Burners Without Borders – Sandy Relief

Current Projects

Recent Posts

• Volunteers Restore Habitat in County Park
• Maps & Stats update
• Happy New Year from BWB in Union Beach!
• From BWB Volunteer John Dos Bicycles
• January 4th – Monmouth Battlefield Park Cleanup

BWB in the news

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This past Friday I had the opportunity to work outside of Union Beach at the serene Monmouth Battleground State Park. The plan was to work with park staff to clear brush. When we met with foresters John and Duffy, we learned that we would be clearing out a maple grove or “sugarbush,” which is a group of maple trees that are tapped for sap to produce syrup. This particular sugarbush is used as an educational tool to teach schoolchildren about where food comes from. John was concerned that the brush would block access to the trees and they would be unable to make syrup. They stressed that it was for educational purposes only, even though they did eat the maple syrup at the end.

The park is the site of a major artillery battle during the revolutionary war, and it hosts reenactments every year in addition to hiking trails, picnic areas and playgrounds. The battle was a draw due to heat exhaustion, but we came prepared for the winter conditions. This was supposed to be a long day and we came with full water bottles, tea in a thermos and cold weather gear. Our team of volunteers from Americorps and BWB were able to clear the sugarbush and taste some of the syrup in a few short hours. John the forester used a chainsaw to cut up large branches, and we piled the wood into shelters for animals to use over the winter. Because we cleared the sugarbush so quickly, we were able to move through the park, making piles of brush that could be later collected with heavy equipment. As a team we were able to make a big impact on the park to allow the picnicking and syrup collecting to continue.

Today is our 40th day in Union Beach with heavy equipment deployed. In this time we’ve cleared debris and houses from 61 sites, have an additional five sites scheduled for today, and 67 additional sites in progress. Click on the markers in the map to see photos of these homes and get a sense of the damage Sandy dished out to this town.

We wouldn’t be able to help the community of Union Beach in this way without support from the BWB community worldwide. We rely on your donations and volunteer efforts to make the magic happen!

View BWB – Union Beach Debris Removal Map in a full screen map

It’s been a busy and beautiful 2013 so far for our team in Union Beach, NJ. We’re looking forward to a productive new year and continuing to help communities affected by Sandy.

Our pals at Rebuild Recover from Red Bank, NJ, joined us yesterday, and we look forward to our future collaborations with them. They have been rock stars (literally) in their actions to raise awareness and funds for groups like Burners Without Borders, and identifying communities with specific needs and how to address them.

Here’s a map of our December debris removal activities. Updated data can be found on the Union Beach Debris Removal Map

As always, we’d like to invite you to support BWB’s efforts in New Jersey by Donating and/or Volunteering with us.

I just had the pleasure of spending a few days volunteering with Burners Without Borders working in Union Beach, NJ. The city is one of the hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy. I have ties to central NJ and wanted to do something constructive with my down time around the end of year holidays.

Before I got to the site I was told I might be helping with anything from demolition or site clean-up to preparing meals for other volunteers.  I arrived with the idea that I had 2 able hands and would help in any way possible.

The pictures of the area that you see in the media are extreme, but nothing captures the feeling of seeing the damage in person. So many people lost so much. The impact really sinks in when you see homes knocked down, walls and roofs torn off, a child’s toy half-buried in muck, or someone’s kitchen set strewn around in what used to be a back yard. I came away with some aches and pains from site clean-up, but the feeling of satisfaction from helping someone with far less than me, more than made up for the effort.

The dedication of the volunteers and the time and effort put in by the leadership team is awe-inspiring. There is no 8-hour work day for the leadership team. All work skills and ideas are considered and it was fascinating to see as ideas come together as a work plan.  The bottom line is that these people are here to help the residents get back on their feet and they do what they can to accommodate the town’s needs.

I would encourage others to volunteer. No amount of time or donation will be unappreciated. You might not think you have much to offer, but there are others that have far less and any gift of time or money will be used to the fullest.

-John Dos Bicycles is a Burners Without Borders volunteer from Boston, MA

Join Burners Without Borders as we clean up Monmouth Battlefield Park on Friday, January 4th.
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We’re excited to support the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Parks and Forestry Division with BWB volunteers. Join us on January 4th, to remove organic debris and help create new habitat at the Monmouth Battlefield Park. This project will restore the “sugarbush”; the stand of maple trees that the Education Center uses to make maple syrup! This project will require some heavy lifting and can use volunteers that are certified to use chainsaws! This event will require heavy duty work boots, long pants, warm clothes and work gloves. Be prepared for cold weather & please bring water and a snack. Is your heart bigger than your back is strong? Consider the gift of lunch for this hard working team. We’d love to have some laughs & a hot lunch together!

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