Fred Rogers famously said that when disaster strikes, “look for the helpers.” In Newark this year, there was no shortage of helpers.
Doctors and nurses on the frontlines risked their own health to take care of COVID-19 patients. Paramedics, EMTs, firefighters and police officers did their jobs never knowing when someone they were dealing with might have the virus. Grocery store clerks, restaurant employees and countless others became “essential workers” as they went about their jobs in the face of the constant threat of being infected.
kAm%96? E96C6 H6C6 2=D@ 5@K6?D @7 @E96C }6H2C<6CD H9@ DE6AA65 FA :? F?:BF6 H2JD E@ 96=A E96:C ?6:893@CD 2?5 >2<6 =:76 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 362C23=6] w6C6’D 2 =@@< 2E ;FDE 2 76H @7 E96 “96=A6CD” E92E H6 AC@7:=65 E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8my{ “r@249” (:==:2>Dik^DEC@?8m x? 4@==23@C2E:@? H:E9 r9C:DE:?2 $49@@= s:DEC:4E 2?5 E96 DE2E6[ 96 CF?D 2 EFE@C:?8 46?E6C 2E E96 #65 #@@7 x?? :? }6H2C<] s@K6?D @7 @E96CH:D6\9@>6=6DD 72>:=:6D 2C6 36:?8 9@FD65 E96C6 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4[ 2?5 E96 EFE@C:?8 46?E6C 92D 364@>6 2 =:76=:?6 7@C <:5D :? ?665 @7 DFAA@CE H9:=6 5@:?8 G:CEF2= =62C?:?8]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#J2? v6C>2?[ $2D92 p36C 2?5 y2G:6C p4F?2ik^DEC@?8m (96? :?5@@C 5:?:?8 H2D C6DEC:4E65[ E96 |2:? $EC66E C6DE2FC2?E @H?6CD 2== 8@E 4C62E:G6 2?5 56G:D65 AC@8C2>D E92E 2==@H65 4FDE@>6CD E@ DA@?D@C >62=D 7@C 9@DA:E2= H@C<6CD[ 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD 2?5 @E96CD] %96 AC@8C2>D ?@E @?=J 96=A65 E96 C64:A:6?ED[ 3FE E96J 2=D@ 2==@H65 E96 C6DE2FC2?ED E@ <66A 6>A=@J66D 6>A=@J65]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mu@@5 q2?< @7 s6=2H2C6ik^DEC@?8m p=C625J 2 86> :? }6H2C<[ E96 u@@5 q2?< @7 s6=2H2C6 3642>6 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? 6G6C 2D :E >@3:=:K65 E@ >66E 2? F?AC64656?E65 ?665 7@C 7@@5] %9:D J62C[ :E 5:DEC:3FE65 >@C6 E92? `c >:==:@? A@F?5D @7 7@@5[ >F49 @7 :E E9C@F89 =2C86 5C:G6\E9CF 5:DEC:3FE:@? 6G6?ED E92E 244@>>@52E65 FAH2C5 @7 `[d__ A6@A=6 :? @?6 52J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq:== (2==6?ik^DEC@?8m %96 9625 4967 2E vC2:? rC27E q2C Z z:E496?[ (2==6? G@=F?E66C65 E@ 4@>6 :? @? %92?<D8:G:?8 s2J E@ 4@@< >62=D 7@C E96 9@>6=6DD[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96 C6DE2FC2?E H2D 4=@D65 E92E 52J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{@42= 49FC496Dik^DEC@?8m y@FC?6J r9FC49[ !2C<G:6H pDD6>3=J @7 v@5 2?5 $E] y@9? p| r9FC49 2== 96=5 =2C86 7@@5 5:DEC:3FE:@? 677@CED] %96 }6H2C< t>A@H6C>6?E r6?E6C 2E }6H2C< &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE r9FC49 2?5 w@A6 s:?:?8 #@@> 2E z:?8DH@@5 &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE r9FC49 A=2J65 2 4CF4:2= C@=6 :? >2<:?8 DFC6 }6H2C<’D 9@>6=6DD A@AF=2E:@? H2D E2<6? 42C6 @7 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4] }6H2C< &?:E65 r9FC49 @7 r9C:DE 4@@<65 2 %92?