Manasquan Cleanup Brings Community Together

As a member of a community still recovering following Hurricane Sandy, Manasquan High School student Eric Dzenis said it's just kind of become a responsibility.

When it comes to helping the shore town make its comeback, everyone's got to do their part.

On Saturday, the Manasquan Environmental Commission held its annual a volunteer-driven cleanup event that targets Stockton Lake Park, Tassini Park, hidden beach, and the area between the elementary school and Route 71. 

Typically, volunteers will find plenty of cans, some clothing and other sundry waste, much of its callously dumped by the decidedly environmentally unfriendly. This year, in addition to the usual trash, the cleanup yielded plenty of lumber, pieces of siding, lumber, and other items deposited throughout the borough property by Sandy's flood waters. 

And residents were there to pick it up.

"I thought I needed to chip in and help out with what happened after Sandy," Dzenis said. "I think everyone's really putting in their time. Even if they weren't entirely affected by Sandy they know someone who was."

According to Manasquan Councilman Ed Donovan, about 100 volunteers helped collect trash and debris Saturday. The group included plenty of students from the high school's Key Club, lacrosse team, and environmental club, as well as local Girl Scouts.

Donovan said the effort included a couple who traveled more than 30 miles to help out simply because Manasquan is their favorite beach town. 

The cleanup has been going on for about five years. Over that time, Jane Donovan said the amount of trash collected has declined as the cleanup has kept the waste in check.

This year was another story. A lingering impact of Sandy has been the debris it distributed along the shore and in tidal waterways, debris that needs to be picked up by someone. 

Manasquan lacrosse player JD Kuper said the community has risen to the occasion. 

"I think it just shows that when a crisis strikes everyone comes out to lend a hand," he said. "Sometimes you lose that since of community, but when something bad happens - it's unfortunate - but the community comes together to help like a family."