HOWELL – In Howell Township, the PAL kids are taking the initiative to help those in the community who are experiencing homelessness.
The Howell Township Police Athletic League’s (PAL) mission is to foster positive relationships among the youth and police officers in the community through sports and education. The organization has been going since 1979 and is currently run by its President and CEO Sgt. Chris Hill.
On Fridays and Saturdays, PAL kids involved in the group’s Youth Leadership Council prepare meals to give out to those in the area going through homelessness.
Since 2002, the Howell PAL Youth Leadership Council has grown and involves Middle School and High School students who are dedicated to serving their community. The program teaches the youth to become leaders through volunteering and life skills training.
“Once you learn to give back, you’ll always want to,” Howell PAL’s Program Director Jaime Szyarto said. “Giving time to prepare and serve meals to those in need teaches the youth to respect the things they currently have so they stay along the right path because thanks to the hard work of their parents they have food on the table and a roof over their head.”
The Youth Leadership Council makes meals on weekends at the Southard Community Enrichment Center which is home to the Howell PAL. Meals consist of a variety of sandwiches and soup, grilled cheese as well as bagged chips and drinks.
“What they make is based off the weather. We always try to serve something warm in the colder temperatures,” Szyarto said.
PAL supplies the food and drink items, and donations come in from local businesses who help to make sure that the organization has the funds to purchase the food. Then they bring the prepared meals to those in need in the surrounding areas
“We have done this before where in the past we would prepare and package food and deliver it to numerous locations. In total we have been doing this for well over 10 years with different set-ups or arrangements,” Szyarto said.
During this time of year, NJ Point in Time Count conducts their annual statewide survey of the shelter and unsheltered homeless individuals throughout different locations in Monmouth County.
According to the 2021 Point in Time Count, a total of 322 persons were experiencing homelessness in Monmouth County.
Monmouth County Commissioner Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley said that the Point in Time Survey is coordinated through the Monmouth County Department of Human Services.
“The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County did the outreach for the street homeless the week after January 25. The shelters included: Monmouth County Adult Shelter, Linkages, Jersey Shore Rescue Mission, Family Promise and 180,” Kiley said. “Shelters enter their clients into Homeless Management Information Systems or complete paper surveys (entered separately) so that information will be pulled directly from the system.”
In addition, anyone who was placed due to a Code Blue Alert that week was entered into the Homeless Management Information System.
At this time, the data from the surveys is still being collated and the County expects to receive the information in the spring.
