Focus on the Good

Give Food and Get Food
  1. Give Food and Items
  2. Get Food

Host: Islamic Society of Monmouth County

  • When: Friday, July 10th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • Where: Islamic Center, 496 Red Hill Rd., Middletown
  • What: If you are a family in need, the Islamic Center will be providing milk, cheeses, fresh produce and fruits for curbside pickup. Social distancing will be enforced. One family member per pickup please.

Host: Middletown School Nurses and Middletown Helps Its Own

  • When: Ongoing
  • Where: There is a trailer located at the Middletown Township Police Department, 1 Kings Highway, Middletown
  • What: During these challenging times, please support our local families in need. Monetary donations can be sent via the Venmo app to @Middletown-Helpsitsown or you can mail a donation to Middletown Helps Its Own, 66 Main Street, Port Monmouth, NJ 07758.  If you would prefer to drop off food, please leave non-perishable goods in the trailer at the Police Department.

A virtual place to visit that highlights the positive stories in our community during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

111Lincroft Fire Company and the Ladies Auxiliary held a very successful Baby Items & Adult Toiletries Drive-Thru Drop Off on Saturday, May 23. Thank you to all who donated!

pomo food driveDespite the heavy rain on Saturday, May 23, Port Monmouth Fire Company collected three loads of canned and non-perishable food items, as well as countless monetary donations, to support Middletown Helps Its Own. A big thank you to the community for supporting their Food Drive!

8-year-old Sophia Collett Sews for a Cause

Sophia Collett, a 2nd grade student at Nut Swamp Elementary School, has been juggling virtual learning with a side-job of sewing face masks for multiple causes in our community!

IMG_0015The 8-year-old learned to sew by taking classes and with her mom Jennifer’s guidance. The idea of sewing masks to donate to first responders became a reality when Sophia’s swim coach texted her parents about face mask sewing kits that were being provided by JOANN Fabrics that coincided with a philanthropy project that her teacher had assigned. Her mom posted about her project on social media to see if anyone needed masks and received a huge response. Once the family realized the need, Sophia decided to ask for $5 per mask and the money earned would be donated to first responders. She was able to raise funds to send dinner to the Labor & Delivery Department at Monmouth Medical Center, two days of meals to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, and lunch to the Middletown Township Police Department. Sophia then decided that she wanted to donate money to the Middletown Township all-volunteer Fire Department in memory of her mom’s uncle who was a firefighter who died in the line of duty. "Honestly, this was the hardest we saw her work," said parents Jennifer and Christopher Collett. "She wanted to donate as much as she could in honor of ’bear,’ said her proud mom.

Sophia raised $1000 for the MTFD and continues to deliver masks to organizations that need them. In her spare time, she also made "hero" headbands that were donated to local hospitals. We extend our sincere appreciation for this amazing young woman’s efforts!

Thank you to those who donated to Middletown Helps Its Own

Thank you to everyone who has donated to Middletown Helps Its Own over the last few weeks. Because of your generosity, Middletown Social Services and MHIO have been able to feed over 330 community members per week, including 56 families and 120 senior citizens.

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Thanks to the community's generosity, Lincroft Fire Company collected three truck loads of nonperishable food as well as cash donations for the Salvation Army and Lunch Break at their Drive-Thru Food Drive on Saturday, May 9!

Fundraising for PPE

Middletown Township would like to thank the Hampel Family & Friends for raising money to purchase PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for our frontline heroes in memory of Port Monmouth firefighter Robert Weber who fell victim to COVID-19 last month. Through their generosity, the following items were purchased:

  • 100 Isolation gowns
  • 50 Face shields
  • 100 pairs Nitrile gloves
  • 25 Coveralls

We are fortunate to have such giving members in our community.

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Middletown's Virtual Game of Catch!

Recreation Director Janet Dellett challenged Middletown residents young and "seasoned" to a virtual game of catch and you all knocked it out of the park! Over 100 households sent in videos with a total of 160 clips. The ball (or roll of toilet paper in some cases!) zigzagged across Middletown over 250 miles! Thank you to all who participated.

MTPL & MTPS Work Together to Create Reusable Personal Protective Face Shields for Those on COVID-19 Front Line

Face Mask Donations by MTPL and MTPSMayor Perry surrounded by face shields created through a collaborative effort between the Middletown Township Public School District and Middletown Township Public Library.

The Middletown Township Public Library (MTPL) and the Middletown Township Public School District (MTPS) have been working together to make reusable PPE face shields for those on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. Face shields have already been delivered to Township emergency services personnel and employees who deal with the public directly, and they have been making more for local medical professionals and first responders.

"Thanks to a great team led by Marc Seigel from the School District and several staff members from our library, we already have 100 face shields ready to donate to Bayshore Medical Center," said Mayor Tony Perry. "We are proud to do our part in supporting our health care heroes."

This collaborative effort began when a library patron reached out to see if her sister, who is a nurse, could use face shields that were made by 3D printers, knowing that the library has one. Included in her note were links to directions on how to make a face shield on a 3D printer.

Read the Community Advisory.

Middletown School Nurses Team Up with Health Department

(Watch a video about all our school nurses have been doing in our community.)

The Middlnurses video w rich Opens in new windowetown Township Public School's certified school nurses are working with the Middletown Township Health Department to assist in COVID-19 case investigations and contact tracing of positive residents. The collaborative effort between and the Township was spearheaded by Middletown High School North Nurse Eileen Gavin and Middletown Health Department Director Rich DeBenedetto.

The Middletown School Nurses are dedicated and trained professionals who are also offering case management resources for issues that many people face, such as food insecurities, financial challenges and mental health referrals.

For additional resources and information from the MTPS nursing staff, please visit the new Virtual Health Office.

Middletown Township Holds Welcome Home Procession for Army Major Matthew Zilinski!

View the photo album.

Check out the segment that aired on News 12 New Jersey.

IMG_9352Thank you IMG_9354to All American Restoration for disinfecting 70 police, fire & EMS vehicles in Middletown! The company is offering free disinfecting to all Monmouth County first responders.

Middletown PBA Thanks Face Mask-Making Team

The members of Middletown Township Face masksPBA Local 124 gave Kathy Straniero (who happens to be Middletown Social Services Director) and her team, daughter Laura Straniero and sister Margie Yager, a huge thank you for taking the time to make and donate over 100 Thin Blue Line face masks.

Mayor Tony Perry Hosts Zoom Meeting With Girl Scouts to Plan Cookie Delivery to Frontline Hospital Workers

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Mayor Tony Perry recently hosted a Zoom chat with Girl Scout Troop Number 1382. The Scouts are 5th graders from Nut Swamp Elementary School. The agenda for the Zoom meeting was to discuss arrangements to pick up and deliver the troop's four cases of delicious Girl Scout cookies to the healthcare workers at Bayshore Medical Center, in Holmdel. Mayor Perry discussed with the Girl Scouts how much the cookies will be a 'great pick me up' for all of the doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers on the frontline who will enjoy them!

Read more about Middletown Mayor Tony Perry Hosts Zoom Meeting With Girl Scouts to Plan Cookie Delivery to Frontline Hospital Workers!