Ramsey Strong
Small town makes big effort to support health care workers and local businesses
Story & multimedia by Thomas E. Franklin
Grassroots networks have sprung up in towns across New Jersey as elsewhere in the U.S., mobilizing to support frontline health care workers in any way they can amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this epic battle against the COVID-19 coronavirus, doctors, nurses, and front-line hospital workers have become the soldiers, working long hours in stressful conditions. Combined with all the business closures, shutdowns, self-quarantining and social distancing, communities are creating new ways to pitch-in and help.
In northern Bergen County, the newly formed Ramsey Strong, Supporting True Heroes Group has raised more than $51,000 to pay for meals for health care workers at local hospitals — with the aim of also helping local eateries to remain open. The volunteer group has distributed nearly 5,000 meals to staff at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Hackensack Meridian University Medical Center, Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus and others.
It all began with a group of parents at the Ramsey Dater School. As the pandemic struck, the moms got together and hatched the idea to form a Facebook group. They then asked the community to make small donations so they could raise enough money to order meals at some of the local restaurants, many tittering on the edge of shuttering or laying-off workers. Then they created an online signup for volunteers to schedule the delivery of the hot packaged meals to front line workers at the end of their shifts.
It’s a simple “win-win plan” says Melissa Young-Crozet, one the Ramsey organizers, that has galvanized the small Ramsey community of roughly 15,000 residents and helped many deal with the feelings of helplessness during these uncertain times.”
“We saw what was happening in China and we knew what was happening in Italy,” said Young-Crozet. “We wanted to find something to do, so we said let’s raise money to pay the restaurants and help the healthcare workers at the same time.”
“We saw what was happening in China and we knew what was happening in Italy. We wanted to find something to do.” said Melissa Young-Crozet
Originally, they didn’t have any idea what to expect, says Young-Crozet. The original goal was $20,000, which they reached very quickly. “It was then raised to $40,000 after we reached $30,000 and then raised it again to $60,000.” Each time they get more money, it allowed them to extend the support out farther Young-Crozet says. “At this point, will keep going as long as we can.”
For the upcoming Easter weekend, the group planned their own Easter miracle. The community rallied to deliver 900 chocolate bunnies and over 1,100 meals. Volunteers delivered to four area hospitals, dropped off 50 dinners to the Ramsey Responds network and other local families in need.
In turn, Ramsey restaurants were paid nearly $11,000 in just one weekend.
B&G Bagels Deli & Catering in Ramsey, one of 23 local business the group has supported, is one most popular eateries on Main Street. Owner Bayron Zabala, 46, says it’s been rough for about a month now. His business relies heavily on catering orders from area corporations and schools, and those orders have all but dried up since schools have gone online and professionals began working at home. Zabala says his intake is down 65–70%.
“Everybody so far is still working, nobody got laid off thank god,” said Zabala, who has kept all eight of his workers on the payroll, but has had to reduce hours.
“Ramsey strong has really helped us stay open. It’s a big help for us.” -Bayron Zabala, B&G Bagels Deli & Catering
Zabala has long been a staple in the community since coming to Ramsey from Ecuador when he was 25. He has owned the bagel shop for the last seven years and is well-known by his loyal customers for his generosity. His wife Monica also own a small salon in town that has been closed for three weeks now.
“This is the only time in my life I’ve seen this kind of problem,” Zabala said about the outbreak. “But we’re proud to be part of this Crusade.”
His son Byron, 21, helps out at the shop when he’s home from college, says this type of community pride is typical of Ramsey.
“When some of the worst things happen, we really show our true colors,” says the Rowan University accounting major. “We stay strong, help each other and don’t leave anyone behind. It’s what I love about where I’m from.”
On Sunday, Ramsey residents Michael and Michelle Featherstone drove their SUV around the back of B&G, and along with the Zabala’s loaded up 200 boxed dinners for the 6:30pm shift change at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
“For us it’s just a small thing we can do to help, said Michelle, the mother of three. Her and Mike have signed up for a number of deliveries as their way of giving back. “My sister is a nurse at Valley, knowing some of the people on the front lines there, we have a close affinity for Valley. They are going through such a tough time.”
“Byron is always the first one to support the community, said Michael. “To be able to do something like this is a small way of giving back, especially at this time.”
