Bridgewater Mom Helped Thousands During Pandemic; Now Needs Help

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Loughran family of Bridgewater who has helped to provide more than 18,000 PPE (personal protective equipment) for people during the coronavirus pandemic is now in need of help for themselves.

A GoFundMe has been started by a close friend, Stacey Friedlander, to help cover medical expenses after Jennifer and Mike Loughran's son, Finn, was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs Disease.

Jennifer Loughran has been through so much loss and pain, yet still continues to give back.

In 2013, the couple lost their daughter, Sylvia, at 14-months-old for undetermined reasons. Five months later, Loughran lost her mother, and then her grandmother two months after that, followed two weeks later by her dog. Additionally, Mike Loughran was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo treatments and therapies. He is currently waiting to complete a new scan, according to the GoFundMe.

Despite going through this, Loughran started The Mask Squad of Somerset County. The squad has since raised more than $15,000 to help the community and state distribute necessary PPE to anyone who needed it.

Now, Friedlander said it is time to give back to the Loughran family.

"Jenn is a good friend. I've watched her go through so much, yet somehow, she pours so much energy into helping others and making sure her community is taken care of. I just couldn't sit back and not find a way to help them at their greatest time of need. NOW it's our turn. We will take care of her and her family," Friedlander said.

Money raised will cover medical expenses and also other expenses as Mike Loughran was recently in a car accident, which totaled the car.

As of Monday, around $24,000 has been raised of the $35,000 goal. To donate or for more information click here.

Additionally, an online Shop For A Cause was set up for the family to raise more funds. Each participating business will post their information, website, and percent of donations that will go directly to the family. For more information visit facebook.com/groups/shopfortheloughrans.

The Shop For A Cause group will be open through Aug. 21.

• Read More: Somerset County Folks On Mission To Sew 100K Coronavirus Masks

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