This is a great thing to do coming together to HELP people in need .. This is a wonderful town thank you to the people that care Robin that put it together and Mario you are always there to help people in need and all the business that donated. I am sure this will be a Huge Success. BEST OF LUCK

People can only go one step at a time, one problem at a time. Everything in time. This event is a brilliant idea. Sad for others who may feel their troubles are overlooked, but one human being cannot be held responsible especially when she is doing such a good deed. Hopefully, there are ways to reach more people by duplicating such love, spreading the generosity, and passing it along. Great ideas catch on.

Where did you go Bobby Mac Disney World. If money was an issue the smart thing to have done would be going to the HS shelter. $540 per day seems like poor choices to me.

Bpbby Mac, how about coming out on Sunday and volunteer? You will see how the people come out and help one another here in town.

I think it's a great idea and applaud Robin, Mario, all other local business and individuals contributing to the effort. I saw one of the homes in town rendered totally unlivable as a result of the storm - a very humbling site. Maybe instead of selecting only three families to benefit from this, possibly it may have been a better idea to establish a fund and distribute the proceeds according to the needs of those in town who suffered more than others. In any case, Robin, Mario and all the others behind this effort should be commended for their caring efforts.

All of our community has suffered with many additional expenses during the storm - I believe the point is provide those left with nothing means extreme "such as a roof over their heads". Great Job Robin and the rest of the group for coming together for those left in this unfortunate position. GREAT JOB!

Bobby Mac you come off sounding like a really greedy person. There was no need for you to hard wire your generator and having a generator was a luxury. The people of the town of Hopatcong should not have to pay for. Also if you contact your insurance company they will pay you for spoiled food and if they do not FEMA will.

Jessica you are mistaken FEMA is not giving money for spoiled food.

Bobby Mac-good luck to you.

Am I missing something here??? Is this not all about helping your neighbors and not bashing the do gooders .. Instead of sitting on the computer complaining get out there and help, whether yourself or your neighbors .. volunteers were needed and many stepped up to the plate .. I pray God puts love in your heart and removes the bitterness that comes through as someone who is just thinking of me me me!! .. Apparently as you stated you also had insurance so why should you be put on the priority list and begrudge others? Much success tomorrow and God's blessings for all! Thank you Robin for stepping up to the plate!

Bobby Mac: I stand by my initial assessment; you make poor choices. You have no job and limited funds yet you purchase a top of the line generator? You said you were protecting your home from damage but now you cant pay your mortgage and "many other bills." The grinder pump would not have backed up if you used the shelter from the first. Its a shame that you begrudge help given to others. The people of Hopatcong are not paying to help these three families. A fundraiser is taking place and people are free to participate or not. Now might be a good time for you to do some soul searching. Good luck.

Wow, instead of making plans for tomorrow we are having to argue about who gets what and why. It saddens me that we have to defend Robin and a fundraiser which is sorely needed for these families. I can't begin to tell you how much money both myself and my neighbors are out because of Sandy, but we are all grateful to have a roof over our heads and all our family members under that roof to kiss goodnight. Please take a deep breath and realize what Robin is doing is such a selfless and beautiful act of love and kindness for our neighbors, and YES they are OUR neighbors. I'm so glad to see all the love and generosity that my fellow Hopatcong neighbors have displayed to each other throughout this ordeal, and it is especially evident on here tonight. It's one more reason I am proud to say I live in Hopatcong.

Bobby Mac: You are in the wrong here to claim any fundraiser this town is trying to put on is "illegal", why are you trying to decide who should be helped. If you do not like the 3 families being supported, then don't go. Robin ran the fundraiser and can choose whomever she wants to give the money to since eveyone attending knows up front where the money is going! I know this becasue I hold an annual fundraiser and I pick whomever I want to receive it!
You are just sour grapes because you are not benefitting...that is selfish!!
Homeowners insurance will pay for MOST, but you don't know what it will cover and what their contents of home insurance is, don't assume anything and do you know how long the wait will be for money to come through? Christmas is around the corner and these families will have to celebrate somewhere other than their home! Maybe the money is going to help them buy a tree or presents!
Instead of hooking up a generator and spending too much money on gas, why didn't you LIVE in the shelter...I did, for almost 2 weeks~it was humbling, but warm, safe and 3 meals a day! And it cost me nothing....but a check will be written in the new year to the Red Cross as a thank you for the hospitality!
P.S. Maybe it's time to change your insurance company...mine and my parents and a few others I know DID get money reimbursed for food expenses because we were in a state of emeregency! Got $300 (better than nothing)!

As Louis O. put it, I also heard a lot of "me, me, me...." during the several weeks following the storm. If I had a nickel for every time I heard "They got their power back down the street 2 days ago......what about ME?"........Today's event will benefit benefit at least several who have some immediate needs, and if it's not "me, me, me....", then so be it. This is a case of neighbors helping neighbors and Robin should be commended for stepping up to the place.

Many insurance companies did let you claim your food. I am sorry yours did not.

Well said Robin! Everyone else, let's not waste another second on this "holier than thou" Bobby Mac who, if he spent this much time and energy looking for a job and not trying to find a loophole to bad mouth a wonderful cause, would probably be employed by now. Although, if he's been offered gameful employment, I'm sure he has found it to be beneath his standards! I think it's clear why he has been unemployed for so long...who wants to work with THAT?! Great job yesterday Robin! Hopatcong is blessed to have people like you!

