On January 5th, a benefit concert was held at the Middletown Arts Center to raise funds for volunteer EMTs and firefighters in Middletown who lost some or all of their homes during Superstorm Sandy. There were numerous families of the volunteer first responders in town who spent countless hours at their First Aid buildings and firehouses while their homes were filling up with water, their possessions destroyed. It was time for Middletown to pull together and help these people in return for their dedication and selflessness. 

Songs & Sirens: A Benefit Concert for First Responders Affected by Sandy netted about $1,000 for these families. Then-Mayor Tony Fiore and Committeeman (and current Mayor) Scharfenberger were in attendance and spoke a few words at the beginning of the show. Both men praised the volunteer first responders in Middletown for all the work they do, not only during Sandy, but on a day-to-day basis. The performances ranged from show tunes to popular contemporary songs, to original pieces. There was a 15 minute intermission where refreshments were sold in the art gallery of the Arts Center. 

"The event was very well attended," said 2nd Lieutenant Mike Daneman, Jr. of Lincroft First Aid and Rescue Squad, who organized the show along with Amanda Faria of Atlantic Highlands. "I was sincerely touched by the amount of people that came out to support the volunteer first responders in our town. As I stated in my closing remarks at the show, the emergency services in Middletown are like a family, and the residents of Middletown really helped out my family that night and I thanked them from the bottom of my heart"