Ferndale Businesses Truck Supplies Out East to Hurricane Sandy Survivors
(C. Proxmire, Nov. 3, 2012)
When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, Jack Aronson and Dean Bach hit the ground running to send some Ferndale love to the devastated communities.
Aronson, owner of Garden Fresh Salsa, secured a couple of trucks from FST Logistics to deliver supplies, including 20,000 pounds of fresh food. Bach, owner of Dino’s Lounge, jumpe
d in and started collecting items and offered to drive the second truck.
Bach’s Press Secretary told The Ferndale 115 News that at least “1,240 cases of water, 40 cases of dog food, a pile of dry & canned food and 20,000 pounds of fresh food” were collected. “Pepsi and Motor City Casino donated lots of water.” Customers and people who heard about the trip brought in items like clothing, personal care items and blankets.
Once the trucks were full, Bach and his team headed East. “They delivered 2 loads, one to Howell, NJ and one to Hoboken, NJ and the police gave them an escort to Hoboken. He said NJ is ravaged, total devastation and very cold, especially with no power. He’s currently on his way home and should arrive in Ferndale tonight,” Bach’s Press Secretary said.
In addition to reaching the folks in need, Bach has documented some of the damage to the communities in New Jersey. Images of houses under water, and even one that was uprooted from its foundation and deposited in the middle of a road, can be found on the Dino’s Lounge Facebook Page, in addition to the ones we’ve been given permission to share. There are even a couple of videos showing the police escort they received.
Both Aronson and Bach are well-known for their philanthropic tendencies. Bach is involved in Ferndale Youth Assistance and sat on the board of MAPP – Michigan AIDS Prevention Project, now called Michigan AIDS Coalition. 
He resigned in 2010 and joined the board of the Downtown Development Authority instead. He’s also involved as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Ace Academy Charter School in Highland Park which is a high discipline school for incarcerated individuals. Dino’s is also part of many community events, and is especially known for hosting the Rib Burn Out contests each year at the end of the Ferndale Blues Festival, benefiting local charities. The most recent honor for Bach is the 2012 Good Neighbor Award.
Garden Fresh Salsa is often a donated delicacy at local fundraisers, and the name headlines many events. But Aronson has also cast his charitable net beyond Ferndale too. He’s worked with The Salvation Army and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and even done mission work in Haiti after an earthquake destroyed communities there.
Dinos’s is collecting donations of coats, clothing, socks, toys, food, water and pet food. They are making a second run to New Jersey Tuesday at 4pm.
To find out more about Garden Fresh Salsa visit their website at http://www.gardenfreshsalsa.com. For more on Dino’s Lounge visit www.dinoslounge.com.
