I love a good do-good story.
Sylvia Lasalandra-Frodella, owner of H2Ocean Restaurant & Raw Bar in Cedar Knolls, turned an ordinary food truck into a mobile platform for helping people.
She calls the vehicle the Shuck It Truck, and on Tuesday, May 9, she will drive it to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, where it will help celebrate the opening of the Center for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
The mission of the center, simply put, is to help mothers who are experiencing postpartum depression.
The center, a multidisciplinary treatment facility for mothers and their babies, will offering postpartum depression support groups and workshops, parenting classes and a weekly peer-support breakfast.
Starting at 11 am on May 9, Sylvia (who is known for wearing high-heeled rubber boots as she works) will serve fresh caught seafood to toast the opening of the center.
For an informative FAQ on post-partum depression and related conditions—from Postpartum Support International—click HERE.
Sylvia’s truck now has a sibling. She calls her latest creation the Get Shucked Truck. It’s coming to Long Branch, too. It will be stocked with furniture, diapers, bottles, clothes, books and toys that will be donated to the new center.
The restaurateur is known for her philanthropy…
—In the last few years, she has donated more than $15,000 in gift cards to charities
—Given $1 from each private-label wine sold at her restaurant to support children’s health and programs relating to mental illness, LGBTQ issues and suicide prevention
—Created “Taking Care of Your Ta-Ta’s” to raise money for breast cancer awareness
—Paid for 10 cleft-palate operations for a Franklin Lakes boy through her Operation Smile efforts
—Helped arrange kidney dialysis for a local grandmother
With her mobile operation now in gear, Sylvia hopes to expand her charitable efforts throughout the state.
For more information about Sylvia’s charitable efforts, visit h2oceanrestaurant.com.