Tony and Michael Lotito of Lotito’s Deli & Bakery at the Interstate Shopping Center in Ramsey were busy all weekend preparing 700 meals. Normally closed on Easter, Tony and Mike were there mid-morning wheeling out a cart of boxes packed with ready-to-eat meals for the volunteers to deliver to the front lines.
Lotito says it’s been a trying couple of weeks keeping the 45-year old family business afloat. Thankfully, he says none of his employees have contracted the COVID-19 virus, but some are too scared to come in and he’s been barely able to make payroll. So it was a godsend when the group called.
“I was at 18 to 20% of normal,” says Tony, who says Lotito’s now stocks other essential items in the store such as fresh produce, household items, and cases of water. “When they called, I said listen, ‘I’ll take whatever I can get at this point.’” Lotito says business is now on the slight uptick now. “I’m about 50%. If it wasn’t for Ramsey Strong I don’t know what I’d be doing right now. I’d be in serious trouble. I’m not getting rich, but I’m paying my bills.”
At the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood on Easter Sunday, dozens of hospital staffers coming off their shift at 3pm, were greeted by cheerful volunteers in the employee parking lot offering them plentiful containers to take home to their families. As the workers trickled out, many still wearing scrubs, masks and other personal protective equipment, (PPE) formed lines while trying to maintain social distancing rules.
“This is a huge help. Many of us are not eating on time. This is my lunch and it’s 3pm in the afternoon.” said Dr. Nadine Clermont
There were also Easter chocolate bunnies, snacks for their pets, and photo-ops with the Easter Bunny. Staffers were encouraged to take more than one meal, so they could share with family members when they got home. “This is a huge help,” said Dr. Nadine Clermont. “Many of us are not eating on time. This is my lunch and it’s 3pm in the afternoon.”
Clermont, who’s worked at Valley since 2016, says it’s been an emotional time at the hospital, with good days and bad, but she was ready to head home after a long shift, but not until she completed her 30–40-minute decontamination process before she can enter the house.
“I’m going to go home and spend some time with my family,” said Clermont, holding a dinner container and some chocolate treats. “I miss them so much.”
Bettina Daly, the Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts at the Valley Hospital Foundation, and a Ramsey resident, has led the coordination of the donations from groups like Ramsey Strong. She says her department has been working with eight similar community networks in Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Allendale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River and Hillsdale. As well as various fire and police departments chipping in.
Daly came up with the idea of setting up a food truck in the parking lot, where volunteers arriving with the food can pull up in their vehicles, while her staff unloads and puts the boxes in the food truck. There’s a minimal amount of interfacing, and its quick and simple.
“We have the drop-off a half hour before a shift change,” said Daly, who was doing double duty on Sunday wearing an Easter Bunny costume, fitted with a protective mask. “This way they would have a hot meal to take home to their families, so they don’t have to cook anything that night.”
“I’m constantly amazed at their gratitude when we should be grateful to them. It’s very touching.” -Bettina Daly, the Valley Hospital Foundation
Daly says the response from the hospital staff has been overwhelming and emotional to see. “The stress that they are under is tremendous, said Daly, “and they are appreciative. I’m constantly amazed at their gratitude when we should be grateful to them. It’s very touching.”
As New Jersians navigate these uncertain times, many are looking for ways to help. The Ramsey group was created as a movement to support local restaurants and eateries they depend on throughout the year and keep the front lines fueled with good food as a way of saying thanks. But it’s become so much more than that says Young-Crozet.
“Food insecurity has really increased. We want to show them on the front lines that they’re not forgotten.” -Melissa Young-Crozet
“We had no idea it was going to explode into what it’s become,” says Young-Crozet, who says the group extended its reach to help others on the front lines such as EMTs, and DPW workers.
Young-Crozet, the mother of two, runs a summer camp in upstate New York, and like many, the coronavirus outbreak has put everything on hold.“
I was really struggling figuring out how to go forward with all this uncertainty,” she says.” And then this came up. The acts of kindness that have come out of this has made me cry. People are being so good and so kind to each other and the health care workers. It’s been amazing to see.”
Thomas E. Franklin is an Assistant Professor in Multiplatform Journalism at Montclair State University. With 30 years’ experience in the newspaper business, he is perhaps best known for his iconic flag-raising photograph taken at Ground Zero on 9/11.
Franklin is also a resident of Ramsey, NJ.
Folllow him on Instagram
On April 16, 2020 a shorter version of this story story and photo essay published in NJ Spotlight
