Community Corner

Union Beach Families Rebuild With the Help of President Carter

The former President was seen hauling walls, driving nails and helping volunteers build a second floor in Union Beach.

Just a few weeks shy of the one-year mark since Superstorm Sandy, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn joined Habitat for Humanity volunteers to rebuild Union Beach.

The Bayfront street included empty lots and houses still in need of serious repair, a sobering image one year from the storm. 

To see photos of the build day, visit our photo gallery. 

"We've worked on disaster areas quite a lot," Carter said. "We've seen how places have to be prepared for the next natural disaster. Residents in the New Orleans area raised all their homes up 3.5 ft. Here, they are raising them 9 ft." 

The build was a part of the 30th anniversary of Build Day, when communities of volunteers around the country work to rebuild communities. This year, large builds happened in Denver, Oakland, San Jose, New York City and Union Beach. The New Jersey stop rounded out a week of building for the volunteers.

"People tell me where to drive the nail and I drive it where I'm told," Carter said.
 The former President was seen hauling walls, helping volunteers build a second floor and receiving directions from his wife.

"I've always worked under the supervision of my wife, Rosalynn."

The Carter family became involved with Habitat after leaving the White House, and have brought the organization international.

Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County is still accepting applications from homeowners in the area in need of assistance after the storm. Residents can find information online a habitatmonmouth.org.


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