Special edition of "Surviving Sandy" books to benefit Superstorm Sandy recovery group

Down The Shore Publishing is producing a special edition of Surviving Sandy: Long Beach Island and the Greatest Storm of the Jersey Shore, which hit stores last weekend. A hand-bound, leather-cased, numbered edition with silk ribbon, the book will be sold to benefit a Sandy recovery group.

“We’re producing 100 numbered copies of this edition, which will sell for $100 each, and all the revenue above the cost will go to START,” said Ray Fisk, owner and publisher of Down The Shore Publishing.

Photo via Down the Shore Publishing
Proceeds from the special edition books
will benefit a local Sandy recovery group.

START (Stafford Teachers and Residents Together) is the group founded right after the storm by Stafford Township school district teachers Joe Mangino and Mike Dunlea. Even though their own homes were damaged, they felt compelled to help others in Southern Ocean County.

“They were literally boots on the ground, gathering and coordinating volunteers who did yeoman’s grunt work, gutting homes and truly helping people in need,” said Fisk.

“Ray is a special person and a shining example of why our community is as strong as it is,” Mangino responded. “He is one of my many new ‘Sandy friends,’ a person who, while going through their own recovery and rebuilding struggles, still takes the time to help others. We greatly appreciate what he has done and what he is doing for START. In January, he donated proceeds from his holiday card sales to START, and we were able to turn that into Sheetrock and insulation for a resident.”

Mangino and Dunlea will soon formalize START into a 501(c)(3) charity and will continue their efforts helping local people in need long after the storm recovery is past.

The special edition of the book will be available in a couple of weeks, about the time of the anniversary of the storm. Books can be reserved from Down The Shore Publishing by emailing dtsbooks@comcast.net.

“Although it’s $56 more than the regular hardcover, we’re hoping that individuals and business leaders will step up and purchase copies to support START. They’ll also get a deluxe commemorative edition of this book,” said Fisk. 

–Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.