Donation Fund Set Up For Homeless Man Beaten By Youths

The and a local charity have set up a donation fund for the by area youths earlier this week, police said Tuesday.

Police have coordinated with Wall Helps Its People (WHIP), a township-based charitable organization, to set up the fund, Lt. Walter Pomphrey said.

Authorities have identified the man as David Ivins, 50. Ivins is currently staying at the Belmar Inn on 12th Avenue in Belmar, where he has been given a room until Jan. 2.

"We just felt very bad for him and he's outside in the cold weather for Christmas and the holidays and we just want to put him over here,'' said Dee Mavani, Belmar Inn owner. "We really felt bad that this happened to him -- it's completely ignorant. We thought it was the right thing to do."

Wall Township Committeeman Jeff Foster said he has been besieged with calls from people as far away as Philadelphia who want to help out Ivins.

Foster, a past president and 20-year active member of WHIP, said the organization was contacted by the Wall Police on Monday. The group, which provides money and other necessities to Wall residents in need, agreed to set up a fund.

But the tsunami of support has been nearly overwhelming, Foster said.

"I'm getting slammed with phone calls,'' Foster said. "This is getting pretty big.''

Foster said he had planned to sit down with both the police department and Ivins, possibly as early as Wednesday, to map out the best strategy and meet Ivins' needs.

"What happened to him should never happen to anyone,'' Foster said. "I'm appalled by it. And we're going to sit down and figure out how to help this guy out.''

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty also said he has has been inundated with calls from people who want to help.

The borough is collecting donations at Borough Hall, 601 Main Street, Belmar, to help provide Ivins with food, clothing and housing after Jan. 2.

They'll accept any donations, but most people are giving money. No amount is too small, Doherty said.

There is also a Facebook page set up and dedicated to helping Ivins. Access it here.

Anyone interested in making a monetary donation can mail it to:

WHIP
P.O.Box 1214
Wall, NJ  07719

The organization will not accept clothing or food donations. All money received will be used to provide food, clothing, shelter and other necessities, Pomphrey said.

Please include a note indicating where you would like your donation to be directed using either "David Ivins'' or "Assault Victim'' the memo line of the check, Pomphrey said.