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Massena, Ogdensburg come together as quarantine continues

Posted 5/2/20

Residents all along the St. Lawrence Seaway are helping others during the coronavirus quarantine. They are administering a Covid-19 Facebook page, organizing food drives, providing a soup kitchen, …

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Massena, Ogdensburg come together as quarantine continues

Posted

Residents all along the St. Lawrence Seaway are helping others during the coronavirus quarantine.

They are administering a Covid-19 Facebook page, organizing food drives, providing a soup kitchen, and opening a food delivery service.

• Mary Joly Wills, Ogdensburg, started Ogdensburg NY Covid-19 neighbors helping neighbors, a Facebook page that now has 2,381 members. Wills said the Facebook group provides information and updates on all things Covid-related.

“So far, we have connected parents with supplies such as diapers and formula, senior citizens with food, cleaning supplies and toilet paper. We have also provided almost 200 masks to those in need,” said Wills.

“Members want to help or they need some help,” Wills said. “There is no shame in asking for a helping hand and it is a wonderful feeling to be able to do something to help someone.”

• Ann Loffler, Ogdensburg, organized a food drive in the city April 25, collecting four truckloads of nonperishable food, baby formula and diapers. She thanked community members for their help, including Mayor Mike Skelly, Landon Spooner Oakes, Blair Roethel, Debbie Bracy, Heather Badlam and Jane Montpetit.

Members of Ogdensburg’s Professional Firefighters Local 1799 and Save a Lot donated over $600 worth of food. Other organizations that donated include Ogdensburg airport’s TSA staff, Corner Deli and Andrew from Frito Lay. Donations went to local food pantries at Presbyterian Church, St. John's Church, Salvation Army, and the Neighborhood Center. The citizens of “Ogdensburg pulled together, as we always do, to help each other in times of need. They deserve a big thank you for the love and generosity they showed this weekend for those in need,” said Loffler.

• Community members provide about 140 daily takeout lunches at Massena’s United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-noon, with drive-thru or walk up service. Lunches include meat, salads, vegetables, fruit, and homemade desserts.

“It’s a group effort. Our volunteers are from several different churches,” said coordinator Kathy Perry.

“If you or someone else could use this meal, please pass on the info,” said Karen Murray, one of the organizers.

Starting May 18, lunches will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. After June 1, they will be on Mondays and Fridays.

A GoFundMe page for soup kitchen donations has raised about $1,000 so far. To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/united-methodist-church-of-massena-soup-kitchen or send checks to United Methodist Church, 189 Main St., Massena, NY 13662. Indicate on the check it is for ‘community meal donation’.

• Jerry and Stacia Sheppard and Jeff and Tracee Lago started FoodFetched Delivery of Ogdensburg a month ago. The company currently partners with Bayside, Busters, Cams Pizza, Dougs, Ogdensburg Diner, Jackson’s Deli and Mack’s Restaurant to deliver food to within a 15-mile radius of Ogdensburg.

“We were glad we were up and running to help restaurants with deliveries during this time,” said Jeff Lago. “We have been doing over 70 deliveries each night.”

“Our company takes COVID-19 safety precautions very seriously,” said Stacia Sheppard.

Interested restaurants and drivers can message their Facebook page. Their app can be downloaded using the Apple Store or Google Play.

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