THE "HELPING HANDS" OF CHATHAM: COMMUNITY BANDS TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AS A RESULT OF COVID-19
 
Many of our neighbors, from small business owners to furloughed workers to seniors on fixed incomes, are experiencing financial challenges during the current health crisis. With the great uncertainty surrounding when things might return to normal, we must lend a hand. Various entities have come together to help fellow residents.  Neighbors have taken up the call. Chatham Borough resident Joann Carroll has created a new initiative, “Helping Hands”, to facilitate help for Chatham families who find themselves “food insecure” as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. 
 
The “Helping Hands” concept is straightforward—a person can donate via check, Venmo or QuickPay with Zelle.  The funds collected go toward providing needy families with $25 ShopRite gift cards.  The inspiration for “Helping Hands” came about after witnessing all the different ways the Chatham community has bonded together to support each other during this crisis.  Joann and many other Chatham residents wanted to be part of the solution.
 
Chatham-based Boxcar has also stepped up to help. The company is currently selling boxes of produce for contact-free pickup in Madison each week, helping area residents avoid a trip to the grocery store. Joe Colangelo, Boxcar’s CEO, has offered to donate 10 boxes beginning Wednesday, May 20th to Chatham residents in need, for pickup along with the gift cards. In addition, residents can purchase a box to be donated directly to “Helping Hands” by visiting https://platform.boxcarapp.com/listings/320/reserve. “We’re proud to be part of the Chatham community,” Colangelo says, “and happy to do whatever we can to help during these difficult times.”
Our local faith leaders are also stepping up to help.  There is an outdoor Pop-Up Food Pantry of non-perishable items that has been established in front of the Chatham United Methodist Church sanctuary, located at 460 Main Street in Chatham, directly across from CVS.  Rev. Jeff Markay advises the pantry is constantly active with people dropping off and picking up goods.  It is open 24 hours per day for people to “Give what they can. Take what they need. Care for each other.”
 
Families in need should not be shy about accepting help— we are all in this together and Chatham residents are looking out for each other.  For information about “Helping Hands” you may visit https://www.facebook.com/groups.ChathamWeekendMeals/  or https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q550r6aWoLWPRz8aJzLoLMAW32JRrBxO/view?usp=sharing.
 
Pickups take place each Wednesday from 11:00 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. at the parking lot of Chatham United Methodist Church across the street from CVS on Main St. in Chatham Borough.
 
Please note that because this will be donated food, food distribution will be made on a “first come, first served” basis WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. 
 
How can you donate?  Via Venmo@JoannCarroll- 201-988-9070 or QuickPay with Zelle- [email protected].  If you prefer to send a check, make it out to Joann Carroll with “Helping Hands” written in the memo section, and mail it to:  Joann Carroll, 14 Red Road, Chatham, NJ  07928.
 
For further details on how you can help, please contact Joann Carroll at [email protected] or 201-988-9070.  You may also contact Council Members Len Resto at 201-486-1077 or via e-mail at [email protected] , or Carolyn Dempsey at 917-940-8825 or [email protected].
 
The Borough of Chatham thanks Joann, her friends and the Chatham community for helping to put food on the table for those finding themselves in need.
 
The Borough of Chatham thanks all those in our community who are coming together to address food insecurity.  The School District of the Chathams, Chatham United Methodist Church, BoxCar, Joann Carroll, her friends, and fellow residents.  It is heartening to see so many in our town come together to help put food on the table for our neighbors who now find themselves in need.