<D8:G:?8 >62= 7@C E96 9@>6=6DD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt>>2 q@J6Cik^DEC@?8m %96 h\J62C\@=5 2?5 96C 72>:=J D6E FA `d_ :?7=2E23=6 r9C:DE>2D 564@C2E:@?D :? E96:C r@EDH@=5 w:==D J2C5 2?5 @A6?65 “t>>2’D (:?E6C (@?56C=2?5” FA E@ E96 AF3=:4 E@ E@FC] xE H2D :?E6?565 E@ 3C:?8 A6@A=6 ;@J 5FC:?8 2 E@F89 J62C 2?5 2=D@ DFAA@CE65 %@JD 7@C %@ED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m':C8:?:2 v@F=5ik^DEC@?8m (:E9 =:3C2C:6D 4=@D65 7@C >@?E9D 5F6 E@ E96 A2?56>:4[ D96 D2H 2 ?665 7@C 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 7@C <:5D :? 96C ?6:893@C9@@5] $96 :?DE2==65 2 {:EE=6 uC66 {:3C2CJ 2E {6C@J w:== !2C< @? r2D9@ |:== #@25 2?5 A=2?D E@ <66A :E DE@4<65 H:E9 3@@<D E92E 762EFC6 5:G6CD6 492C24E6CD E92E D9@H42D6 E96 362FEJ @7 G2C:@FD 4F=EFC6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(6?5J y@9?D@? 2?5 #@36CE !@=642C@ik^DEC@?8m pD 5C:G6C’D 65 E62496CD 7@C E96 r9C:DE:?2 $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ E96J DA6?E A2CE @7 E96:C DF>>6C >2??:?8 2 5C:G6C EC2:?:?8 4@FCD6 369:?5 v=2D8@H w:89 $49@@=[ 8:G:?8 5@K6?D @7 DEF56?ED 2 492?46 E@ AC24E:46 E96:C 5C:G:?8 7@==@H:?8 2 D49@@= J62C :? H9:49 G:CEF2= =62C?:?8 AFE 5C:G:?8 =6DD@?D @? 9@=5 7@C >2?J DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr9C:DE:?2 4276E6C:2 H@C<6CDik^DEC@?8m x? @C56C E@ <66A D6CG:?8 <:5D E92E C6=J @? D49@@= =F?496D[ E96J D6E FA 4FC3D:56 A:4<\FA DA@ED 2?5 6G6? 56=:G6C65 >62=D @? D49@@= 3FD6D E@ >2<6 DFC6 <:5D 5:5?’E 8@ 9F?8CJ H9:=6 D49@@=D H6C6 4=@D65]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mtC:42 wFDDik^DEC@?8m p:>:?8 E@ “A2J :E 7@CH2C5” 27E6C 86EE:?8 96=A 7C@> 2 ?6:893@C[ D96 @C82?:K65 2 A6E 7@@5 5C:G6 E92E 4@==64E65 D:I 42C=@25D @7 :E6>D E@ 36 5@?2E65 E@ s6=2H2C6 $!rp 2?5 u2:E97F= uC:6?5D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m}6H2C< uC66 {:3C2CJ =:3C2C:2?Dik^DEC@?8m (:E9 =:3C2C:6D 4=@D65 7@C :?\A6CD@? G:D:ED[ E96J =2F?4965 2 4FC3D:56 A:4<\FA AC@8C2>] !2EC@?D 42? C6BF6DE 3@@<D[ s'sD 2?5 @E96C >2E6C:2=D @?=:?6 @C 3J A9@?6[ 5C:G6 E@ E96 =:3C2CJ[ 2?5 2 =:3C2C:2? H:== 56=:G6C E96 >2E6C:2=D E@ E96 A2EC@?’D 42C] x? 4@==23@C2E:@? H:E9 E96 uC:6?5D @7 E96 }6H2C< uC66 {:3C2CJ[ E96J 2=D@ 366765 FA E96:C 5:8:E2= @776C:?8D 2?5 H:== 6G6? 4C62E6 4FDE@> 3@@< 3F?5=6D 7@C <:5D[ E66?D @C 25F=ED[ D:?46 3C@HD:?8 E96 D96=G6D :D?’E A@DD:3=6 C:89E ?@H]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mpCED @C82?:K2E:@?Dik^DEC@?8m p ?F>36C @7 =@42= 2CED @C82?:K2E:@?D – DF49 2D r92A6= $EC66E !=2J6CD[ s6=2H2C6 s2?46 r@>A2?J[ }6H2C< $J>A9@?J ~C496DEC2[ #6D:56?E t?D6>3=6 !=2J6CD[ u:CDE $E2E6 #:?86CD 2?5 >@C6 – EFC?65 E@ E649?@=@8J E@ 9@=5 G:CEF2= A6C7@C>2?46D 2D 2 H2J E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J 4@F=5 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6?E6CE2:? }6H2C<6CD H9:=6 :?\A6CD@? D9@HD 2C6?’E 762D:3=6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp?@?J>@FD u2:C7:6=5 D:8? 2CE:DEik^DEC@?8m w2?5\5C2H? :?DA:C2E:@?2= D:8?D 3682? 2AA62C:?8 2C@F?5 E96 u2:C7:6=5 ?6:893@C9@@5 :? |2J[ 3C:?8:?8 D>:=6D E@ E96 7246D @7 C6D:56?ED 562=:?8 H:E9 E96 DE2J\2E\9@>6 @C56C 2?5 @E96C 72==@FE 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4] %96 A6CD@? 369:?5 E96> C6>2:?D 2?