Sandy Relief Worth More Than $1 Million

Call it Hurricane Sandy Aid worth more than a million bucks.

When picking up his Sandy relief non-profit's latest donation of $3,863 from Red Bank RiverCenter last night, Sea Bright Rising founder Chris Wood, a Fair Haven resident and owner of Woody's Ocean Grille, filled the crowd in on the latest facts about his cause.

His organization, he said, has brought in more than $1.1 million in donations to date. Of that money, roughly $600,000 has been distributed to 200 families and eight businesses.

The over-the-million milestone reached by Sea Bright Rising makes it the most lucrative private Sandy non-profit in the area.

"We're getting the money out to people as quickly as possible and in a judicious fashion," Wood said.

Sea Bright Rising was one of three lauded area Sandy charities that each got the same amount of money, which was presented at the Red Bank Council meeting.

Hope for Highlands and Red Bank-based Rebuild Recover also got checks.

Hope for Highlands has, to date, has given out $90,000 to residents, according to its representatives.

Rebuild Recovery's Anthony Setaro shut down his Front Street business in Sandy's aftermath to open a warehouse and gave out "hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations" to Sandy-afflicted people in the area, he said. 

Take a look at the above video for a glimpse into the moment. Speaking, in order are, RiverCenter principals, Hope for Highlands, Sea Bright Rising and Rebuild Recover representatives as well as Councilwoman Sharon Lee.