By James Ward
Grappling with the COVID-19 outbreak is a trying time, especially for the most vulnerable in our community and the governmental agencies and nonprofits that serve them.
As in all difficult times, this one presents an opportunity for community-minded people and organizations to work together and support those most in need of help.
Our local Morristown Rotary Club has a century-long history of doing just that. The motto of Rotarians worldwide is Service Above Self. With the COVID-19 outbreak threatening the physical and economic health of our town, once again the Rotary Club of Morristown has responded with generosity and determination.
What is most interesting and heartening is how the club rapidly implemented a model of nonprofits and businesses working together.
The immediate problem was this: Homeless Solutions Inc. is a local nonprofit that provides a shelter for individuals and families needing temporary housing.
While sheltered in place under the state’s emergency order, these guests have no access to normal community support systems, such as food banks. Homeless Solutions generously did its best to provide these meals, but this is in addition to normal services and at a time when many of the organization’s workers and food volunteers are under lockdown themselves.
With the creative input of its diversified membership (men and women from the healthcare, business, non-profit, educational, religious and governmental sectors), the Morristown Rotary Club quickly partnered with Homeless Solutions and local restaurants to support those in need.
Here’s how it works. Committing one of the largest grants in its history, the Rotary Club has joined with local restaurants to provide meals for the shelter’s guests.
Under a project titled, Morristown Rotary: Operation Hunger, Rotary is funding the restaurants to prepare the meals for Homeless Solutions. Homeless Solutions then distributes the meals to its guests.
“We saw this as a way to leverage our resources,” said Nick Walsh, Morristown Rotary Club president.
“Homeless Solutions has a proven track record of great service to some of our most vulnerable citizens, and our local restaurants have the ability to provide healthy and cost-effective meals.
“These same restaurants have been there for us over the past two decades. We rely on their generosity for our preeminent annual fund-raising event, the Taste of Morristown, which makes possible our many annual public service projects such as Camp Merry Heart for special needs kids, the Homeless Veterans Program, and the Hometown Beautification Project.
“Now, while supporting Homeless Solutions in meeting the immediate need of our most vulnerable citizens, we can also support these restaurants and their employees as they work through this trying time.”
Rotary Club Vice President Ray Wenzel praised both the local restaurants and Homeless Solutions for their cooperation and enthusiasm.
“It brings out the best in our community when we come together to address a common problem,” Wenzel said.
“Each of the three entities has unique strengths that if combined can better serve our community in this time of need. Our long history of working together to serve Morristown is our most important asset. Larry Goldfarb, our liaison to the local restaurants has worked hard over the years to build a special relationship between them and our club. Without that kind of history, we could never implement a program like this in such a short time.”
Stephanie Cicale, chief development officer of Homeless Solutions, said, “In this crisis, we are providing services beyond our normal scope of operations. This put a great strain on our resources. To have the local Rotary Club step up like this and support us is heartwarming and most appreciated.”
The program is now providing daily meals for approximately 65 men, women and children. Hopefully, life soon will return to normal for all our residents. For the Rotary Club of Morristown, the impact of COVID-19 on our town was another call to Service Above Self – a call that club has once again met with compassion and creativity.
Morristown restaurants currently working the Rotary’s Operation Hunger are:
- Fig & Lily Garden – 2 Cattano Ave.
- Greenpoint Juicery – 28 Speedwell Ave.
- Pascarella Brothers – 61 South St.
- Chef Fredy’s Table – 78 Speedwell Ave.
- Guerrerio’s Ristorante – 162 South St.
- Minuteman Smokehouse & Grill – 990 Mt Kemble Ave.
The Morristown Rotary Club has a GoFundMe page for those who would like to help with Morristown Rotary: Operation Hunger
For more information about the Morristown Rotary Club, contact Nick Walsh at (973) 960-2271.
