We need to build bridges in Ocean County.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated about the misunderstanding and bias that exist about the Orthodox community in Lakewood area, you’re not alone.

A little over three years ago, a group of frum local residents got together and brainstormed how break stereotypes and reduce tension. Just maybe, they thought, we could find common ground with our neighbors and connect as people to remove some of the stigma and mistrust that we seemed to bump into, both online and in real life.

And so, in their quest to build bridges, they created an organization that does just that; One Ocean County, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. In it they’ve created a new sense of community and belonging for so many who felt left out or uneasy about the local demographic changes that have been happening at a dizzying fast pace.

Whether it was visitors learning in Common Grounds, the new community garden, Afghan refugees receiving items collected or local people in need of a hot meal and warm environment on a cold February night, One Ocean brought a message of kindness, compassion and unity to people across Ocean County, NJ and beyond.

Through the generous support of people like you, here is what they accomplish:

• Hosted a Superbowl CommUNITY Party for the homeless with delicious hot food, free haircuts and gift bags at Urban Air in Toms River.
• Worked with Lakewood township, Lakewood Police Department and local youth groups on building and maintaining Common Grounds Community Garden: a productive habitat for both people and pollinators, growing flowers and food for our community to share.
• Collaborated with the Lakewood Police Department by hosting a booth at Night Out Against Crime to educate the community about the Common Grounds Community Garden and gardening at home.
• Hosted hands-on gardening workshops for families, kids, teens and seniors both at the community garden and offsite.
• Coordinated with on-site service members at the Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst to facilitate a large scale donation of food, clothing, shoes, toys, and medication in time for the newly arrived Afghan refugees.

And this message of compassion and community reached way past Ocean County. These efforts were lauded in multiple media outlets.

Additionally, their work was recognized by The Jewish Federation of Ocean County in their recent Community of Caring event for their Hero Against Hate award making it clear that this outreach made an impression in the greater community.

None of this could have happened without the generous funding we received from local residents and businesses including Brookstone Management, Link Home Therapy, and Spring Oak Management. They bought into our vision, and believed that change was needed, and so they gave. This year, we’re hoping to do even more to increase communication, tolerance and cooperation between the many groups of residents who call Ocean County home. And we’re asking you to help us make all of it happen.

Your donation, of any size, lets us do the work we do on behalf of all of us.

Because investing in our community is the best thing we can do to create a safe, happy and welcoming Ocean County where we and all our families can thrive.