Cinnaminson Neighbors Helping Neighbors Amid Coronavirus Scare

CINNAMINSON, NJ — In times of crisis, communities come together, and in the 21st Century, that often means neighbors posting on social media to help one another.

Cinnaminson resident Katie Quinn began seeing that in the days after new coronavirus cases began popping up. As what would become a worldwide pandemic began to spread, she saw people posting about having extra food and other things they could share.

She thought people might feel funny about messaging their neighbors for help, and that lead her to create “Cinnaminson Helping Cinnaminson 2020.”

Quinn and Monica Horner came together to establish a Facebook page in which they would collect information from residents in need. Anyone in need of supplies fills out a survey in which they provide their name, phone number, home address, email address and what they need.

Quinn and Horner, who is married to Cinnaminson Mayor Ryan Horner, put together a group of volunteers to participate in a porch-to-porch delivery service, allowing people to help each other while adhering to social distancing guidelines set forth to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

When they receive request, they post that request in the Cinnaminson Helpers Facebook group. If someone can fulfill that request, they respond. They might leave the items on their porch for a driver to pick up and deliver to the porch of the person in need. Once it is dropped off, Quinn will contact the person in need and tell them the item is on their porch.

So far, the group has more volunteers (44 as of Tuesday) than number of people who have reported a need. Quinn expects the second number to grow as the pandemic progresses, though.

“The chief of police called me to say he supports it, and so did the superintendent,” Quinn said. “We’ve had a lot of teachers volunteer.”

Melissa DeClemente collects items for a food pantry and has opened her doors to offer supplies to the group. Township Committee also supports the effort, and the township posted the survey on the homepage of its website.

For their most recent effort, four people helped deliver food, diapers and wipes to a mother who needed help.

“It was a big community effort,” Quinn said. “They helped a mother feed her kids today.”

Coronavirus poses the biggest threat to the senior population, but seniors are also not as likely to use social media as younger groups are.

On Tuesday, the Cinnaminson Helpers added volunteers who are willing to be connected with a senior citizen or someone who is immunocompromised who needs someone to shop for them.

They also added a phone number to call for those who can’t access the Google Form. That number is 609-310-1370.

There have even been members of the group that are offering to make meals for other people.
Quinn is on the Board of Education in town and knows how the town can come together in times of dire need.

“I’m not surprised” by the number of people who are volunteering, Quinn said. “I’ve seen them come together to help each other so many times in the past. This town is just that great.”

Quinn is also a teacher in Freehold. That school district used some emergency snow days this week, but Quinn will return to work remotely next week.

“Together, we can all take care of each other,” Quinn said. “We have plenty of help.”

The Cinnaminson Helpers group on Facebook also includes post for local food resources, and food events.