Coronavirus Fairfield: 8-Year-Old Offers Support To Seniors

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield resident Marilyn Walsh recently received an unexpected piece of mail. It was a note, left by her neighbor, 8-year-old Finn O’Connor, who was offering to pick up groceries for Walsh or give her a friendly phone call during a time when people are being asked to stay home amid the spread of the new coronavirus.

“I just think he ought to be recognized for what he did,” said Walsh, who lives in the Stratfield neighborhood.

Walsh, who is 79 and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is part of the population most vulnerable to the virus.

So far, Finn has delivered notes to Walsh and one other senior in the neighborhood, but he plans to leave more over the weekend, according to his mother, Kate O’Connor.

“We’re hoping to be able to do something for folks,” Kate said.

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The notes were her husband’s idea, Kate said, but Finn was enthusiastic about the suggestion and came to realize how much his neighbors appreciated the support when Walsh called to thank him.

“I just wanted to help out because the coronavirus is really bad,” said Finn, a third-grader at Stratfield Elementary School. “... If you help, that’s really nice, and you do good deeds for people.”

In addition to grocery shopping and phone calls, Finn is also offering to post mail or deliver any other urgent supplies that people who are vulnerable to the virus might need.

As for Walsh, she is following the directive that residents stay home as the number of cases continues to grow across the area. As of Saturday, five Fairfield residents had confirmed cases of the virus, and there were 140 cases confirmed in Fairfield County. Parks and businesses have closed, and students enrolled in Fairfield Public Schools are learning remotely.

“For the most part, I have been staying in,” Walsh said. “I just want to be smart.”