@?J>@FD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!p($ 7@C !6@A=6ik^DEC@?8m %96 @C82?:K2E:@?’D A6E E96C2AJ E62>D DH:E4965 862CD 2?5 56G:D65 H2JD E@ AC@G:56 G:CEF2= DFAA@CE E@ E96 D49@@=D[ 9@DA:E2=D[ ?FCD:?8 9@>6D 2?5 @E96C 724:=:E:6D E96J FDF2==J G:D:E :? A6CD@?] '@=F?E66CD 2=D@ D6?E `[`__ 9@>6>256 r9C:DE>2D 42C5D E@ =@42= ?FCD:?8 9@>6D 2D 2 H2J E@ 4966C FA E96 :D@=2E65 C6D:56?ED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp2C@? $6=6<>2?ik^DEC@?8m s6E6C>:?65 E@ D6?5 @77 9:D 8C25F2E:?8 D6?:@CD :? DEJ=6 56DA:E6 ?@E 36:?8 23=6 E@ 9@=5 2 EC25:E:@?2= 8C25F2E:@?[ E96 }6H2C< w:89 AC:?4:A2= 2?5 9:D DE277 56D:8?65 2? @FE5@@C[ 5C:G6\E9CF 46C6>@?J] (62C:?8 2 >2D< 2?5 8=@G6D[ $6=6<>2? DA6?E D6G6? 9@FCD @? DE286 H:E9 ?@ 3C62<[ 92?5:?8 6249 8C25F2E6 2 5:A=@>2 2?5 E2<:?8 2 76H >@>6?ED E@ 92G6 2 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 6249 @7 E96 DEF56?ED 2D E96J 4C@DD65 E96 DE286] ~E96C =@42= AC:?4:A2=D 96=5 D:>:=2C 6G6?ED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr9C:DE:?2 D49@@= ?FCD6Dik^DEC@?8m t2C=J @? :? E96 A2?56>:4 H96? A6CD@?2= AC@E64E:G6 6BF:A>6?E H2D :? D9@CE DFAA=J[ r9C:DE:?2 $49@@= s:DEC:4E D49@@= ?FCD6D >@3:=:K65 E@ 86E 6BF:A>6?E E@ 9@DA:E2=D[ ?FCD:?8 9@>6D 2?5 @E96C A6@A=6 H9@ ?66565 E96>] %96J D6H65 9F?5C65D @7 >2D<D 2?5 4@==64E65 F?FD65 DFAA=:6D =:<6 8=@G6D[ 8@H?D 2?5 92?5 D2?:E:K6C E92E E96J 925 2E E96:C D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m}6H2C< pC62 (6=72C6 r@>>:EE66ik^DEC@?8m %96 @C82?:K2E:@? C2:D65 >@C6 E92? Sb_[___ E@ 2DD:DE A6@A=6 H:E9 C6?E 2?5 FE:=:E:6D 2?5 E96? D6?E 2? 255:E:@?2= Sbf[___ H@CE9 @7 8C@46CJ DE@C6 8:7E 42C5D E@ A6@A=6 :? ?665 E9:D r9C:DE>2D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m}2E92? $2I7:6=5 2?5 |2EE vF4<6?36C86Cik^DEC@?8m %96 t28=6 $4@FE 42?5:52E6D 3F:=E @FE5@@C 4=2DDC@@>D 2E EH@ =@42= D49@@=D[ AC@G:5:?8 2 D276 >66E:?8 A=246 7@C 4=2DD6D[ 4=F3D 2?5 8C@FAD @7 ?6:893@C9@@5 <:5D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|288:6 y@?6D[ $E2E6 #6A] t5 ~D:6?D<: 2?5 $E2E6 $6?] qCJ2? %@H?D6?5ik^DEC@?8m %96J @C82?:K65 2 DFAA=J 5C:G6 7@C {:EE=6 $:DE6CD @7 E96 !@@C[ E96 7:CDE s6=2H2C6 ?FCD:?8 9@>6 E@ 92G6 2 >2;@C 4@C@?2G:CFD @FE3C62<] “(6’G6 366? D@ E@F4965 3J E96 8@@5?6DD @7 A6@A=6 :? E96 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ[” |@E96C |2C82C6E #68:?2 w2==@C2? D2:5] “(6’C6 @G6CH96=>65] uC@> E96 7:CDE 52J[ E96J’G6 366? E96C6 E@ 96=A FD]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m}6H2C< !2C<D 2?5 #64C62E:@?k^DEC@?8m kDEC@?8ms6A2CE>6?Eik^DEC@?8m !2C<D 2?5 #64 DE2776CD 7@F?5 :??@G2E:G6 H2JD E@ @C82?:K6 D@4:2==J 5:DE2?465 6G6?ED E@ 8:G6 A6@A=6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ D@>6E9:?8 E@ 5@[ DF49 2D 5C:G6\:? >@G:6 ?:89ED[ @FE5@@C 366C 82C56?D 2?5 2? @FE5@@C w2==@H66? 76DE:G2=] %96:C 4@F?E6CA2CED 2E }6H r2DE=6 r@F?EJ 2=D@ DE6AA65 FA[ @C82?:K:?8 6G6?ED =:<6 5C:G6\:? 4@?46CED 2?5 2 5C:G6\E9CF 9@=:52J =:89E E@FC 2E v=2D8@H !2C<]k^Am
Post a comment as anonymous
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
No links. Comments containing links to outside websites will be deleted.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.