CAMDEN, NJ — Eager to avoid morning showers Jenny Toro, a Camden mother, lined up on Viola Street early — a cast on one foot.
“Vengo cada semana,” Toro told TAPinto Camden. “I come every week.”
That she’s less preoccupied with those in her household becoming sick, as they’ve grown accustomed by now to taking coronavirus safety precautions, doesn’t solve Toro's issue of keeping a stock of essentials.
“My husband works in landscaping, and he’s done fine during the pandemic, but we have four kids — 11,12,13 and 7 — and things run out quick,” she said. “It’s been about three weeks now that I’ve come and I’ll probably be here next week.”
Toro was one of hundreds of Camden residents who took advantage of The Heart of Camden Thursday giveaway of diapers, baby formula and cleaning products - made possible through funds from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. With the help of the Touch NJ Food Alliance the waterfront south organization added free bags of food to the pantry this week.
Since it began in April, the organization has handed out more than 800 boxes of diapers.
“I think everyone’s struggling but we’re working with a lot of immigrant families too,” said Carlos Morales, executive director of The Heart of Camden. “It can be harder for illegal citizens because there’s been a lot of job loss, and you add to that the greater impact over the fact they have to live in the dark.”
That Camden's undocumented population don’t have the same access to government resources must be offset by charitable organizations like his, Morales said, as well as the Mighty Writers - which The Heart of Camden hosts a giveaway with every Tuesday.
City Councilwoman Shaneka Boucher led ten young volunteers Thursday as they prepared for an 11:30 a.m. distribution launch.
Among them was Styshaan Frisbey of Parkside. Despite losing out on his senior year and the basketball championship he was looking forward to, Frisbey continues to take time out of his schedule to lift his community.
The 18-year-old, who also lends a hand to The Mighty Writers, said he first got involved with the giveaway because of City Councilman Vic Carstarphen.
“I see a lot of older people helping at the food drives and that’s great, but I think we need the younger people to come out too. It’s important we volunteer our time and effort,” said Frisbey, who plans to enter medical school and pursue cardiology in the future.
Paul Fishman, Operations Manager for Touch New Jersey Food Alliance, says with help from Farmers Against Hunger and Philabundance, he receives 24 pallets of food a day containing 63 boxes each.
“We then work to get the boxes out to pantries around the city and Camden County,” Fishman said.
More than 20 people were lined up by 11 a.m. Each arrived at a table with either boxes of food, diapers, baby formula or a bag of cleaning products including sponges, detergent and Windex.
Volunteers, donning face masks, helped to maintain social distancing and take product to the cars of elder and pregnant residents.
James Colbert, 62, of Camden, came ready with his very own cart.
“I think in some ways [the pandemic] has brought some good with it too...people have come closer together in the community and at home,” said Colbert, who noted that some of what he acquired today was for his mother.
Still, Colbert admitted it’s not in his nature to stay indoors.
“If you know me you know I’m usually out on the street,” he said laughing, “but I’ve had to be safer as of late, I always keep my mask on when I do go outside.”
The Heart of Camden will continue to host food pantries on Tuesdays with The Mighty Writers, as well as sandwich distributions Wednesdays and a diaper/food drive Thursdays. For more information visit www.heartofcamden.org.
Check out the 20-photo gallery above.
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The Link LonkAugust 14, 2020 at 09:32AM
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Food, Free Diapers, Cleaning Products Are a Godsend for Many in Camden - TAPinto.net
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