Collingswood Cares Shifts Focus To Impacts Of Coronavirus

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — A Collingswood-based non-profit organization is now focusing on at-risk people who have been negatively impacted by the outbreak of new coronavirus.

In 1992, Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley and his wife Mary Kay Maley created Collingswood Cares For Children In Crisis to support families of chronically and terminally ill children in Collingswood with resources needed for care, including medical assistance, meals, transportation. It eventually became Collingswood Cares, but its goal has always been to help relieve the burden families faced during sickness and hardship.

On Monday, Collingswood officials announced that the non-profit is focusing on individuals and families who have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

"We started getting so many calls for help and so many calls from people that wanted to help," Collingswood Mayor James Maley said. "We knew a single channel to bring together those in need, volunteers and resources would be really helpful, and we knew we had a framework in place."

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Collingswood Cares is a 501(c)(3) that aims to help in the following ways:

• Shopping for food or meal delivery
• Picking up medications
• Financial assistance for basic needs

Collingswood officials are working with local chaplains and volunteer organizations to reply to requests and organize manpower to support those in need. Working with the Collingswood Fire Department and following the guidance of county and state health officials, organizers have created a list of protocols for volunteers to follow when shopping, dropping off supplies or interacting with the public so everyone stays safe while supporting those that need it.

"Collingswood is an awesome place to live and part of that is because as a community we keep trying to be better versions of ourselves and that includes better caring for the vulnerable among us. We have more resources in this town than we might realize, especially if we're able to connect those resources to needs. Another benefit of mobilizing help is that it enables people to meet some neighbors that they otherwise might not," Liberti Church Collingswood Lead Pastor Jim Angehr said.

Angehr is one of several local church leaders helping to coordinate Collingswood Cares outreach. Anyone who want to assist with the effort can do so by signing up to volunteer, making a tax-deductible contribution, or shopping on Amazon through the AmazonSmiles program where a portion of all eligible purchases is donated back to a designated non-profit.

Anyone in need of help or who knows someone in need of help can reach out by visiting www.CollsCares.org.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know