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A community is now rallying support for one its residents who devotes much of her time volunteering and fundraising on behalf the city’s youth.

Sherrice Lyles is most known for her Wish Upon Prom campaign, which collects formal attire for children across the state whose families may not be able to afford the rights of passage expense. Last year, Lyles was honored at the White House’s United State of Women summit for the program. She also coordinates a back to school and Christmas holiday gift drive, and just a few months back, she helped a family who had were victims of a home fire.

But at 4:23 p.m. Wednesday Lyles was sitting on the porch of her new home. The cable had just been installed and she was waiting for her 2 and 4 year old children to arrive on their 4:45 p.m. summer program bus. Lyles said that is when she heard the smoke alarm.  

“It didn’t dawn on me that it was my house because I was so used to hearing it from the old neighborhood where I was living before,” she said. “I kind of got used to hearing that sound but then I kept hearing it. I went into the house and I saw smoke everywhere.”

She called out to her daughter who was in her own bedroom but 11-year-old could not respond.

“It was just a mess,” she said. “My daughter wasn’t coming out the room. Then she finally came out when I started yelling. Then I had to look for the fire extinguisher. I grabbed the fire extinguisher and did what I was trained to do.”

The source of the fire was a hoverboard Lyles 9-year-old son received last year as a gift after volunteering with a local group, Lyles said. She had not allowed him to use the gift until Tuesday because there was no room to safely ride the device at her previous home, she said.

The mother of four children ages 2 to 11 was forced to move from her previous rental home after she learned the property had entered foreclosure. A coach from the Asbury Park School District offered Lyles the newly refurbished Prospect Avenue home. Lyles, who is a parent liaison at Bradley Elementary School, moved in Saturday.

The hoverboard had been plugged in for 10 minutes when the fire sparked, she said.

“I tried to put the fire out,” she said. “I thought it was completely out and then all the neighbors came from everywhere to try to help.”

It was a neighbor who called 911, she said. 

“I thought the fire was out but then it wasn’t,” she said holding back tears. “And then, the fire just kept going.”

Fire Department spokesman Garrett Giberson Jr said a box alarm was issued, requiring off duty personnel response and mutual aid, which was given by Neptune and Wanamassa stations. The firefighters were able to quickly contain and knock down the fire and were cleared from the scene by 5:30 p.m.

“We made a good stop,” Giberson said, clarifying that is the phrase firefighters use in circumstances where no injuries were sustained and the blaze is contained at its source.

The home was deemed uninhabitable due to fire, smoke, and water damage, and the incident remains under investigation by the fire and police departments.

The family was placed at a Long Branch hotel by the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross. That stay will last for one week, at which time Lyles and her family will need temporary housing while they wait for the home to be refurbished.

“I’m not worried about me,” she said. “I’m just mainly worried about my kids. I worked hard all summer for them to have what they can to live comfortably in our new house. Everything that I worked hard for all summer is just gone.”

Most disheartening, she said, was that her son, though it was his fault. And while she had no renter’s insurance, she wants to advise others to get the coverage. She said the recent move and shopping for the children’s back to school clothes and uniforms left her with very little financial cushion.

“I’m very grateful that my children are alive and well,” she said. “I would never think I would be in this situation. For us to just be here, alive, well, and that everyone walked out without a scratch, I’m very grateful for that.”

When Lyles returned to the home for an interview with News 12 Thursday afternoon, she was met by Mayor John Moor, Asbury Park Toy Drive Founder Connie Breech, and Asbury Park Education Association President John Napolitani, who came to offer personal support and immediate financial assistance.

“On behalf of the entire governing body, all of you’ve done for the throughout the years is unbelievable,” Moor told her in presenting a personal donation.

Napolitani presented her with a check from his business and from the district’s faculty who quickly rallied their support.

“It will get your started,” he said. “We are here for you.”  

Following the interview, Breech drove the family to the Community Resource Center and a Rite Aide to pick up items they will need in the coming days.

“The family will need clothing, toiletry, and gift cards, and things they can use in the immediate because they only have so much space in the hotel room,” Breech said. “But later on, when they get settled back in the home, they will need more items like things from Bed Bath Beyond, Target, or Foodtown.”

Breech said the clothing sizes are as follows: 

Girl 11: size 14 to 16 pants, med shirt, 8.5 shoe

Boy 9: size 10 shirt and pants, 3.5 shoe

Girl 4: size 6T to 7T, 12.5 shoe

Girl 3: 3T to 4T, 8 shoe

Mom: size 7, med top 8.5 to 9 shoe

Donation drop off locations are at Diane Turton Realtors in Press Plaza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at Hotel Tides from 5 to 9 p.m., Breech said. A GoFundMe campaign was launched in Lyles name.

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