Aquabilities Community Gives Back After Hurricane Sandy

My childhood friend's bedroom in Sea Bright. Notice the scum line where the water level was.

The number "5" on the house means that is is uninhabitable and slated for demolition. Imagine coming home to that.

Another Sea Bright building destroyed

The unsalvagable contents of the homes and business in the community

My grandparent's old home where I spent many summers and holidays. We are not sure whose boat that is.

The tents set up to house and feed the utility companies who came from other areas to help bring our towns back to normal.

The lunch bags that our Aquabilities kids decorated for the displaced families and volunteers helping with the recovery efforts. They were very much appreciated!

Aquabilities Community Gives Back - What We Can Do to Help

As many of you know, I was born and raised on the Jersey Shore. This is where I learned how to swim and started my lifelong career as a swim instructor when I was 15. I spent every summer at our local pool club in Oceanport, NJ, at the beach in Long Branch and Sea Bright, and at my grandparents house on the Raritan Bay in Cliffwood Beach. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept through the East Coast causing more destruction that any of us have seen in our lifetimes. Homes were flooded, ripped from their foundations and torn to pieces. Sand and debris were deposited on the streets and needed to be plowed to allow passage. Power lines are still down in some areas. Utilities and infrastructure were all compromised.

I went to visit my home town and the surrounding area this past weekend. I brought some donations of cleaning supplies, food, household items, hygiene products etc. to local relief distribution centers in my area. The kids who attended swim class last Thursday helped decorate lunch bags with pictures and thoughts of hope and encouragement. We put together over 50 lunches for people in need. It was very much appreciated but the residents and volunteers who received them.

New Jersey residents are strong and determined to rebuild their lives. With our assistance, we can help restore some normalcy back to these hard hit areas. The Whitehall Dolphins is having a swim-a-thon on Tuesday November 20, 2012 to raise money for those people who need to rebuild their lives. I encourage you to sponsor one of our swimmers. Please email us for more information.

Any cash donations that we receive will be used to purchase cleaning supplies, gift cards, food, hygiene products or any other requested items. I will be getting them down there on a weekly basis. Donations by check can be made out to:

United Way of Monmouth County, Rebuild Monmouth Fund

Checks can be left with one of the instructors at the Whitehall or mailed to:

Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser,

c/o Aquabilities with Jennifer

20 Barrett Hill Road

Mahopac, NY 10541

100% of the money donated to this fund will be used in the recovery effort. If you would like, I will also bring down donations of gift cards (Home Depot, Lowes, Toys R Us, Bed Bath and Beyond etc.) to help people rebuild the lives of those who have lost everything. No amount is too small. If you would like to purchase items for me to bring to the area, I have been told that there is a need for travel size hygiene products, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, new socks and underwear, non perishable food items, etc. Distribution centers are no longer accepting clothing at this time. "Like" our Facebook page on our website www.aquabilitieswithjennifer.com and I will post updates on current items needed

Thank you to all who have offered their support, donations and well wishes. It is really nice to be able to pull together and give back in a time when the East Coast is in such great need.

All our best,

Jennifer Paolicelli and the Aquabilities Crew

When it Comes to Our Children, We CAN Do Anything!

When It Comes To Our Children….We CAN Do Anything!

by Jessica Pinter, MS WSI

It seems that these words are thought daily. From the moment you become a parent you begin to improve so many areas of your life. First and foremost, you become an excellent early riser. You learn to multitask in the wee hours of the morning. It becomes second nature. You learn about pediatric medications for almost every sickness. You learn the best way to fix boo-boos. You get a game plan for every potential emergency. You know who to call in the middle of the night if something happens. You find the best and fastest route to the hospital. You brush up on the current CPR procedures. As your children grow, you learn the best culinary disguises for vegetables. You re-learn the rules to games you haven’t played since you were a child.

You are in control and in a groove, but something is missing. You can’t swim. You never could and fear has kept you from even attempting to learn. It is the scariest thought in the world that our children might put themselves into a dangerous situation that renders us helpless. That is exactly what will happen if your child falls into the water and you are the only one around. What would you do? Scream for help? Try to grab them from the edge knowing that if you fall in as well you will not be able to keep your child or yourself afloat? The answer to these questions is clear. You MUST learn to swim.

It is so important for ALL adults to learn to swim and be safe in and around the water. Remember…You CAN do anything!

WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT FEAR

by Jeff Krieger, MS

Please keep in mind the following important points that I have learned after many years as both an aquatic and mental health professional regarding the issue of "fearful swimmers":

1) There is a SIGNIFICANT difference between a child or an adult who has never had an opportunity to learn to swim properly and and those who have never learned to swim, despite possibly having the opportunity to do so, as a result of their fear of water.

2) Individuals that have never learned how to swim, either as a result of fear or not, remain a high risk for drowning as well a poor resource to help someone else that is drowning due to their low "Aquatic IQ".

3) Helping an individual overcome their fear of water requires more focus on the emotional roadblocks rather than teaching them the nuts and bolts of aquatic skill building. Trying to teach a person how to swim without first teaching them how to understand, manage and overcome their fear is truly putting the cart before the horse.

4) The wounds that can result from an individual's fear of water can be deep, very painful, wide ranging and long lasting. They can impact one's emotional and physical health in a very negative way, as well as relationships with family and friends, their careers and overall lifestyles.

5) Fortunately, with the right resources, anyone can overcome their fear of water, regardless of age, fitness level or life experience and move on to enjoy the many emotional, physical and recreational benefits that result from participating in aquatic activities.

6) Unfortunately, most traditional "learn to swim" programs often do not or cannot make those resources available to this highly diverse population of fearful swimmers. As a result, many of them give up their pursuit of a process that will help them feel comfortable, competent and safe in water.

7) For additional information on how to help fearful swimmers succeed in water, please visit www.WaterPhobias.com or www.aquabilitieswithjennifer.com

"Fear can be a powerful motivator, rather than a painful deterrent."