We Asked, You Delivered: Messages Of Hope Around New Jersey
NEW JERSEY - We asked for some messages of hope popping up around the Garden State and boy did we get responses.
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With visiting in person shut down by efforts to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, folks in Patch towns and non-Patch towns from around New Jersey have taken to the sidewalks to share messages of hope and friendship.
Chalk drawings are cropping up everywhere as homebound kids, and adults, look for ways to share. This week, social media has been awash in these sort of images and there are some who have taken the creativity a bit further.
In the Morris County community of Lincoln Park, there is a family that took it that step further. They've transformed their sidewalk into an interactive game.
"We live in a townhouse community. We got the idea from a neighbor who lives on the other side of the development when we were going for a walk," said Melinda Bass O'Neill. "My daughter, who is in Kindergarten loved the idea so much, that she wanted to make her own. She added all of the different animals into our version of the obstacle course. Its a great idea for her, because she is learning how to read and write. This inspired her to spell out words and write them out."
See more than two dozen inspirational messages sent to us from around New Jersey attached to this post. We hope they make you smile like they did us:
Marietta Scorsune sent us this picture taken on Bromleigh Way in Morris Township.
Lauren Wagner showed us this patriotic display that has been up in Chester since the quarantine began.
Charlotte, James and Zoey Huthwaite gave a shout out to their Aunt Chely and all of the front line service workers.
Cindy Donough, a second grade teacher in Kenilworth, made a window to give hope and joy to the folks in Morristown.
Chester's Karen Kubert showcased the Card My Yard sign outside St. Luke's Hospital Warren Campus where Kubert is board president.
Larissa Krumbiegel found these rocks in Burnham Park in Morristown.
Marybeth Wiedemann and her husband, both essential workers, painted zoo animals in the Schooley's Mountain section of Long Valley.
Michelle Link sent us this photo of rainbow and hearts.
Michael Chupka had this inspirational flag made for his home in Chatham.
Dawn Lau showed us Jimmy Lau's chalk work from Mt. Tabor.
Peggy Dispenza's Hope Bush has been shining in Long Valley since March 18.
Mary Ellen Coblentz's patriotic door is right near the 'Welcome to Mendham Borough'sign.
Karen Wenz shared an image asking everyone to stay safe.
Betty Hill's granddaughters shared a practical message.
Sadie and Matthew Siekierka transformed a walkway in Towaco.
Gay Boyle and Mark Philhower have put up an inspirational sign and masked flamingo at their home near Parsippany High School.
This sidewalk is in the Meadows section of Panther Valley.
Lindsay Nauheimer sent us this sign from Denville.
Jess Mignanelli and her kids drew this in Lake Shawnee. What a wonderful phrase.
Juliana Blouse spread some cheer in Budd Lake.
Wendy Garcia and her son John put this out by Wehrli Road in Long Valley.
Ruth Chodniewicz and her kids shared some hope with neighbors in Chester.
Andrea Diamond sent us this message from the Longview condo community in Montville.
Deborah Mershimer sent us this chalk picture from First Congregational Church of Chester and FCCC Parsonage.
Ila DiPasquale sent us a photo of these rocks painted by Maria on Budd Street.
Penny Edmiston sent us this from a sidewalk around DeHart Drive in Parsippany.
Carleigh, a fifth grader in Long Valley, drew this.
Nine-year-old Grace Mongey put this in her Morristown window.
A quarantined heart made by 14-year-old Kaitlyn B in Long Valley.
Jody Gordon and her kids put down several colorful drawings in Chatham.
In the Point Pleasant area, residents are participating in #thefrontstepschallenge with EVN FLO photography by Tim McGeough. Tim took pictures of people on their front porch, each of them projecting some semblance of normality in a very abnormal world.
Nationally, #thefrontstepsproject was organized by photographers to raise money for food banks and other charities.
You can see their efforts in our coverage.
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This article originally appeared on the Long Valley Patch
