It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Lakewood Town Square gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Lakewood, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from”
“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living”
“I am a current client of this provider Your manager is always nice and flexible, and”
“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago”
“I just started using always best care for my dad The certified aids that came from the agency were fantastic This situation is new for myself and my dad For having no complaints from my dad is a plus So ty again for such an easy transition for my dad Much appreciated Susan”
“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”
“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”
“I am a current client of this provider Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”
“I am a current client of this provider We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”
“I am a current client of this provider We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Pine Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Estréia or visit Lakewood Historical Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Lakewood, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Lakewood, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Lakewood, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The school budget crisis in one of New Jersey’s fastest growing municipalities is so acute that its teachers are forced to look for new jobs, the local teachers’ union said this week.The Lakewood school district will run out of money this month if more state aid is not provided by Feb. 22 to offset a $19 million deficit, school officials warned last month. The di...
The school budget crisis in one of New Jersey’s fastest growing municipalities is so acute that its teachers are forced to look for new jobs, the local teachers’ union said this week.
The Lakewood school district will run out of money this month if more state aid is not provided by Feb. 22 to offset a $19 million deficit, school officials warned last month. The district is asking for an emergency loan from the state to stay out of the red and keep paying its teachers.
The Lakewood Education Association, the local teachers’ union, said in a statement this week it is “deeply concerned” about the Ocean County school district’s budget deficit, which threatens its members’ livelihood and has led teachers to worry about affording food and housing.
“Without secure employment or stability, our members have been left to search for employment elsewhere to provide their families with much-needed job security,” said union president Kimberlee Shaw. “All of that uncertainty and disruption threatens to undermine the quality of education that our students are receiving.”
“Our members are professionals who deserve to be compensated,” she said in a statement. “The budget deficit may gravely impact our members and the public school students of Lakewood if not addressed quickly.”
The district had 487 teachers, in addition to administrators and other staff members, during the 2022-23 school year, the latest available state data.
Union officials said the district is not going to recommend a staff reduction. The two parties will meet on a weekly basis as the budget crisis continues, they said.
District officials will also hold a Zoom call to meet with union members, officials said.
Michael Inzelbuch, the Lakewood school board attorney and spokesman, did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Murphy’s office declined to comment, citing ongoing legislation. The state Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Education previously declined to comment on Inzelbuch’s announcement last month, citing ongoing litigation over Lakewood’s school funding.
“On a general note, we can say that the Department continues to work with the Lakewood Board of Education to address its fiscal responsibilities, and we continue to work with officials from the district to assure adherence to state statutes and regulations, policies, and best practices to ensure the students receive the best education possible,” Laura Fredrick, a state Department of Education spokeswoman, previously said.
The school district in the predominantly Orthodox Jewish community has long struggled with the cost of providing busing and special education costs for students who attend private yeshivas in the area.
District officials have argued in court the state has critically underfunded Lakewood schools.
Last month, Inzelbuch said the district won’t be able to pay teachers, other staff and meet other financial obligations if it doesn’t quickly receive more state aid, the Asbury Park Press reported.
“The only thing that could help us is winning the lottery like someone did in Jackson yesterday,” Inzelbuch told the school board at its Jan. 22 meeting. “We are not making light of this.”
The district requested a $104 million state loan last March, the Asbury Park Press reported. The school board approved its $309 million school year budget for the 2024-25 school year, which included the expected loan.
But no loan has arrived from the state yet, school officials said.
Since 2014, the school district has borrowed $220 million from the state and still owes roughly $173 million, the Asbury Park Press reported. In 2023, the board received a $50 million loan after requesting a $96 million loan.
The state funding for the Lakewood school district is so low it violates students’ rights, lawyers for a public school parents group argued before a New Jersey appeals court in 2023.
All but 6,000 of the district’s 50,000 students attend private yeshivas, according to the legal proceedings. About 12% of the district’s $200 million budget in 2023 went to school transportation costs for private students.
The budget is also required to cover the private school students’ special education costs.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Brianna Kudisch may be reached at [email protected].
The school district in one of New Jersey’s fastest growing municipalities will run out of money next month if the state doesn’t provide more aid to help offset a $19 million deficit, school officials said last week.If state aid is not provided by Feb. 22, Lakewood school officials won’t be able to pay teachers, other staff and meet other financial obli...
The school district in one of New Jersey’s fastest growing municipalities will run out of money next month if the state doesn’t provide more aid to help offset a $19 million deficit, school officials said last week.
If state aid is not provided by Feb. 22, Lakewood school officials won’t be able to pay teachers, other staff and meet other financial obligations, board attorney and spokesman Michael Inzelbuch said during last Wednesday’s school board meeting, the Asbury Park Press reported.
