Care & Share Block Pantry, COVID-19
No one can say they were really prepared for the impacts that COVID-19 has had on families and our way of life. The beauty of this moment is in the selfless act of kindness and service that have been extended to those most in need. Many are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and tend to loved ones who have fallen victim to this virus. And in turn, there are countless examples of how people are coming together — delivering food to the elderly and those sheltering-in-place and reaching out to check on each other.
Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA), in partnership with Greater Newark LISC, has been organizing weekly virtual meetings with residents and community-based organizations to coordinate relief efforts for the Clinton Hill neighborhood. To date, these efforts have led to an increase in the availability of food distributed throughout the neighborhood and resources being shared with residents on unemployment, mental health and housing assistance.
The group includes community residents, such as Ihsan Ali, who leads a coalition of block associations throughout the neighborhood, Kim Gaddy, who runs Newark’s Clean Water Action, Malik Whitaker, a local artist, Sharon Smith, a public education advocate and founder of PULSE, Halashon Sianipar, block leader, and community activist, Lynda Lloyd. A number of community-based organizations take part in the weekly meetings and are participating with various projects, including South Ward Children’s Alliance, Newark Community Street Team, the South Ward Business Improvement District, Beth Israel Hospital, Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Rutgers Cornwall Center, and the Mayor’s South Ward representative.
In the coming weeks, the group plans to launch a block level pantry project, called Care & Share, where neighborhood residents will help to distribute food to their neighbors from their homes in an effort to bring resources to closer to home and reach traditionally underserved areas of the neighborhood. Mini-grants are also being provided to organizations and individuals currently distributing food to help with things like defraying the costs for gas, purchasing equipment like deep freezers to vary the products being distributed. The group is also planning to roll out a series of activities over the summer to help people maintain good mental health and begin recovery efforts.
