'Incredible' Asbury Park Press readers rushed to aid homeless family in Toms River

Betty Santoro runs a soup kitchen in Toms River. Three weeks ago, after reading about a homeless family of six living in a motel room across town, she packed up some food and brought it to them.

“I saw the newspaper and thought, that’s not right,” Santoro said. “I saw the pictures of those children and that’s all I had to see.”

It was a kind gesture, but what happened next is the essence of altruism.

As Santoro delivered the pasta, meatballs and salad to Corey and Dawn Swain and their four children, two other families at the motel took notice. Like the Swains, they also faced desperate situations.

“He (Corey) had the children share the food I brought with the other people there,” Santoro said.

A few days later, she returned with 12 dinners to feed them all.

“They were so grateful,” Santoro said.

After the Swains’ story appeared in the Asbury Park Press earlier this month — they were out of money, out of work and evicted from their Lakewood apartment, their possessions discarded by the landlord — readers rushed to the rescue. The response will renew your faith in humanity.

A river of generosity

“I met a couple who lives in Wall Township, they’re in their 70s, and they have been here four times already,” Dawn Swain said. “They picked me up and took me to get the kids everything for school. Then they stopped at Boston Market and bought everyone dinner. And they came back two days later with winter coats for the kids and got dinner again. These people didn’t even know us.”

A couple from Tinton Falls, also senior citizens, made sure Dawn and Corey got new shoes and winter clothes.

“Two younger girls, who have been in this situation before, stopped by and gave me gas money,” Dawn said. “I know of two people who offered up their homes for us to come stay with them. Complete strangers.”

There’s more. According to Paul Hulse, whose nonprofit HAVEN/Beat the Street is helping the Swains get back on their feet:

Donations of clothes, school supplies and toys filled the back of Hulse’s pickup truck to the point of overflowing. A friend of Dawn Swain’s arranged for storage space to house it all.

More than $4,000 was donated for the Swains, some of which is paying for the motel stay until they attain permanent housing.

Several people called with job opportunities. Dawn is now working part-time in the office of a Toms River auto dealer and Corey is in talks for a warehouse job in Manahawkin.

“Probably well over 200 people reached out,” Hulse said. “We’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I’ve never had an outpouring like this before.”

Much to be done

The Swains are better off than they were three weeks ago. Their two older children, Kiana (age 8) and Corey Jr. (6), are attending their old school in Lakewood. Younger siblings Jonniana (4) and Gabriana (1) are enrolled in low-cost daycare. Still, there is much to be done.

“Our goal is, let’s get Dawn and Corey a work history first, and then go for permanent housing,” Hulse said. “A landlord wants to see some kind of work history.”

Hulse knows the drill. HAVEN/Beat the Street has an impressive track record of helping homeless and struggling residents of Ocean and Atlantic counties.

“This is an important topic in Ocean County,” Hulse said. “I had a family come in the day after the story came out in the paper. They were living in their car at Walmart — a family of six. I went to (Ocean County) social services and made sure they’re getting help. Right now they are in Seaside in a motel.”

Santoro, whose soup kitchen Abraham’s Tent operates out of Ocean Christian Community Church in Toms River, wants to launch a ministry geared toward the folks who are scraping by in the area’s motels.

“There is such a need,” Santoro said. “I have been fighting for 30 years for a homeless shelter in Ocean County. Why should I have to feed homeless people who are in doorways and in tents? That’s insane.”

'Never expected this'

“The homeless” are a nameless, faceless other — until they’re not. By telling their story, the Swains called for help. The public did them one better, inspiring hope.

“It’s been incredible,” Dawn Swain said. “I’ve met a lot of good people — people who, after we’re out of this situation, I’ll definitely still be in contact with. I’ve built friendships with them.”

People are good.

“I never expected this,” Dawn said. “It’s like my kids got grandparents overnight.”

To help HAVEN/Beat the Street serve the Swains or other families in need, either through a donation or volunteer outreach, visit www.havenstreets.org. Or call Paul Hulse (386-315-0168) or president Bill Southrey (609-513-9237).

Carino’s Corner appears Mondays in the Asbury Park Press. Contact Jerry at jcarino@gannettnj.com.