Editor,
A little over a year ago when the pandemic was heading into a particularly dark period, I was conversing with an old friend from NSP and Warwick EMS who wondered how the most at-risk members of our community could get the essential items they needed when the stores were being cleaned out almost hourly. I thought about this for a bit and reached out to two friends from Hudson Valley Honor Flight – Christine Little and Marianne Mutoli Schmidt.
Together, we came up with an idea to pair willing volunteers with our most valuable community members – “Adopt a Warwick Senior” was born. We weren’t sure how the idea would be received with all the concerns about social distancing etc. With a collectively strong medical background, we knew we could come up with parameters that would allow this to work.
We created a page on Facebook thanks to Nanette Hoey and we were blown away by the response. I guess all the folks home due to the lockdown were equally in need of a way to help others. It’s pretty simple, you go shopping for your own family, what’s the bother to grab a few more items for a neighbor?
We were truly touched by the number of folks willing to help, well over 300. So many in fact, that we had far more volunteers than senior’s in need which is a very good problem to have. Over the past year we have received many messages of appreciation from both the seniors, their families and our volunteers. So many new friendships were created during truly trying and difficult times. We received inquiries from surrounding municipalities about helping them set up similar programs. In the end, it was people who have made the difference.
When the need was greatest, our community showed its true colors. We can all take a sense of accomplishment from this experience. Ordinary folks made a difference in the lives of a complete stranger. What may have seemed ordinary to the folks doing the shopping, was extraordinary to the homebound and most at risk members of our community, and a lifeline to the outside.
We at “Adopt a Warwick Senior” have decided to draw down our operations. In the year since we began, other groups have formed to assist members of our community in meeting their needs day-to-day and long-term. We will be forever indebted to our community for the efforts of the hundreds of volunteers. We would also like to thank Supervisor Michael Sweeton for his very enthusiastic support throughout and to our town newspapers who ran many pieces to inform the public.
We sincerely hope the need never arises for this again, but we can all be rest assured that in the darkest of times, good people still want to do good things for others. I, for one, know that our community is stronger and more unified than it realizes – just need to be given the chance. On behalf of Christine, Marianne and myself, thanks for the memories.
JIM MEHLING
