LAKEWOOD, NJ - While the majority of Phillies representatives arrived for Wednesday's Winter Tour in the early evening, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel came early in an effort to play a small part in helping "Restore the Shore."

The manager of the Phillies and his fiancé, Melissa Martin, came earlier and went to a Salvation Army relief center in Ortley Beach to volunteer.

"It was absolutely astounding when you go down and you look and see that it's three months after the storm and how it still looks," said Manuel, who enters his ninth season as Phillies manager.

Manuel has lived in South Jersey for the duration of his tenure with the Phillies. Although he did not suffer any damage to his property, he felt a direct connection and was certainly upset for those who did.

"It is saddening when you look in and see that people had nice homes and definitely enjoyed where they lived and the scenery and the beach." He added: "It's unbelievable to stop and think of the storm like Sandy can be so destructive."

Manuel and Martin boarded a Salvation Army truck and delivered snacks and warm beverages to work crews and residents still trying to recover three months after the storm hit in October.

"I really enjoyed meeting the people that are out there working and the people that are trying to clean up and still got quite a ways to go," said Manuel.

He was pleased he was able to donate his time for service on the Shore, but Manuel added that attention needs to stay on the area and that there is still a greater need for aid.

"I really enjoyed it, but the biggest part about it was that they need help and I think that everybody in the United States knows that."

- BlueClaws -