Edgar Neel, is a resident of Lower Township, NJ, served our nation in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. During this time, he was on board the USS Constellation, and was exposed to water tainted with the hazardous chemical Agent Orange, which he and his fellow service members used to cook, bathe, launder, and drink. Mr. Neel has developed severe rashes as well as atrial fibrillation in his heart,severe pulmunary issues etc. as a result of coming into contact with the hazardous agent. In addition to he also suffers from severe PTSD and atrial fibrillation, and he was severely stressed for several years over the dangerous conditions from his home that caused him severe medical complications and the stress of continually worrying about how he is able to afford his mortgage of over 50 years. Therefore this financial crisis had caused severe anxiety and medical complications for Mr. Neel. However, the PICI team could not watch him suffer so we created the PICI renovation project to help renovate his home. Robert Heide who is on our outreach committee also saved his home by finding a mortgage company that assisted Mr Neel, Aaron Snyder and Lana Samuels co presidents found a veteran officer to advocate for Mr Neel and Lana Samuels and Valinda’s Newton and the rest of the team helped him with other resources that were essential for his survival because when Lana first met him door to door he was so weak to navigate alone to help his medical and living crisis.
After she knocked on his door with an updated Lower Township permit Mr Neel stated that he just was informed from an advocate at the VA hospital in Phila that his heart medicines would cost $100 and he was so weak since he stated to Lana that he had been without his heart medicines for almost 2 weeks because he couldn’t afford them when Lana heard this she ASAP contact the PICI team and we could not watch him suffer so we asked an organization if they could help so he could acquire his heart medicine at quest or for free and they stated that they have to have a meeting about that and Dr. Weibel and the rest of the team said by the time he has a meeting he can lose his life so Lana rush to go to Philadelphia to ask Dr. Weibel help with resources and Dr. wepay nova program ASAP to assist him and he only had to pay $2.50 per medication and he claimed that that saved his life after that we look for a veteran officer for him to also have a cake for severe medical living needs and she helped him apply for veterans benefits which he was unable to receive each month, helped him refinance his mortgage, and secured free roofing repairs for his home just in time for the winter. and you will view on the web page and videos the amazingly great heroes whom donated their time in the freezing cold putting up his roof, installing windows, building steps, etc The PICI team honors Ed who is a Vietnam Veteran so we want to reach all our goals for Ed so he can attain what he truly deserves we will be having a fundraiser in Somers point to raise $5,000 for a fence so he feels safe and we will have a landscapers night out to raise funds to level his ground and to put in a sprinkler system so it is safer for Ed and others to walk on his ground. Please email us if you are interested in attending our fundraiser for Mr Neel or if you would prefer to donate for our ticket for Life tickets that gives you discounts to local businesses in Cape May & Atlantic County or please call us at 6092049638 and please leave a message if you would like further info concerning the fundraiser for Mr Neel and the ticket for Life tickets.
We started the PICI for Mr. Edgar Neel in 2020
Lana Samuels and Bob Heide, whom volunteers for People in Crisis Inc (PICI), noticed that he had many holes in his T-111 Wood Siding. This Siding, Mr. Neel Mentioned, had been present since 1970. Mr. Neel stated that mice, wood bees, and other animals went through the holes, and the mice destroyed a lot of wiring and leaving the home open to infestation. When the Volunteers discovered this, John and Bob stated, “that we will not watch Ed live like this and we must do something about it.” The Volunteers contacted several people such as the owners of Window World, South Jersey Interior and Exterior, Larick’s Tree Service in Cape May, and Several Other Individuals and Programs Locally and non-locally, who helped Ed with the PICI renovation project. John Scalella Stated,” Let’s renovate his whole home,” and we are 3/4ths of the way finished. A few of the volunteers contacted PJ Fitzpatrick, who chose People In Crisis as their Non-Profit of the Year and donated $90,000 worth of siding and insulated his home. Ed is a Vietnam Veteran, and he does want the public to know that he has been affected by Agent Orange, COPD, Severe heart issues, and living in a home that was uninhabitable caused it to be very cold during the winter, which severely affected his pulmonary and heart conditions. Now, thanks to the Work of PICI and its volunteers, he’s living comfortably in his home.
Sal from the Owner of Window World and his staff donated most of the windows, along with another non-local window company, whom would like to remain anonymous.
The Doors had holes and were rotted, and PICI met with a veteran in Somers Point who donated the doors.
We will inform you all of the wonderful people who’ve donated their time and resources to helping save Ed’s beloved home.
We believe that John Scalella and Bob Heide are heroes because they took their time to care about Ed’s home and the uninhabitable conditions it was in. Motivating the People in Crisis team to take action in saving Mr. Edgar Neel’s home.
(Pictured Above) This is how Ed’s home looked in 2020
This is Lana Samuels, Ed Neel, Bob and Brill
This is Sal (Former owner of Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza, EHT), Bob and Brill the owners of Window World with Ed Neel.
Pictured Above is Window World installing some of the 8 windows donated by Window World.
Below is Ed Neel’s with $90,000 of Donated Siding
