18 HOUR SHIFTS, THE COVID-19 NORM AT LCSW
Lakewood Shomrim/LCSW has been taking a tremendously active role during the current COVID-19 Crisis, shouldering a heavy portion of the emergency response needed in this area of NJ. The streets of Lakewood have seen hundreds of hours of extra LCSW patrols over Pesach, to deal with the current health crisis. Special trainings and extra medical equipment were given and utilized by the unique Lakewood Shomrim/LCSW Shabbos Team. This non-stop activity was in addition to special activation requests by the Lakewood Police.
LCSW Patrols took on a new mission besides for identifying criminal activity; members in full PPE gear slowly and deliberately combed the town for those in need of their assistance to stay healthy, pulling extra-long shifts. 1069 local families benefitted from an LCSW member coming to their homes on the week of Pesach alone to help with urgencies. Requests to LCSW were non-stop, including medical transports to and from hospitals, delivering medications, alerting family members, assisting with medical technology and devices, and communicating with many nursing and long term care facilities and their administrators. Compounding the situation was the need to stop patrol regularly to sanitize equipment and vehicles.
The storm that struck on the second night of Yomtov caused widespread power outages and a sakanah for many corona patients on oxygen at home. A special thank you letter came from Lakewood Chief Gregory Meyer for the continuous LCSW rounds that night. “I wanted to say thank you all again as you continue to overcome difficult situations and work as a team getting us through these difficult times safely.”
The Lakewood OEM relied on the assistance of LCSW to assist with quarantine shelter for those without a place to stay. Shopping for food and other basic necessities was done by the Team for many families and individuals from all communities who were unable to get out. In an effort to keep everyone safe and healthy, gloves and masks were distributed to those unable to procure them. To quote one of the heroic members of the LCSW Shabbos Team who pulled those 18 hours shifts “I figured one more hour I could help at least 3 or 4 more families, so I just continued patrolling (in spite of the fatigue).”
When the town needed a real lift of spirits during the past 2 weeks, LCSW members took to the streets with music on a float, bringing a much needed break and smiles to the faces of so many waving from their windows and porches. Local hospitals appreciated the many “thank you to the healthcare heroes” visits with banners and food that were made to their facilities. Dr. Frank Vozos, Executive Vice President of Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus says “thank you for caring for them."