Just Believe’s Fall into Fall Gift Auction & Food Truck Event
This past Saturday, I spent a couple of hours at the Just Believe Fall Gift Auction & Foodfest at the Lakewood Community Center. Journey’s Health & Wellness joined forces with Just Believe to raise funds for a building project called, “Larry’s Home.”
According to the organization’s President and CEO, Paul Hulse, “Just Believe Inc. is embarking on a project to build the first transitional home in Ocean County, New Jersey on land donated to our organization. The home will be named Larry’s Home in honor of deceased veteran Larry Robertiello and veterans will have priority regarding living at the home.”
“Larry was my friend from childhood in that we had been close since grade school. It was this friendship that inspired me, as CEO/President of Just Believe Inc., to create our Larry’s Home project.”
Dozens upon dozens of gift baskets and gift cards were donated mostly by local businesses and friends of the organization. There were skincare baskets, baskets that contained every utensil and counter appliance one would need for a kitchen makeover, gift cards from local restaurants, local fitness businesses, local bed and breakfast establishments, local jewelry makers, and so much more.
Door prizes were given away every 15 minutes. The organization’s volunteers are wonderful, dedicating their time to making the event a success. Each person was responsible for a different assignment, from manning tables, to handing out gifts to the auction’s winners. I want to commend them all and thank them for all their hard work. Special thanks Paul Hulse, Madeline (the photographer Princess), Angelica (the door prize Goddess), Melissa (the 50/50 raffle ticket Queen),and D.J. Miguel (the music man) for making me feel so at home. I ‘m excited to volunteer my time to this organization in some capacity in the near future. Perhaps at their boutique thrift store across from Aldi’s on 37 in Toms River.
The next fundraiser will be held December 1st at Maruca’s Tomato Pies® 601 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751. The cost is $25 per person, children under 12 free. There will be free parking. Your $25 donation includes pizza, pasta, and soft drinks. Beer and wine will be discounted.
This event will fund the upcoming code blue season to help our homeless friends in our Toms River community and other Ocean County towns.
