With their annual event providing a day of powerboat rides, carnival-style fun and food and refreshments for mentally and physically challenged children and adults and their families, the organizers of Shore Dreams for Kids in Seaside Heights, N.J., are putting out the call for boats owners willing to provide rides. Scheduled for July 11, the 13th annual event will be staged—as it has in years past—out of the Seaside Heights Municipal Docks

“So far the number of registrations that are coming in are making this look like it’s going to be another really big year,” said Geralyn Monroe, the president of the Shore Dreams for Kids board of directors. “It’s amazing after all these years how people still truly look forward to this day down on the New Jersey shore.

On July 11, Shore Dreams for Kids will deliver hundreds of boat rides to mentally and physically challenged children and adults. Photo courtesy/copyright Tim Sharkey/Sharkey Images.

“Coincidentally, I was at a doctor’s appointment the other day and was speaking with a woman there whose son is autistic,” she continued. “One thing led to another and I asked if she knew about Shore Dreams for Kids, and she raved on. She began telling me that she is so grateful for our event because she knows that she can bring her son—and her entire family—somewhere enjoyable without being so apprehensive that people were going to stare at her and her family or fearful that there could be other kids that would act mean towards her son, because he is surrounded by others just like him.”

Among the boat owners already signed up to give rides is Gary Goodell, one of the partners of the well-known Miss GEICO offshore racing team. Although, Goodell is bringing his 38-foot Caveman Cigarette Top Gun to the event, owners with non-performance-oriented powerboats also are encouraged to sign up to provide rides. Time slots for providing rides at 11 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. are available. The organizers also are seeking volunteers to assist at the docks, serve food and help with games during the carnival.

Interested volunteers can reach out to New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club president Dave Patnaude via [email protected]

Related stories

Custom Shore Dreams for Kids RC Boat Donated for Tonight’s Auction
Monroe To Head Shore Dreams for Kids