Golf outing raises more than $30K to help homeless veterans

TOMS RIVER - Just Believe Inc.'s first annual golf outing was a huge success, with donations topping $30,000, president and CEO Paul Hulse said.

Forty-four golfers participated in the tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck earlier this month, with 70 attending the reception, according to Hulse.

The biggest donation — $23,000 — came from Slumped Kitchen, a Toms River-based business which gives out "marijuana gifts" to customers who make "donations" to purchase items from the online business. The company gives 20% of net profits to local charities.

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An additional gift of $7,500 came from Colliers Engineering & Design of Red Bank, according to Hulse.

The monies raised will be used to fund the construction of Jeff's Camp, which will provide transitional housing for homeless veterans, along with detoxification care, outpatient recovery, counseling and life skills training on a 36-acre parcel along Route 72 in Barnegat, Hulse said.

It will also contain a thrift store.

The property was donated to Just Believe by Marty Weber in honor of Jeff Poissant, his partner of 31 years, who died of bladder cancer in 2016. Poissant was a U.S. Army veteran.

Weber is a former captain of the Barnegat First Aid Squad and owner of Yo Buck Landscaping & Maintenance.

Just Believe, which runs the Code Blue shelter for the homeless in Toms River each winter, has estimated it will cost about $2.5 million to build Jeff's Camp. Watch the video above to learn more about Code Blue at Riverwood Park.

"We appreciated the support of Slumped Kitchen to help people in need like our veterans project Jeff's Camp, giving back should be the practice of all businesses and let Slumped Kitchen lead the way in their new field of experience," Hulse said.

Hulse said, "I am a supporter of responsible recreational marijuana use like for medical propose, like PTSD, anxiety and other medical uses. I believe if people are responsible it should be allowed. Those who abuse legal drugs like drinking alcohol or marijuana should seek help and go to rehabilitation program."

For more information or to donate to Just Believe, go to https://justbelieveinc.org/.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 36 years. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.

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