Trying Times: the Pandemic Hits Oakland, Sickening Some Residents and Bringing Out Remarkable Acts of Charity and Support

In these trying times, as the coronavirus pandemic has upended life for everyone, heartwarming actions by Oakland residents and first responders have brought much-needed feelings of support, and uplifting moments.

When Mayor Linda Schwager--who has been sending daily emails about the number of residents who’ve tested positive, and resources residents can turn to, among other things—let residents know that because of the quarantine many of our seniors needed help getting groceries, prescriptions, and supplies, our community responded with an outpouring.

Arielle Preciado, the director of senior services for the borough, was inundated with calls and emails from people eager to help.

“Many seniors in the community, as they try to stay inside and maintain social distancing…have needed assistance with obtaining these supplies,” Preciado said.

Scores of Oakland residents reached out to Preciado.

“I’ve had people offer to take up collections, restaurants offering to donate food, individuals offering to help with setting up this volunteer program. I’ve had high school students with cars offering to help while they are out of school, people offering to drop off home cooked meals, or even just to call and chat with people.”

She has been heartened by the response.

“Oakland is an amazing community where the residents are really there to help each other,” she said. “There has been amazing support from the community in so many ways.”

When a birthday party Melissa Vion had planned for her twins, who were turning four years old, had to be cancelled, Oakland’s police, firefighters, First Aid Squad and DPW stepped up, giving the children a mini Happy Birthday parade, of sorts. They drove by their home in patrol cars and fire trucks, turning on their lights and sirens, and waving at the amazed twins, who watched from their driveway.

"A day later, we are still in shock by the amazing gesture of the Oakland Police, Fire, EMS and DPW," said Vion. "I had every detailed planned and was sure the party would happen. Exactly a week before, I knew I had to pull the plug. I took to my Oakland’s Mom page to ask for some Birthday Beeps. We needed something to make our children feel special. Forces aligned, I NEVER realized what was coming. I think I was just as, if not more, excited than my kids! We are beyond proud to call this town home. We asked for you to make our twins 4th birthday special since we had to cancel their party and boy did you come through! SHOUT TO OAKLAND POLICE, FIRE, EMS and DPW!!! AMAZING!!!!"

As with other towns, Oakland residents have been showing their support for health care workers who are on the frontlines of treating those hit by the virus. Many workers around the country have themselves fallen ill, are working long hours, and often must quarantine themselves from those in their own homes, unable to hug their spouses or children. Residents have done such things as come out of their homes--all at the same time on a given day--and cheer for first responders and health care workers, or bang on pots and pans in tribute to them.

"I’ve had high school students with cars offering to help while they are out of school, people offering to drop off home cooked meals, or even just to call and chat with people."       Arielle Preciado, director of Oakland Senior Services

A health care professional posted on an Oakland Facebook page: “I was beginning to get a bit overwhelmed with anxiety over the fact that tomorrow I face another day fighting this monster head on , but I opened my door and heard the Cheers and now I’m ready again!! Thank you friends -- we are all fighting together!”

Oakland resident Mike Best, who is program director for the Knights of Columbus of Oakland, joined forces with a member of the Knights of Columbus of Franklin Lakes and launched the “Feed the Needy” program, which collects donations that go toward supporting local restaurants, which in turn provide food to local charitable organizations, such as food pantries.

Best explained that “Feed the Needy” helps restaurants, which are struggling because of the quarantine, and pantries (including the one run by the Ponds Reformed Church), which are getting far fewer donated goods and are trying to meet a growing need in the community while doing so with fewer volunteers, many of whom are seniors who are not venturing outside their home.

“We Knights rely on local businesses to support our cause, they’ve been tremendous supporters for programs for special needs kids” and other important projects, Best said. “We thought, ‘How can we give back to the businesses?'”

Best got on the phone and reached out to Oakland restaurants, while his Franklin Lakes counterpart did the same in his town.

Many restaurants were happy to receive the help, and for the chance to help pantries in return.

“Pantries have had to cancel fundraisers, people who normally drop off non-perishable goods are hunkered down at home,” Best said.

“I see a lot of good people coming together,” he said. “You see how people are coming together, you do see a bit of hoarding, but you can understand, with people being nervous and protective.”

The town’s children are doing their part.

Many are drawing rainbows –a sign of hope—and putting them on their windows.

Maria Glasson, whose son AJ, a kindegartener at Heights, and 3-year-old twins made the rainbow poster featured above, said: "As a family we decided to make the rainbow big enough to put in an upstairs window. My husband drew the outline, AJ picked neon colors because they’re bright and happy, and colored the rainbow in and drew the sun. We decided to add a message of hope and solidarity with our neighbors, which I wrote out. Our 3-year-old twins James and Lily helped with the coloring as well."

Some children also have sent messages of thanks to first responders and health care workers.

Many residents tuned into a special online prayer service by Oakland Fire Department Chaplain Russ Stammer for two members of the department hit hard by the virus.

Mayor Schwager has been working day in and day out to keep residents informed in myriad ways, including daily reverse 911 messages, emails giving the newest data on the cases in Oakland, a map of Oakland restaurants and the services they’re offering, such as delivery, take out, Uber Eats and Door Dash.

The mayor and Oakland Business Administrator Richard Kunze confer daily to ensure the town meets the needs of residents under the unprecedented, challenging circumstances.

“I’m so proud of this town,” she said. “To get all these calls and emails from residents asking ‘How can we help?’ Every time a tragedy or major problem happens, people come through in Oakland. Our first responders, the fire department and police department, are so incredible.”

Finally, from all of your neighbors, we thank our town's health care workers, police, firefighters, the First Aid Squad, and all the employees who continue to go to work at their jobs at restaurants, supermarkets, pet stores, and all other businesses classified as essential.