DOL began eight years agoas a sheer realization of thefounders’ love for animals. “Animals don’t ask to be

born, they don’t ask to beabused, they don’t ask to beabandoned, and we wantedto do something with thatand we started with thiscollection drive,” Mrs.LaCicero, who is thepresident of DOL, said.Each year, the nonprofit

hosts a collection drive inwhich countless items arecollected for local animalshelters.“Now, being in the eighth

year, we continue with that,”she said. “That was the basisthat we started with, to helpthe local animal shelters andthen we grew.”Mrs. LaCicero said people

began to drop off items forlocal animal shelters year-round. “All of the sudden this

drive went from a month orsix weeks long to year-roundand I would collect and dropoff at the different shelters,”she said.Mrs. LaCicero said what

DOL donates and seeks fromits donors are a direct resultof what local shelters are inneed of. She also said theorganization welcomesmonetary donations forthose unable to directlypurchase the items needed.“We call each shelter, find

out what they need most andwe get that,” she said of thedonation process.The monetary donations,

she said, are directly used foritems that the shelters need.Donors can be confident that

their contributions are useddirectly for what they arebelieving they will be, asMrs. LaCicero said everydollar that comes in goesright back out to the localcommunity.The shelters that DOL

assists are the Toms RiverAnimal Shelter, Jersey ShoreAnimal Center in Brick andthe Humane SocietyPopcorn Park Zoo.“We just wanted to do

something, give back,” shesaid of the nonprofitsbeginnings. “It wasn’tanything more than thatinitially and then it took offand we just wanted to keepthat ball rolling and giveback to the communities thathave given so much to us,”Mrs. LaCicero said. “We onlysolicit locally and we onlygive back locally.” Mrs LaCicero also said if

money is raised and donatedto the shelters by way ofevents, its use is designatedfor spay and neuterprograms, not for operatingcosts. Spay and neuterprograms are implementedto control the animalpopulations and ensure thehealth of the animals at theshelters.“Anything that comes in by

way of, if they’re abandoned,dropped off or brought in byanimal control, they need tospay and neuter,” she said ofthe programs’ importance.“I don’t want it to go to

their operating costs, shesaid. “I want it to go to theanimals.”“Donations of Love is 100

percent volunteer,” she said.

“We have no paid employees,everything that we get ingoes right back out.”Mrs. LaCicero said the

volunteers that DOL sees areever “evolving” but that shehas a group of regulars whoassist with DOL’s efforts asneeded. She said, morespecifically, that PointPleasant Beach High School’sKey Club, a serviceorganization, works withDOL regularly and has sinceSuperstorm Sandy.Mrs. LaCicero also said

she feels its important toteach the youth a sense ofcompassion and love foranimals. She said she hasworked with the president ofthe key club, BriannaLaGuardia, over the years,and appreciates herassistance.“Each event I do, they

have provided volunteers,”she said of the club. “I think it shows part of

your character when youteach children about animalcompassion because it’s veryeasy to overlook them butwhen you have compassionfor an animal I think itbrings a bigger part of you tothe surface,” she said. “Theylove you unconditionally;they do nothing to deservemistreatment.”“It fosters a great way for

children to find thatcompassion in themselves,”she added.Mrs. LaCicero said she has

two dogs and grew up withdogs and cats. “All they want to do is love

you,” she said. Mrs. LaCicero said DOL

has a great group ofvolunteers of all ages.“We have a lot of retired

people that donate their timewhen needed,” she said.“When we have an event

we need volunteers and theykind of sit in the backgrounduntil the next event,” shesaid. “They’re all local.”Mrs. LaCicero said some

show up the day of theevents and a solid 10-20volunteers exist that “I know

that I could call and counton.”

RAISING FUNDS, AWARENESSWhile Donations of Love

began as an outlet to assistlocal animals in need, itshifted into serving a greaterneed during a widely knowncrisis. The Buy A Board program,

Mrs. LaCicero said, is whatlaunched the organizationout of its sole existence as ananimal charity. Mrs.LaCicero said her and herhusband Walter’s business“got hit” by Hurricane Sandybut that their home did not. “I’m looking around saying

‘we survived’ we have ourhouse, we have our business,although damaged, and itreally isn’t as bad aseverybody,” she said of thetime in which she realizedshe would help thecommunity at large withDOL.“We need to give people a

way to heal, and closure anda way to be part of therebuilding,” she said whilereminiscing. “Around mykitchen table we developedthe Buy A Board Program.”At that time, in 2012,

$400,000 was raised by DOLfor the Borough of Lavalletteto offset the cost of theboardwalk, she said.“That’s what launched me

out of people thinking I’mjust an animal charity,” shesaid. “It had anoverwhelming responseemotionally for me because Icouldn’t believe theoutpouring.”Mrs. LaCicero said she and

