Ocean County to approve multi-million dollar lifeline for senior services

Erik Larsen, Asbury Park Press
·3 min read
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TOMS RIVER - The Ocean County Board of Commissioners plans to authorize $7.4 million in federal, state and county funds for 25 contracts covering 50 social service programs at its first regular meeting of 2023 next week.

The appropriations come just as Commission Director Joseph H. Vicari has written to President Joe Biden, with a request for more federal aid for home-delivered meals to local senior citizens in need, and greater environmental protection measures for the Shore and Barnegat Bay.

At an agenda session of the board on Wednesday, Vicari said that a growing number of the county’s estimated 200,000 senior citizens are now 85 and older.

“Please help us continue our work in protecting our vulnerable senior citizen population,” Vicari wrote in his letter to the president. “I know you will agree with me that our seniors have given their all for their nation and they have earned our support and our help.”

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Last year, Ocean County –— through its contractor –— delivered 307,450 meals to seniors. Additionally, almost 10,000 meals were served in 2022 at “congregate nutrition sites” or community centers at locations in Brick, Jackson, Stafford and Waretown.

Ocean County anticipates that it will administer funding for almost 324,000 home-delivered meals in 2023, according to county officials.

“We saw the number of meals almost triple at the congregate nutrition sites last year,” Vicari said. “We anticipate those numbers to increase in the new year.”

Newly appointed Ocean County Board Of Commisiioners Director Joe Vicari walks to his seat behind Deputy Director Gary Quinn and Commissioner Virginia E, Haines before their organizational meeting Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the county's Administration Building in Toms River.
Newly appointed Ocean County Board Of Commisiioners Director Joe Vicari walks to his seat behind Deputy Director Gary Quinn and Commissioner Virginia E, Haines before their organizational meeting Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the county's Administration Building in Toms River.

Maria LaFace, director of the county’s Office of Senior Services, said the county government will benefit this year from additional revenue made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was the $1.9 trillion stimulus package that the Biden administration had advocated for amid the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So, it is a good year and we’re able to meet more needs,” LaFace said.

As for Barnegat Bay, Vicari wrote it was “the true jewel of Ocean County” and that more money was needed “to assist us in guaranteeing that the bay will be enjoyed by generations yet to come.”

Vicari said additional federal funds could be used to support the county’s pump-out boat program –— which provides sewage removal services to the boating public –— and for new educational programs about the importance of bay protection.

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“Ocean County also has more than 44 miles of oceanfront property, the most in New Jersey,” he wrote. “The preservation of our coastline depends on further cooperation between our county, our towns and Washington.”

County contracts for social services work for seniors will be awarded to the following organizations and municipal governments on Wednesday include:

  • Community Services Inc.: $3.4 million contract for home-delivered meals.

  • Manchester: $115,000.

  • Toms River Senior Center: $115,000.

  • Long Beach Island Community Center: $225,000.

  • Visiting Homemaker Service of Ocean County Inc.: $319,882.

  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton –— “Fix It” program: $69,000.

  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton –— social support services programs: $94,713.

  • Jewish Federation of Ocean County: $43,000.

  • Brick: $165,500 (includes congregate meals).

  • Preferred Behavioral Health of New Jersey: $120,000.

  • Lakewood Community Services Corp., (which also provides home-delivered meals and social support services): $939,866.

  • Community Health Law: $130,366.

  • Southern Ocean Medical Center: $15,000.

  • Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey: $180,484.

  • Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus: $65,000.

  • Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity: $79,293.

  • Community Medical Center Foundation: $40,000.

  • Interfaith Health and Support Services of Southern Ocean County Inc.: $41,117.

  • Plumsted: $10,000.

  • Jackson: $17,700.

  • Point Pleasant: $30,990.

  • Compass 82 Inc.: $100,000.

  • Waretown (includes congregate meals): $107,845.

  • Stockton University: $21,295.

  • Inspire NJ (includes congregate meal services): $102,200.

  • Ocean County Board of Social Services: $735,453 (includes funds for senior assisted transportation services, safe housing and transportation services, adult protective services, comprehensive care management services and caregiver support).

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean County NJ to approve $7.4M in senior services contracts