Life has changed drastically in New Jersey in the past six weeks. The state has reported more than 146,000 cases of Covid-19, at least 10,000 people have died, and Gov. Phil Murphy’s stay-at-home order has been extended indefinitely. In the state with the most cases and deaths after New York, residents are volunteering time, energy and money and businesses are using their resources to help others, and ensure that the needy in their communities are fed.
Restaurants are donating meals. Volunteers with Toni’s Kitchen, the food ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, bag and deliver meals to their neighbors. Volunteers with Umbrella, a company that connects older adults with nearby neighbors who can lend a hand, shop for groceries and provide contact-less delivery to seniors.
In East Rutherford, the Meadowlands Y.M.C.A. hosts a food bank that brings in over a mile of cars weekly; it is also hosting blood drives with the Red Cross and running an emergency day care center for front-line workers. Eva’s Village, a Paterson social service organization that aids people struggling with poverty, hunger and homelessness, has adjusted to treat patients who are also battling with coronavirus.
Engineering students at Rowan University in Glassboro work with their professor on intubation boxes for local hospitals, and Nauti Spirits Distillery in Cape May has teamed up with a local pharmacy to produce hand sanitizer. Doctors are offering telehealth services and social workers are volunteering their time by calling older people in hopes of easing anxiety and loneliness.
“This is a game changer for all of us,” said Jonathan Arredondo, the president of the Nutley Volunteer Emergency and Rescue Squad. “It’s the passion and personal belief of helping others that keeps us going. It’s a huge sacrifice that we make so we can serve others.”
We didn’t have the funding in place, but we decided that if there was ever a time to meet the challenge, this was it. We just pushed ahead and then the community started to donate money and food so we could meet this pandemic’s challenge. The true essence of giving is that you continue even when it seems impossible. — Salim Patel, 41, founder and board member of SMILE for Charity.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to be humble and grateful that we can serve the needs of people both out on the front lines and within our own company by keeping them employed. —- Jeffrey Mayer, chief executive of LBU, in Paterson
I am committed to the nonprofit industry. While this pandemic has been terrible and challenging, it has provided the clarity of my mission. To see everyone coming in everyday and giving of themselves shows me that this is the right path. — Amy Costa, executive director of branch operations at the Meadowlands Y.M.C.A.
By each of us doing our part, we will get through this together and come out stronger and better than ever. — Patti Goyette, marketing and events manager, Nauti Spirits Distillery.
Ed Kashi (@edkashi) is a photojournalist.
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