Shame on you Bobby Mac!!!!! Yesterday's event was amazing!! It was so nice to see our communtiy reach out and help their own. I so proud to say that Hopatcong is my hometown. Hopatcongers or Hopatcongites are a very resilant bunch and we will always defend each other except when of our own step out of line.

Bobby Mac you have stepped way out of line!!!! Take all that negativity and use the energy to find a job or gain assistance with your job search!! There is a group out of the Dover unemployment office call PROs. Contact the Sussex County Unemployment office and they will refer you to the group. The Hopatcong branch of the Sussex County library also has a lot of resources as well.

Dear Bob McCloskey, I did try to leave you a response before regarding your negative comments regarding the Hopatcong Hurricane benefit that took place yesterday. I have to tell you that this was the most wonderfull event I ever experienced and I was very happy to able to volenteer.
However, when I read you comments, I looked up the words Greedy, Narcissistic, selfish, egotism on wikipedia. Sad fact is that your picture shows up each time I look up one of these words. I do feel sorry for you that your $2700 generator could not keep your 16 refrigerators running with $ 700 worth of food in it. Do you have stock in Shoprite. I dont think I have ever seen $700 worth of food in one house.
Just a reminder for you, that this was an event about loving your neighbor and helping out the unfortunate people that lost everything. Not for people like you that could afford $2700 generators and $700 worth of food while on UNEMPLOYEMENT. Please Bobby,there is help for people like you, go find a counselor and become a happy person
Hans van Loenen
Volunteer Hopatcong hits harder event

"Six figure corporate executive" huh? And this is important because? What does this bit of information have anything to do with the fact that you are coming off quite greedy, bitter, and resentful because several families will get a little money to help them through the loss of their home? Everyone lost out as you did, I too had to purchase a generator, lost food, and paid for gas to fuel the generator. The difference between us and them is we have our homes, they do not. Have a heart. As a "corporate executive", charity money should be the last thing on your mind AND you need to mind your own business. In addition, if the families did not have a mortgage and the home was paid off, they did not need to have insurance and perhaps they did not. Bad choice indeed but they had no obligation especially if they could not afford it. If that is the case, homeowner's insurance will be paying nothing. Have some self respect. You are coming off as angry because you will not be getting a payout from this. Go about your business big shot, and let everyone else do the same.

Swallow your pride Bobby Mac and work at Shop-Rote, Walmart, or even the mall!!cause THEY ARE ALL Hiring!!!! Everyone is right...you're holding out for the "dream job" and complaining in the process! A job is a job bringing in money no matter where you work!!!
Once again you are so arrogant and ignorant!! Those 3 families were chosen because THEY HAVE NO HOME!!!!
Boo-Hoo, I have no electric: Boo-Hoo, I have no water: Boo-Hoo, I lost $700? worth of food! Boo-Hoo: I have no job but got a $3k generator!
You act like you were so different from the rest of Hopatcong...wake-up! You're not....Oh wait! You are! You have a house!!
You are SO selfish!!
The fact that you would even "threat" to repost them show was an @$$ you really are: do you think the Gov. would even acknowledge your complaint in such a desperate time in NJ? As long as he knew the money went to the 3 advertised families, he would probably praise Robin and the community for coming together!
You know the more you argue back and forth, the more"sour" you sound! Get a job and stop complaining that you still intact house didn't "reap" you any benefits!!!!

Sorry for some of my "grammar" errors as I was typing quickly because I was angry!
Bobby Mac, I too, just looked up laws of fundraising and FOUND NOTHING that you claim! The only laws I found had to do with "Organizations" (Robin is not an organization) and only had to with licensing for games of chance (ie: Bingo, 50/50). Nothing about charging someone to enter a restaurant and giving the money to 3 advertised families!!
So Great Job Robin....you are an exception to the rule and we are honored to have you help Hopatcong!!

@Robin that is a very good suggestion. Five thousand dollars for each family is great! It was a wonderful thing you did and it helped not only the families but the people who attended. We've been through a lot lately, and as I said although I understand his point Bobby Mac should find out who donated the truckload of gas cans and where they went, not a fundraiser that was done out in the open. Everyone had a great time and it was wonderful to see the community come together. Those of us who still have a roof are grateful and it's nice to know that if anyone of us needed help people like you, Mario, and the community will be there. Many thanks to All of you.

We too volunteered our time at this event and it was a packed house. I did the community proud to come together. We have all lost so much. I had no work, and I agree before Christmas it is difficult, we lost food, we borrowed a generator after a week and spent hundreds of dollars of gas that we can not get reimbursed for because we did not have receipts. So what? We managed, we are all struggling to survive right now Bobby the point is, most of us do not think of ourselves. Robin explained the selection process to you. If she did not get back to you in a time frame that was appropriate for you, I am sure she was busy helping others. I know one of the families and I can tell you, between FEMA and homeowners it is not enough to rebuild their house. Do you have any suggestions on what they could do? I am sure we are all up to hearing what you have to say since you seem to be filled with all of the facts. How do we help those who suffered the most Bobby? Be part of the solution here, make your complaining worth while. My son is doing a toy drive at the Middle School If you are in need of Christmas gifts for your children, let me know and I will pass the information along. All I ask is that you dont report him to the state as an illegal fundraiser because as an 11 year old trying to do something for his friends and community, I would hate to have his generous spirit ruined because he is afraid to get in trouble.