(above) The Rotary Club’s GoFundMe page – https://www.gofundme.com/f/fsp-rotary-coronavirus-fundraiser
FSP Rotary Club Fights Coronavirus
Submitted by Maria LaMorte-Wright
The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self”. When the Coronavirus pandemic began to impact local communities, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club put these words into action to provide service to those in need. They identified a three-tier plan to help the community: 1) SPF Resource Central- centralized information about local resources; 2) Fabric Masks and; 3) GoFundMe for the purchase of P100 masks for Overlook and meals for healthcare providers.
The first thing they did was establish SPF Resource Central, for people needing information about resources during the Coronavirus pandemic. Led by Deanna Dell Bene, they worked with the Borough of Fanwood and Township of Scotch Plains to become a key point of contact, and immediately created a list of resources (restaurants, food pantries, shopping assistance, prescription pickup, etc). When someone requests assistance, they’ll be matched with, and referred to, the best resource.
Individuals and families who need assistance during this pandemic are asked to visit the Rotary website at fsprotary.org and fill out the Assistance Request Form with as much information as possible. A member of the FSP Rotary Club will reach out to review the request and will then use the information to identify the appropriate resources. If preferred, anyone can simply call the SPF Resource Central hotline to request assistance: 908-312-0687. So far, queries have been received for donations of fabric masks; request from Overlook nurses for phone chargers, extension cords, hair ties; request for assistance with food donations for IHM food pantry. The SPF Resource Central team worked with the YMCA in Scotch Plains, where bins were set up for collection and distribution of needed items.
At the same time, several members of the Rotary Club learned about the need for fabric masks and individually began sewing. They teamed up under the guidance of Carmela Resnick and formed a sewing group to provide masks for healthcare providers, the elderly and anyone at-risk. The group worked for days when they received a large request for 200 masks for a local home healthcare provider. They’ve since delivered masks to Ashbrook nursing home, Trinitas (children’s masks), El Centro, SP Senior housing, Brandywine Senior Living, SP Post Office, Fanwood Post Office, Overlook Hospital nurses (for home use), Fanwood Presbyterian, the YMCA, local doctors’ offices, as well as individual requests from people at-risk. For information about masks, contact the SPF Resource Central hotline at 908-312-0687.
Finally, the FSP Rotary Club learned that Overlook wanted to acquire approximately 500-600 P100 filtering masks at a cost of about $10,000. They created a GoFundMe to raise funds for these masks as well as meals for healthcare workers and first responders in Fanwood and Scotch Plains. Gift Cards will be purchased from local restaurants and delivered to healthcare workers and first responders who are nominated by the community. If you’d like to support the fundraiser, go to fsprotary.org and click the Donate button below the Coronavirus information. To nominate a someone to receive a restaurant gift card, simply call the SPF Resource Central hotline at 908-312-0687 to provide information (who you’re nominating, contact info, why you are nominating them).
In addition to the above initiatives, the Rotary Club has donated $1,000 toward the P100 masks for Overlook Hospital, $1,000 to El Centro, $1,000 to Boxes of Hope, $500 to the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad, and $500 to the Fanwood Rescue Squad. Other contributions are in progress, as they work to assist those with food insecurity. President Wayne Zuhl has been reporting progress during weekly Zoom meetings with club members. During one of the meetings, he commented, “I have never been more proud to be a Rotarian and a member of the greatest Rotary Club in the Universe!”.
(above) Over 200 masks which were recently donated to a home healthcare provider.
(above) Deanna Dell Bene takes a call from someone calling in to SPF Resource Central. Deanna leads this committee.
(above) Carmela Resnick collects fabric masks left on her porch by Rotarians on the sewing team. The masks are being made for healthcare providers, the elderly and those in need.