“The only thing that could help us is winning the lottery like someone did in Jackson yesterday,” Inzelbuch told the board last week, the news outlet reported. “We are not making light of this.”
Inzelbuch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The school district in the predominantly Orthodox Jewish community has long struggled with the cost of providing busing and special education costs for students who attend private yeshivas in the area. District officials have argued in court Lakewood schools are critically underfunded by the state.
The Ocean County district requested a $104 million state loan last March, the Asbury Park Press reported. The school board approved its $309 million school year budget for the 2024-25 school year, which included the expected loan.
But no loan has arrived from the state yet, school officials said.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s office referred a request for comment to the state Department of Education, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Since 2014, the school district has borrowed $220 million from the state and still owes roughly $173 million, the Asbury Park Press reported. In 2023, the board received a $50 million loan after requesting a $96 million loan.
The state funding for the Lakewood school district is so low it violates students’ rights, lawyers for a public school parents group argued before a New Jersey appeals court in 2023.
In the predominantly Orthodox Jewish community, all but 6,000 of the district’s 50,000 students attend private yeshivas, according to the legal proceedings.
About 12% of the district’s $200 million budget in 2023 went to school transportation costs for private students, and the budget is also required to cover their special education costs.
Overall, the Lakewood district spends more than half of its budget on transportation and special education costs for nonpublic school students, according to the legal proceedings.
Former NJ Advance Media staff writer Tina Kelley contributed to this report.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Brianna Kudisch may be reached at [email protected].
A petitioner wants Brick, Toms River, Manchester, Jackson and Lakewood to become "one united city." Brick isn't interested, the mayor said.Patch StaffBRICK, NJ — Brick Township has no interest in merging with other local towns, in spite of a petition circulating locally that suggests otherwise.Mayor Lisa Crate issued a statement Wednesday in response to concerns raised by residents about the ...
Patch Staff
BRICK, NJ — Brick Township has no interest in merging with other local towns, in spite of a petition circulating locally that suggests otherwise.
Mayor Lisa Crate issued a statement Wednesday in response to concerns raised by residents about the petition on Change.org that urges Lakewood, Manchester, Jackson, Toms River and Brick to "create a city where families, businesses, and communities can grow and thrive."
"Imagine a thriving, united city built on collaboration, shared values, and endless opportunities," the petition, created Dec. 31, says. "By uniting into one city, we can unlock incredible benefits for everyone."
Crate rejected the petition's suggestion.
"I wanted to assure our residents here in Brick Township that this municipal governing body has no interest and will not be seeking to join any other municipality here in Ocean County to create a combined city," Crate said on her weekly Mayor's Minutes video. "Anyone can put a petition out and ask for anything that they want but it doesn't mean it that it's something that's going to happen."
The name of the person who created the petition is not listed; it's tagged simply "Lakewood Resident." It has been written about twice on the website Frum News, which suggests that unifying the five towns would alleviate issues facing Lakewood.
"Lakewood Township has grown exponentially in recent years, both in population and economic activity. With this rapid development, the current township structure faces significant challenges in delivering essential services, maintaining infrastructure, and planning for future growth," a Jan. 9 report on the petition said.
That site shared the petition again on Jan. 21, reiterating what the petition creator suggests would be the benefits of a merger of the five towns, claiming it would lower taxes, improve public services and infrastructure and "improved representation" in government.
Consolidating towns in New Jersey is a complicated process. Under the Municipal Consolidation Act of 1978, there are multiple steps that include a willingness of the towns' governing bodies to be considered for a consolidation. There are requirements for a study to show whether consolidation would benefit the towns, and consolidations must be approved by the voters in each affected municipality.
Princeton Borough and Princeton Township is one of the few mergers in the last 15 years, and that consolidation was 60 years and four tries in the making, then-Mayor Liz Lempert said in a 2017 interview in New Jersey Monthly, four years after the two towns merged.
That consolidation was of two relatively small towns; the population of Princeton in 2023 was just under 30,300, according to U.S. Census figures.
In 2021, the towns of Pine Hill and Pine Valley in Camden County consolidated, resulting in a borough of about 11,000 residents. NJ101.5 reported on the merger, saying it eliminated one of the smallest towns in the state.
New Jersey legislators have tried to encourage consolidation of towns in the state, but the focus has been on much smaller towns. In 2018 then-Senate President Stephen Sweeney was pushing for consolidation of 191 of the smallest towns in the state on the belief that it would reduce the property tax burden. It has not gained traction.
Trying to combine five of the largest towns in Ocean County — the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Lakewood's population at just under 140,000, Toms River at just under 100,000, Brick at just over 76,000, Jackson at 60,275 and Manchester at just over 46,000 in 2023, the most recent estimates available — would require approval of voters in all five towns, only after studies that have to have voter support as well.
