With her daughter living in Brick Township, Jennifer Kaufman was - like many - watching the news on the day Sandy hit, and afterward, worried about her daughter Lily and the rest of her friends at the Jersey Shore.
Kaufman, who lives in Bergen County, felt like she needed to do something.
"My daughter lives in Brick on the water. She had damage, and it was frustrating because I couldn't get to her at first," she said. The self-described "computer geek" took to the Internet and started a Facebook group: "A Place at the Table, A Thanksgiving Table Share."
The website aims to match people who have been displaced by the storm - or those workers who may be away from their families but have come to New Jersey to help with relief efforts - with people who may need a Thanksgiving dinner this week.
In the week since the page launched, Kaufman said about 350 families have signed up to help out.
Earlier today, one family simply requested a turkey, and had one delivered the same day by another Toms River-area resident. Kaufman said she is letting people know if they are matched up with a family once someone from a specific area puts in a request. She is expecting to contact families this week, as it gets closer to Thanksgiving day.
She said the outpouring of support for the site has been "overwhelming," but she said, she understands why people want to help.
"We've all been affected by this storm," she said. "People just want to help each other." To register to be a host family or be hosted, click on this link.
