St. Francis Community Center Back Open, Reaching out To Sandy Victims

St. Francis Community Center, located at 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township, has reopened its doors following Sandy, and is reaching out to those affected by the storm.

Supportive services such as utility, mortgage/rent and Sandy relief are currently at the Community Center on Long Beach Island.

The Hurricane Sandy Support Group is scheduled to start Feb. 13, 2013 and run for 10 weeks. There is no cost to participate and the Support Group will meet at the Community Center on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Please call 609-494-1554 to register.

There will be a Hurricane Sandy Legal Clinic at St. Francis Community Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Please join  for a free presentation by attorneys from Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services on legal issues arising out of Sandy. The presentation is free and open to all. Registration is not required.

Those affected by Sandy are asked to call 609-494-8861 ext. 197.

Hours of the Community Center are: Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursdays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p,m. The Center will be temporarily closed on Sundays.

The indoor pool reopened on Monday, Jan. 7th. Session III swim lessons and classes are scheduled to start on Saturday, Jan. 12th. Interested parties are asked to register at the front desk of the Community Center. High school swim team practices and the LBI/EJ School will be able to continue their physical education swim class. The pool is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The St. Francis Senior Services - located at 179 S. Main Street - Manahawkin - has never closed or experienced service interruption. St. Francis Senior Services in Brant Beach will be operational as a satellite office as planned. All congregate meals will be held on the mainland, but LBI Senior Services will be open daily and all activities will resume.

The St. Francis Food Pantry is temporarily located at the Southern Ocean Service Center on Route 9 in Manahawkin. The Pantry is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Officials with St. Francis said they are hopeful to return to the center by the end of January. Updates will be posted on www.stfranciscenterlbi.org when available.

Parenting and Anger Management groups are also in progress. Those interested in attending the group can call 609-494-8861 to register. Parents as Teachers and Maintaining the Integrity of Spanish Speaking Families have connected with their families and have resumed in home services. The Auto Ownership Program is accepting donations of cars to assist TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) participants in need of transportation to work.

All repairs have been made to the gymnasium and Prep League basketball games are scheduled to start January 19.

Counseling Services are also back at the Community Center and is open Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. St. Francis Counseling Services provides individuals, couples and families with affordable, professional psychotherapy services addressing a wide range of issues. Services are available to all regardless of race, sex, age, disability, income or religious affiliations. For more information, please call 609-494-1554.

Children’s Services has also resumed pre-school and childcare programs on Jan. 2. The outside playground was totally washed away and is not able to be opened. St. Francis will require financial assistance to replace the area.

External operations are still in recovery mode. Please call the Center if you have any questions or visit St. Francis Community Center on-line at:
www.stfranciscenterlbi.org