[Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey press release] The American Red Cross today awarded a $600,000 grant to the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey for Superstorm Sandy recovery work in Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland and Camden Counties. The Diocese is entrusted to use these funds to aid residents of these counties who still have unmet needs as a direct result of the storm.

The Greater Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey will work closely with the Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) in these counties to provide direct financial assistance to families and individuals for basic household goods and appliances, furniture, temporary housing and home repairs. The Red Cross grant will be distributed among the four counties as follows: $200,000 for Salem County, $150,000 for Gloucester County, $150,000 for Cumberland County, and $100,000 for Camden County.

“We are grateful to the Red Cross for providing assistance to these communities who are still struggling with their recovery and have not had the access to state and federal funding resources that has been allocated to other counties,” said the Rt. Rev. William H. Stokes, Bishop Diocesan of New Jersey. “This Red Cross grant will allow the Recovery Groups of Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland and Camden Counties to create a sense of hope and enable residents to finally reach resolution.”

“We hold in high regard the trust the Red Cross has placed in us in distribution of these much-needed funds,” said Keith Adams, Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. “Since autumn 2012, the Diocese of New Jersey has taken part in efforts to ease the pain, shock and heartache in the wake of Sandy, and to restore vibrancy and normalcy to New Jersey residents hit the hardest. The work of recovery and restoration remains long and difficult, and we remain committed to seeing these efforts through.”

“As the Red Cross Sandy recovery work in New Jersey progresses, we are able to identify the evolving needs of our residents and communities,” said Nancy Orlando, regional CEO, American Red Cross South Jersey Region. “Although the magnitude of Sandy affected residents in these counties is less than the numbers we’ve seen in the nine most impacted, we understand that individual households have nonetheless also experienced catastrophic losses that this partnership with the Episcopal Diocese will begin to address.”

In addition to the grant announced today, the Red Cross has partnered with numerous organizations to support the recovery of New Jersey families and communities affected by Sandy. The Sandy recovery efforts include housing assistance, case management, mental health services, volunteer coordination and construction services. The Red Cross has received $311.5 million in donations for its Sandy emergency relief and recovery efforts, and has spent or committed $291 million—over 93 percent of the donated funds – as of February 28.

More information on the Red Cross Sandy relief and recovery efforts, including other New Jersey grants, can be found at www.redcross.org/sandy-response.

About the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey:
Founded in 1785, the Diocese of New Jersey, a diocese of the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion, ranks sixth in size out of 100 domestic dioceses in the United States, with 150 congregations within its borders. Currently four retired bishops, 281 priests, and 73 deacons serve in the Diocese, along with 47 clergy licensed to act. The Right Reverend William H. (Chip) Stokes, the current diocesan bishop and twelfth bishop of the Diocese, was elected in May 2013 and consecrated in November 2013. Through Episcopal Relief & Development, an international relief and development agency and compassionate response to human suffering, the Diocese of New Jersey continues to work diligently to heal survivors of Sandy by rebuilding lives and homes. For more information, please visit DioceseofNJ.org and EpiscopalRelief.org.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or on Twitter at @RedCross.