Summit Marches On is an incredible grassroots organization, founded by Summit residents to encourage activism on both a local and national level. Tracy Keegan, Beth Little, Lacey Rzeszowski, and Andrea J. Stein formed the bipartisan group as a response to the Women’s March on Washington. With more than 350 members, Summit Marches On has sprung into action during the current COVID-19 outbreak to lend a hand to our community’s seniors, immunocompromised individuals, and families in need.
The first initiative is “Senior Assistance,” which aims to fulfill requests that would otherwise require at-risk populations to leave their houses. Working with the Dept. of Community Services and/or SAGE, volunteers register via sign-up genius. Each morning by 10:00 a.m., registrants receive an email with a list of tasks (which meet the social-distancing criteria) that need completion within 24 hours. The individuals who are able to satisfy any of the daily requests, sign-up, while those who are unable, refrain and check back the following day.
“Adopt-a-Family,” the organization’s second COVID-related initiative, connects volunteers with one of the Summit families struggling to afford groceries. Volunteers, who have been rapidly registering, supply a week-worth of groceries (breakfast and lunch) for their “adopted family,” with regard to the number of household members. After signing up, also through sign-up genius, volunteers are given contact info for the family in order to schedule a safe and successful no-contact drop-off.
It is truly heartwarming to see our community members rally together for our neighbors. Groups like Summit Marches On embody the idea that we are #BetterTogether.
Summit Marches On can be reached at 908-605-0014 and by email at smohelpingseniors@gmail.com