Coronavirus Update: Communities Coming Together, Donations Pouring In Amid Pandemic
WALDWICK, NEW JERSEY (CBSNewYork) -- Throughout the coronavirus crisis, we're hearing more and more uplifting stories of people helping one another with communities are coming together and donations pouring in for those on the frontlines.
The moms of Waldwick, New Jersey, love a parade and what better way to celebrate the birthdays of kids who had to cancel their parties at the last minute. A list goes out in the morning, and by 3 p.m., the party starts with 30-40 cars strong each day.
Around every turn, there are signs saying, "We're in this together," thanking everyone from the grocery workers to the healthcare workers, first responders to essential workers.
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One man from Westchester shared a photo of his wife and her coworkers holding signs that said, "We stay at work for you, you stay home for us," at an area hospital.
Add Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, to the list of hospitals that need your help. Donations are piling in, and Tina O'Shea is helping fill up hungry workers. She started "Wyckoff Helping Healthcare Heroes."
"I had absolutely no idea of how I would possibly pull it off here. I decided to throw the idea out to the Wyckoff Moms Facebook group, and the responses I got were immediate and overwhelming," she said.
O'Shea raised $7,500 and counting -- enough to feed two shifts every day for two and a half weeks with two food drops a day.
Supplies are mounting. Boxes are dropped off with notes of encouragement written on many.
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In Morristown, New Jersey, a husband was photographed keeping his distance but expressing his thanks with a sign that read, "Thank you all in emergency for saving my wife's life. I love you all."
Ford Kerr is helping doctors and nurses with "break room baskets," and so many continue to make masks for local hospitals. Valley has received almost 1,000 handmade masks -- from Rena in Mahwah to Betty Lou Percy in Neptune to Robyn Ashley in Manhattan.
Meanwhile, Colin McEnerney just turned 7. His party had to be cancelled -- until his entire kindergarten class from Brown Elementary in Verona, New Jersey, showed up.
Everyone stood on sidewalks and in the street, singing "Happy Birthday" from a safe distance.
"Best day ever, birthday," Colin said.
