Charitable Foundation Helps Local Families in Times of Disaster

TINTON FALLS, November 16, 2010 –The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross is proud to collaborate with The Francis A. Norkus Memorial Charitable Foundation, Inc. to help families who need immediate Red Cross disaster assistance in our community. Norkus Foundation has donated $2,000 each year for the next five years in the form of gift cards that can be used at any of the 17 Foodtown locations throughout Monmouth & Ocean Counties. The Jersey Coast Chapter disaster volunteer team will have the gift cards on hand at local disasters to give out to help the families who have experienced a disaster so they can get their necessities.

Norkus Foodtown has had a long history of helping the community and those in need, mirroring the mission and message of the American Red Cross. The Norkus Charitable Foundation raised over $95,000 this year which was donated to local non profit organizations which help the young, hungry and needy. The Jersey Coast Chapter is proud and honored to work alongside such philanthropic people. “It is because of these types of partnerships that we are able to continue our work in Monmouth and Ocean Counties,” said Tara Kelly, CEO of the Jersey Coast Chapter. “We are grateful to have such charitable donors like the Norkus family.”

The yearly contribution from the Francis A. Norkus Memorial Charitable Foundation, Inc. will ease the burden of a single mother who has lost her home in a fire and will enable her to feed her family during their time of need. Families who experience a disaster will be able to use their gift card on anything in Foodtown stores such as food, medications, infant care supplies, etc.

In addition to providing emergency food, on Sunday, December 5th, a blood drive will be held at the Foodtown in Neptune from 9am-3pm. Please call 732-776-9564 to reserve a time slot to make a donation and save a life. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood and your Jersey Coast Chapter collected over 9,000 units of blood last year alone, essentially saving the lives of 30,000 people.


Contact:MELISSA DEGENNARO
Office: 7324939100 x 1228
Cellular: 9086921652
melissad@jerseycoast-redcross.org