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#FriendsHelpingFriends: Newmarket pulls together during COVID-19 pandemic

Some residents are stepping up to help neighbours and strangers dealing with hardships brought about by coronavirus
20200318 kristina wilton
Newmarket resident Kristina Wilton is shown here with her husband, Ben, and children Ava, 5, and Claire, 2. Supplied photo

In times like these, Newmarket resident Kristina Wilton believes it takes a village to ensure local families have enough food on the table.

And, in the midst of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Wilton is offering to shop for and deliver groceries, cook meals, deliver a box of cereal, gallon of milk, or whatever it is that is needed.

Within 20 minutes of posting on social media her offer to help those in need, her inbox began to fill up with messages from people who wanted to help others, too.

“I think this is a time where people have a choice and it’s either panic and be negative or we come together and we’re stronger, and people need to choose which way they’re going to go,” Wilton said. “People tend to follow what they see more of, so the more we can reach out and be supportive of the community, the more people are likely to jump on board with that.”

Wilton has been quietly helping those in need in Newmarket on a case-by-case basis for some time. She has paid for dance classes when a family’s budget was tight, and bought groceries.

School meal programs are a cause particularly close to her heart because she knows many local families rely on them to help feed their children. Now that schools are closed, children are missing those meals and often, there isn’t much on the table for dinner.

“It’s such a large problem that is happening in our community, and there are so many families that rely on school breakfasts and lunches,” said Wilton. “Now that the kids are out of school for so long, and people are being laid off work for a little while, it’s especially unfortunate because many of them are living paycheque to paycheque and don’t have that savings.”

“It means the things they have to think of first is paying the rent, paying bills, and now they are having to think about food more so then they ever have,” she added. 

The local realtor and mom of two young daughters, Ava, 5, and Claire, 2, said being an active volunteer in the community has opened her eyes and given her insight about who is most impacted during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s no shame, no judgment, this isn’t a time for that,” Wilton said. “It’s time to help and that’s what we need to do. When we reach out and help people, it’s contagious. It allows for other people to step up, too.”

If you would like to get involved in what Wilton calls a “big pay-it-forward”, or are in need of groceries, homemade meals, or anything else, email her at [email protected].

Newmarket photographer Glenn Rodger also posted in a local Facebook group that if someone was self-isolating and needed groceries or anything else, to call or message him on his personal cellphone.

“Don’t post a request in the comments, no one needs to know,” Rodger said. “I can leave it outside your door. #FriendsHelpingFriends.”

Local resident Ron Eibel also said that in light of all that is happening in the community, people should try to stay at home as much as possible to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“If you can, think of purchasing gift cards from your local services and food vendors,” he said, as a way to help neighbours. “That way, they have access to some funds over the next while until this pandemic starts to fade into the background.”

Self-isolating is also being regarded in the community as a way to help oneself and others.

Newmarket Deputy Mayor Tom Vegh said he is staying at home much more than he did just one week ago. His health is good and he is not sick.

He is calling this “self-isolation lite”.

“I have noticed that in the workplace, the halls and lunchroom are not as active, and we are having far fewer face-to-face meetings,” Vegh said. “We did a large shopping, not because we were hoarding, but because we wanted to reduce the number of trips to the grocery store.”

Vegh asked friends what they were doing at home to pass the time and said many people are talking about how they are reconnecting with their children by playing board games, teaching them card games, and cooking together, and other such activities.

“I have finished a number of household chores from my to-do list and rediscovered my stamp collection, and am spending hours sorting through and organizing them,” he added.