Cops cleanup property of Toms River family in need

     Officers from Toms River and Wall spent Saturday morning cleaning up the exterior of the Zane residence. (Photo courtesy of Wall Police Benevolent Association #234)

    Officers from Toms River and Wall spent Saturday morning cleaning up the exterior of the Zane residence. (Photo courtesy of Wall Police Benevolent Association #234)

    Dozens of police officers descended on the home of a Toms River family in need on Saturday to lend a helping hand. 

    Officers from Wall and Toms River spent Saturday morning cleaning up the exterior of the Zane residence, including trimming all landscaping, removing leaves, cutting grass, cleaning gutters, and laying down mulch in landscape beds, according to James Cadigan, president of the Wall Police Benevolent Association #234. 

    Following the cleanup, the officers placed Christmas lights, wreaths, garland, and bows on the front of the house of Matt and Jill Zane and their three children, he said.

    They then cleaned the exterior of homes along the entire cul-de-sac, Cadigan added. 

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    The Zane family is fighting a hard battle, with Jill Zane suffering from breast cancer and her young son, Caden, struggling with various chronic illnesses. 

    An online fundraiser for the family has raised over $140,000 since early November.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lakewood PBA #71 for providing their bus and refreshments for the hardworking members of both locals, Cuzzins Pizzeria of Silverton for providing lunch for our members as well as dinner for the Zane Family, and Route 34 Landscape and Supply yard in Wall for providing the mulch for this project,” Cadigan said.

    Click here for the Zane fundraiser. See more photos from the cleanup here

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