Susan Kotch spearheadedthe endeavor. She said onenight the women werediscussing the tragedy thateveryone was going through. “Emotionally, we were

invested,” she said, of aneffort that is now, inretrospect, one of herproudest moments with theorganization.Another proud moment of

hers was the gift auctionheld at St. Pio’s Parish a fewyears ago. “We raised over $15,000,”

she said, adding that thefunds were split up amongthe animal charities thatDOL supports. Mrs. LaCicero said,

“People come out to support

your charity and the supportthe community has given menever ceases to amaze me.”“I keep asking of this

community, I just ask andask and ask and they deliverand deliver and never stop,”she said with gratitude.“That is something I’mproud of, to be part of acommunity that no matterwhat is asked of them, theyalways give.”Out of all of its

undertakings, the collectionsdrive may be what put DOLon the map and the Buy ABoard may have resulted inunyielding awareness, butthe local hunger drive is alsoa huge feat, according toDOL’s president.“We did three pantries this

[past] year: Faith LutheranFood Pantry, here inLavallette, St. Francis inSeaside Heights and OceanChristian in Toms River,” shesaid. This past year, she alsosolicited fresh produce forthe local soup kitchen inSeaside.She said local businesses

including Ohana, Lenny’sPizzeria and Crabs Clawdonated hundreds of poundsof fresh produce for thedrive.“That, by far, was one of

the largest events I ran byway of actual donations,” shesaid of the annual hungerdrive that’s conducted forlocal food pantries.“The local restaurants

were so generous indonating potatoes, onions,lettuce, all the fresh producethat they use,” she said.“That was a huge success, Iwas overwhelmed with thegenerosity of the people andthe restaurants in town.”In addition to the

aforementioned events, DOLalso hosts a free rabies clinicin Lavallette in the fall andhosted an inaugural 50/50drawing this May in whichhalf of the proceeds went toa participating winner.She said Mrs. Richardson-

Jenson also recently hosted a“paint party” that was verywell received.Mrs. LaCicero said she

even hopes to one day bringback the much-loved giftauction that was hosted priorto Hurricane Sandy.“Nothing is taken for

granted,” she said. “Each

time I run an event I’mthrilled to find the peoplestill wanting to participateand be a part of it.”“I’m more proud of

Lavallette and using thischarity to benefit my localcommunity,” she said. “I havegreat events but it’s becausewe have great people.”Mrs. LaCicero said being

the first lady also gives her“a voice and reach” and thatshe proudly uses both for thebetterment of the localcommunity.

THE COMMUNITY’S SUPPORTWhile Mrs. LaCicero

juggles many undertakingsand successfully runs saidevents, she attributes hersuccess to those involvedover the years.She said there is a regular

crew of people who lend ahand in the events but somepeople in particular haveshown their contributions inmore specific ways.To start, Mrs. LaCicero

said her husband, LavalletteMayor Walter LaCicero,provides her withcontinuous support in allthat she does.She said three women,

Amanda Legotte, BriannaLaGuardia and JackieDistasio, who were allmembers of the Key Club,have provided tremendoussupport over the years. Shealso thanked Marcy Legottewho volunteers to maintainDOL’s web page and JenniferFinter who donates hergraphic design talents for allthe DOL fliers.In all, she attributes her

success to her “great groupof volunteers.”“I couldn’t do what I do

without them,” she said. “The main reason I do all

of this, and give back asmany ways possible to ourcommunity, is because I amso appreciative of the manyblessings in my life,” Mrs.LaCicero said. “I couldn’t doit without all of the love andsupport from my wonderfulfamily and amazing friends.”For more information on

DOL and its mission or todonate to the collectiondrive, visitdonationsoflove.org.

RYAN MAYER THE OCEAN STAR

Joanne LaCicero is the president and co-founder of Donations of Love [DOL], a nonprofit organizationbased in Lavallette that aims to support the community in various ways.

PRESIDENT, FOUNDER OF ‘DONATIONS OF LOVE’ JOANNE LACICERO

t’s all in the name — Donations of Love,for those who are wondering what thelocal nonprofit is about. Founded in 2007by Janine Richardson-Jenson and Joanne

LaCicero, the nonprofit organization aims to giveback to the local community and nods to animalappreciation.

BY PAIGE TAYLORTHE OCEAN STAR

I

Local nonprofitresides in heart

of resident

COURTESY OF JOANNE LACICERO

Donations of love volunteers Lee Marotta [from left], Joanne LaCicero, John Fabian and Nancy Smithshow community support.

The Ocean Star

PAGE 23PEOPLEFRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015

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