most of the funds that allow a non-profit to operate come from their volunteers. By keeping Christ first place and having purposeful work projects volunteers support our mission. JSU’S prayer is to remain relevant, effective, and encouraging.
So with the Lord guiding us, A MIRACLE HAPPENED! In September of 2019 Jersey Shore United was blessed. Seabox, (seabox.com) a Jersey based company specializing in the conversion of Conex storage containers, donated a three-bedroom, one-bath storage container home to JSU. Praise the Lord, it was a miracle and a gift from God. As we made arrangements to transport and put in place our new missionary volunteer cabin to its new home, the pandemic hit and the government was shutdown. Now two and half years later we are nearly there. Our building is on the property of The Church of Grace and Peace in Toms River, its new home. Permits are being filed and the work is being scheduled.
Because of the extremely long delay however, Jersey Shore United Needs You! Although the building was donated, this is the most expensive project JSU has ever taken on. This is the first time we have had to navigate the government for ourselves with the planning board, zoning board, building department etc. Also, our own team of architects, attorneys, project planners. engineers, and tradesman. But the Lord continues to bless this project and our efforts. We must raise an additional $40,000.00 to complete our project and have funds to operate. This will allow us to host teams this summer!
So, we are asking, would you prayerfully consider a generous financial gift to get us over the finish line and up and operating by this summer. You can click this link to give securely online. Because this is so important, we want to thank everyone who becomes a partner with us on this project of the Lord. Anyone who donates $50 or more or becomes a monthly donor of any amount will be part of JSU’s Heaven’s Gate where your name will be engraved in a brick and part of our walkway entrance to our cabin. Also, there will be a sign for all to see, leaving no question of Jersey Shore United’s mission on the front of our cabin:
All who enter are selfless warriors of the Lord.
We are committed to save souls,
share the hope of Jesus,
and increase the kingdom of God.
Thank you for taking this journey with us. Thank you for being part of a project of the Lord. Thank you for supporting your local community. Thank you for supporting those less fortunate here on the Jersey Shore.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord keep you; may the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you, may the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6: 24-26
For questions or more information please email Barry Moll, President of Jersey Shore United at barry@jerseyshoreunited.org
To make a donation, you can click here for our secure online giving page.