When the going gets tough, Westporters offer help.
Three Westport teenagers — Ty Chung, Jonathan Lorenz and Luke Lorenz — are happy to run errands for senior citizens, and anyone else having difficulty getting out because of self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just email GuysHelping@gmail.com. Include your name, address, and errand.
The helping guys are happy to do what they can. But they will not enter homes, and they’ll avoid personal interactions.
If your request involves purchasing items, they’ll reply with instructions for payment. (That’s for the items only, of course. This is a good-deed venture, from 3 really good guys.)
(From left): Ty Chung, Jonathan Lorenz, Luke Lorenz.
Westporter Paul Einarsen spent 5 years at Apple, as a genius (their word) and creative trainer. He’s spent many years working from a home office, collaborating with remote clients and vendors.
He knows the challenges. And he wants to help anyone who has suddenly been thrust into the remote-working world (and who uses Apple or cloud-based apps).
Paul Einarsen
“At Apple, I quickly discovered how much people rely on their desktop and mobile devices to stay connected to their world,” he says. “It is a challenge for many people in the best of times. With the added obstacle of social distancing I want to help where I can.” (He is not, unfortunately, a Windows guy.)
Paul set up a public Facebook group to coordinate and share information (click here). Through it — or if needed, video conferencing — he is happy to help in any way he can.
Other Westporters find other ways to help.
This morning, a family called Gold’s to order their usual Sunday meal. When they asked about delivery via Uber Eats or Grub Hub, owner Nancy Eckl immediately offered it direct from the deli.
She said that a kind customer had offered to deliver to people who were homebound.
The family was amazed. They were even more surprised when — almost before they knew it — the doorbell rang. An “incredibly nice gentleman” had their order.
“We are so blessed to be here among caring, loving and helpful neighbors,” they say. “Thank you to this selfless volunteer, and to Gold’s Deli.”
Like many Westporters, a Westport couple took a walk today. Along the way, they figured they’d do some good, by picking up trash.
A mile round trip yielded a wheelbarrow of assorted garbage, all within 10 feet of the road. It was mostly beer cans and bottles, a lot of other beverage containers, a few plastic bags and other assorted plastic, some broken pottery and pieces of metal, and a protein bar wrapper.
“Every day we take a walk — and it will be often these days — we will take another route and help keep Westport clean,” they say.
Trashing the coronavirus — with gloves, of course.
Adding to the list, Nicole Straight took initiative and showed leadership when she arrange meals to be prepared by our local restaurants and given to our first responders. The community chipped in to pay..,
Westporters are wonderful people!!
Thank you for such uplifting stories!
Way to go, Westporters! Let’s be the village we know we can be. Thanks, Dan, for posting these inspirations and motivators.
After seeing the photos of Soundview Avenue, it was such a pleasure to read this column. Not everyone is an entitled selfish person.
I think Jim and Nancy , owners of Gold’s should be one of your upcoming “Unsung Heroes”
Great catches, Dan! Especially being of a certain age with chronic bronchitis from a teen-age habit never abandoned.