"It would have to have agreeing municipal governing bodies wanting to do that," Crate said. "Brick Township is not interested in doing that."
"I wanted to assure everyone that it's a petition and a petition is all it is," she said, adding residents with questions could feel free to contact her at town hall.
LAKEWOOD - Charities can resume giving out food and warm clothing to the needy in the township after a lawyer representing five of the organizations reached an agreement with the township.Jeff Wild, a partner in the firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP, who has long advocated for the homeless, said that Lakewood agreed to allow the charities to resume distributing items at Town Square without obtaining a permit or signing any legal documents.The charities include Destiny's Bridge, which is run by Minister Steve Brigham, along with Food ...
LAKEWOOD - Charities can resume giving out food and warm clothing to the needy in the township after a lawyer representing five of the organizations reached an agreement with the township.
Jeff Wild, a partner in the firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP, who has long advocated for the homeless, said that Lakewood agreed to allow the charities to resume distributing items at Town Square without obtaining a permit or signing any legal documents.
The charities include Destiny's Bridge, which is run by Minister Steve Brigham, along with Food Angels, Pastor Alejandro Silva, Spirit of Truth World Vision Outreach and Lifting The Fallen Ministries.
"It was unconscionable for Lakewood to block at least five charities represented by this firm from feeding those who are hungry, and providing clothing to the cold — particularly now, in the midst of the holidays with winter almost here," said Wild, who represented the charities free of charge. "We are glad that Lakewood is respecting the rights of charities — and anyone — to help the poor, to free speech and to free assembly on public land."
NJ drought:Water levels at reservoirs and now some NJ aquifers hit record-lows as drought worsens
Representatives of the charities have agreed to send an email to township Manager Patrick Donnelly to let him know how many representatives of the charities will be handing out food or clothing on a particular date.
Brigham said shortly before Thanksgiving that he had been barred from distributing supplies in Town Square — as he has done for the past 25 years — the day after Election Day, when he was told he needed a permit. He had not been able to secure a permit from Lakewood for nearly three weeks.
Brigham said he was pleased that the dispute had been resolved.
"Lakewood Township wants to make sure the underprivileged are taken care of and accommodated to the best of the township’s ability," Township Attorney Steven Secare wrote in an email to Wild. "I spoke to the Mayor and Manager after our conversation and they again acknowledged that the concern of Lakewood is that order is maintained and people are helped."
More:Shore native artist named to 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Art & Style
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics for many years. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, [email protected]
LAKEWOOD, NJ — Authorities are investigating the theft of $15 million from the Lakewood Public Schools bank accounts over Presidents' Day weekend, according to a report.Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles confirmed the theft, the Asbury Park Press reported.The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment, saying in an email to Patch that it does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations.The Asbury Park Press report said about $8 million of the stolen money had been recovered.The theft comes as the...
LAKEWOOD, NJ — Authorities are investigating the theft of $15 million from the Lakewood Public Schools bank accounts over Presidents' Day weekend, according to a report.
Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles confirmed the theft, the Asbury Park Press reported.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment, saying in an email to Patch that it does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations.
The Asbury Park Press report said about $8 million of the stolen money had been recovered.
The theft comes as the district has been in dire financial straits. Lakewood schools officials told the state Department of Education that the district would run out of money and be forced to shut down if it did not receive help. The education department recently approved a $65 million loan for the public school district, the Press reported.
The Lakewood Schools are the only district in the state to receive a loan in the 2024-25 school year. In June 2024, state education officials said no district would be receiving loans to close budget gaps, instead offering up 9.9 percent tax levy increases that still left districts, including Toms River Regional and Jackson, with significant shortfalls.
Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael Citta announced Wednesday that the district is in negotiations with Ocean County over the school district's administration building at 1144 Hooper Ave. The building is appraised at $16 million, Citta said, which would be sufficient to close the 2024-25 budget gap of $12.4 million.
In Jackson, school officials have said they will merge the district's two high schools, Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty, and are planning to sell Christa McAuliffe Middle School, after having sold Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary in 2023, the Asbury Park Press has reported.
Jackson also plans to sue the state Department of Education because it is giving Lakewood a loan after refusing to provide loans to other districts for this school year, the Press report said.
Toms River Regional officials have declined to comment on the $65 million loan to the Lakewood schools, citing the district's lawsuit against the state over its funding cuts to the district.
The state Department of Education has not responded to a Patch request for comment on why it has agreed to a loan for Lakewood after telling districts across the state no loans would be available for the 2024-25 school year.
732-483-4611
