A social employee en path to ship 48 meals for homebound, immunocompromised residents in Westchester was abruptly stranded on the facet of I-95 with a broken-down automobile and just one place to show.
The social employee instantly referred to as Anne Richards, who went on-line and posted an pressing plea for assistance on a neighborhood Fb group she runs for Tarrytown and Sleepy Hole.
“I wanted somebody to select up and ship 48 meals, I pressed publish and instantly, I had six individuals increase their fingers,” Richards, 55, instructed The Publish.
“It’s the neighborhood that involves job. I’m the conduit.”
Richards has been working the Fb group for about six years and amid the coronavirus disaster, has risen as an area chief residents can name on. She retains a cadre of regular volunteers in her again pocket who assist her coordinate meals deliveries and join residents to sources.
Typically, Richards is there to simply lend a digital shoulder to cry on.
“There's at all times a necessity for one thing. Some are easy asks, and a few are very advanced and really pressing. Once I get a message or a name, I by no means know what this message or a name will carry, whether or not I’ll know the reply,” Richards defined.
“It’s very troublesome for lots of people to ask for assist. On this scenario, individuals who want help didn’t want help six weeks in the past. … All of us want a hand up generally. If we will’t help one another, then what do we've got?”
With that in thoughts, Richards goes to nice lengths to maintain the work discreet.
“The dignity of a household have to be revered,” she stated.
For instance, when a meal drop-off is requested, she’ll give the volunteers delivering the grub solely an handle, no names.
Richards is busy providing assist “on a regular basis” and it will get to the purpose the place her household has to tear “the telephone out of my hand or else I’ll go to sleep with it.”
Richards doesn’t at all times instantly have a solution for every part, however she doesn’t cease making an attempt till she finds one.
“It’s like throwing spaghetti on the wall. I want any individual to do that. I don’t take no for a solution,” Richards stated. “Somebody may say no, however they could have an thought the place to go subsequent.”
At instances individuals name for assistance on tips on how to navigate a pending eviction or for recommendation a few member of the family who’s severely in poor health. When she’s not serving to these residents, she’s a moderator for 2 different Fb pages associated to COVID-19 the place she works to cease misinformation on the virus.
Richards developed a ardour for giving again when her son suffered a traumatic mind harm after a devastating 2007 automobile crash.
“Individuals stepped as much as my facet and helped me up by the darkest moments of my life,” Richards recalled.
“I aspire to be the stranger who's at all times there, who will assist, who will discover assist. It’s an honor.”
Do you've gotten a nominee for The Publish’s Hero of the Day? E-mail heroes@nypost.com.
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