Year in Review: 20 people and groups in Newark who made 2020 a little less terrible

Then there were also dozens of other Newarkers who stepped up in unique ways to help their neighbors and make life during the pandemic just a little more bearable. Here’s a look at just a few of the “helpers” that we profiled throughout the year.

JL “Coach” Williams: In collaboration with Christina School District and the state, he runs a tutoring center at the Red Roof Inn in Newark. Dozens of otherwise-homeless families are being housed there during the pandemic, and the tutoring center has become a lifeline for kids in need of support while doing virtual learning.

Ryan German, Sasha Aber and Javier Acuna: When indoor dining was restricted, the Main Street restaurant owners all got creative and devised programs that allowed customers to sponsor meals for hospital workers, first responders and others. The programs not only helped the recipients, but they also allowed the restaurants to keep employees employed.

Food Bank of Delaware: Already a gem in Newark, the Food Bank of Delaware became more important than ever as it mobilized to meet an unprecedented need for food. This year, it distributed more than 14 million pounds of food, much of it through large drive-thru distribution events that accommodated upward of 1,500 people in one day.

Bill Wallen: The head chef at Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, Wallen volunteered to come in on Thanksgiving Day to cook meals for the homeless, even though the restaurant was closed that day.

Local churches: Journey Church, Parkview Assembly of God and St. John AM Church all held large food distribution efforts. The Newark Empowerment Center at Newark United Methodist Church and Hope Dining Room at Kingswood United Methodist Church played a crucial role in making sure Newark’s homeless population was taken care of during the pandemic. Newark United Church of Christ cooked a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless.

Emma Boyer: The 9-year-old and her family set up 150 inflatable Christmas decorations in their Cotswold Hills yard and opened “Emma’s Winter Wonderland” up to the public to tour. It was intended to bring people joy during a tough year and also supported Toys for Tots.

Virginia Gould: With libraries closed for months due to the pandemic, she saw a need for an alternative for kids in her neighborhood. She installed a Little Free Library at Leroy Hill Park on Casho Mill Road and plans to keep it stocked with books that feature diverse characters that showcase the beauty of various cultures.

Wendy Johnson and Robert Polecaro: As driver’s ed teachers for the Christina School District, they spent part of their summer manning a driver training course behind Glasgow High School, giving dozens of students a chance to practice their driving following a school year in which virtual learning put driving lessons on hold for many students.

Christina cafeteria workers: In order to keep serving kids that rely on school lunches, they set up curbside pick-up spots and even delivered meals on school buses to make sure kids didn’t go hungry while schools were closed.

Erica Huss: Aiming to “pay it forward” after getting help from a neighbor, she organized a pet food drive that collected six carloads of items to be donated to Delaware SPCA and Faithful Friends.

Newark Free Library librarians: With libraries closed for in-person visits, they launched a curbside pick-up program. Patrons can request books, DVDs and other materials online or by phone, drive to the library, and a librarian will deliver the materials to the patron’s car. In collaboration with the Friends of the Newark Free Library, they also beefed up their digital offerings and will even create custom book bundles for kids, teens or adults, since browsing the shelves isn’t possible right now.

Arts organizations: A number of local arts organizations – such as Chapel Street Players, Delaware Dance Company, Newark Symphony Orchestra, Resident Ensemble Players, First State Ringers and more – turned to technology to hold virtual performances as a way to make sure they could continue to entertain Newarkers while in-person shows aren’t feasible.

Anonymous Fairfield sign artist: Hand-drawn inspirational signs began appearing around the Fairfield neighborhood in May, bringing smiles to the faces of residents dealing with the stay-at-home order and other fallout from the pandemic. The person behind them remains anonymous.

PAWS for People: The organization’s pet therapy teams switched gears and devised ways to provide virtual support to the schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities they usually visit in person. Volunteers also sent 1,100 homemade Christmas cards to local nursing homes as a way to cheer up the isolated residents.

Aaron Selekman: Determined to send off his graduating seniors in style despite not being able to hold a traditional graduation, the Newark High principal and his staff designed an outdoor, drive-thru ceremony. Wearing a mask and gloves, Selekman spent seven hours on stage with no break, handing each graduate a diploma and taking a few moments to have a conversation with each of the students as they crossed the stage. Other local principals held similar events.

Christina school nurses: Early on in the pandemic when personal protective equipment was in short supply, Christina School District school nurses mobilized to get equipment to hospitals, nursing homes and other people who needed them. They sewed hundreds of masks and collected unused supplies like gloves, gowns and hand sanitizer that they had at their schools.

Newark Area Welfare Committee: The organization raised more than $30,000 to assist people with rent and utilities and then sent an additional $37,000 worth of grocery store gift cards to people in need this Christmas.

Nathan Saxfield and Matt Guckenberger: The Eagle Scout candidates built outdoor classrooms at two local schools, providing a safe meeting place for classes, clubs and groups of neighborhood kids.

Maggie Jones, State Rep. Ed Osienski and State Sen. Bryan Townsend: They organized a supply drive for Little Sisters of the Poor, the first Delaware nursing home to have a major coronavirus outbreak. “We’ve been so touched by the goodness of people in the local community,” Mother Margaret Regina Halloran said. “We’re overwhelmed. From the first day, they’ve been there to help us.”

Newark Parks and Recreation Department: Parks and Rec staffers found innovative ways to organize socially distanced events to give people in the community something to do, such as drive-in movie nights, outdoor beer gardens and an outdoor Halloween festival. Their counterparts at New Castle County also stepped up, organizing events like drive-in concerts and a drive-thru holiday light tour at Glasgow Park.