SJV Alumni Gives Back

Leah Carton, School News Editor

Jakeabob’s Bay, a beach-side restaurant located on 525 Front St. in Union Beach, was left in ruins after Hurricane Sandy rumbled its way through town on October 29. The damage done to Jakeabob’s Bay included parts of its deck, which once sat 300 guests,  and the popular tiki bar left lying on various  streets throughout Union Beach .

Former employee of the restaurant for six years, Jill Carton, said when she heard about the damage done to Jakeabob’s “I thought it was a bad dream, I really didn’t believe it until I saw pictures of it”. Despite the wreckage Sandy has done to her own business, owner and SJV alumni Gigi Liaguno-Dorr is volunteering her time to help those that were also affected by the tropical storm.

Liaguno-Dorr and her staff keep themselves busy by distributing food and supplies twice a day to the victims in Union Beach via bus.  According to an interview with the Star Ledger, Liaguno-Dorr said “if I don’t continue to be busy, I will completely become undone”, the Jakeabob’s staff has also worked with churches to gather donations and bring in volunteers to run a crisis center at Union Beach’s Municipal Building to help the victims.  According to The Wall Street Journal, the damage done to Union Beach includes the destruction of 200 homes and flooding in nearly 1000 homes, making houses uninhabitable.

In addition to volunteering, Liaguno-Dorr has also taken in friends, even acquaintances, into her home, which was running on a generator during the power outage. During such a difficult time it is important to remember that it is not about what people can do for you, it is what you can do for others. Liaguno-Dorr’s story inspires others that no matter what, you can always give back to people by helping your community. “It is a small town but, when I tell you a small town, it’s all love” said Liaguno-Dorr.

If you want to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy that reside in Union Beach, donations of certain items are still being accepted at the Borough of Union Beach, 650 Poole Ave, Union Beach, NJ 07735. You can also visit unionbeach.net for what donations are still being accepted, Hurricane Sandy recovery assistance and, other information.