La adicción afecta a toda la familia. Estamos aquí para todos ustedes.

For nearly two decades, Michael has also volunteered at East Jersey State Prison in Rahway, leading a 12-step recovery program for incarcerated men affected by addiction. Through this work and his ministry, he saw the same challenge repeatedly: help existed, but people often did not know where to find it, how to navigate it, or where to turn when treatment ended and the difficult work of rebuilding a life began.

He also saw how deeply addiction affects families. Parents, spouses, siblings, and loved ones are often the people searching for answers, making phone calls, navigating services, responding to setbacks, and trying to support someone they love — frequently without enough guidance or support of their own.

Michael began bringing those different parts of the recovery community together. A conversation with Sea Bright Mayor Brian Kelly helped launch what became the annual Fall Freedom Festival, connecting people and families with recovery organizations, treatment and healthcare providers, community groups, local government, faith communities, and other resources from across the region.

The festival demonstrated something important: there was help in the community, but there was still a gap between the resources that existed and the people who needed them.

In 2025, Michael founded Hope Works at the Shore to help close that gap and carry the work beyond a single annual event.

His vision focuses especially on what happens after the immediate crisis or treatment ends. Recovery does not stop when someone leaves a program. Building a stable life can mean finding employment, managing finances, securing housing, rebuilding relationships, reconnecting with community, and accessing ongoing support that helps sustain recovery over time.

Hope Works at the Shore was created to help individuals and families navigate that journey by connecting them with practical resources, peer and community support, and trusted organizations throughout Monmouth County.

Michael speaks openly about addiction because he believes stigma and isolation can keep people from asking for help — and can leave families feeling that they have to carry the burden alone.

For Michael, Hope Works at the Shore is a continuation of the work he has been doing for years: bringing people, families, resources, and community together so that no one has to navigate recovery alone.

Andrew's day to day responsibilities involve running the general operations, fundraising, outreach, technology as well as running educational and didactic groups with those within the Center. Andrew also helps those in need with learning and understanding the basics of financial literacy, resume and interview preparation and anything that the organization warrants as a need. Andrew currently holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Slippery Rock University, his MSW from Monmouth University and has completed his CCAR training through Brookdale College. Andrew has also completed more then 4000 clinical hours to complete his MSW.