‘Operation Falcon’ provides dinners twice weekly to Folcroft residents in need
FOLCROFT » During these trying times, Folcroft Borough is partnering with Millers Café II,
1884 Delmar Drive to offer a hot meal to struggling senior citizens, families and individuals every Wednesday and Friday, beginning today, April 1.
“Operation Falcon” will offer the twice-a-week meals to those in need with two options. Residents can stop by Millers Café II from 5-7 p.m. where caution tape will mark safe distance spots in a line for people to pick up the graband-go meals while supplies last.
Residents can also call in for an Operation Falcon delivery option, beginning at 4 and lasting until
7 p.m. Volunteers will do contactless drop off. The drop-off service can be arranged by calling Millers Café II at 610-461-0180.
This is not the first time that Millers Café II has stepped up to the plate during this difficult time. Owner Susan Menchaca was making complimentary meals for children when the coronavirus first hit the area and closed schools. She filled the need until the Southeast Delco School District got a plan in place. She still says, “No child will go hungry,” and pledges to help provide meals for any children whose families are unable to provide meals for them.
To create Operation Falcon, the generous restaurant owner paired up with Folcroft Mayor Robert Frey, council President Joe Papaleo, council members Kyle Willis, Leigh Daly, Mindy Isaac, Nicholas Waters, Jason McGuigan and Robert Ruskowski, and Drew and Pat Alexander of Folcroft Union Church. The team says they can always use more volunteers to help.
Volunteers, who want to help in any way, can call Millers Café II at 610-461-0180. Millers Café II is open daily for take-out so all customers can continue to enjoy the restaurant’s home-style cooking.
Havertown man collects masks, baby monitors and walkie talkies for hospitals
HAVERFORD » Michael Bradley of Havertown, the 2020-2021 grand marshal of the Philadelphia Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, has initiated a drive in the Philadelphia area for N95 masks, as well as baby monitors and walkie-talkies in operable conditions.
Bradley recently dropped treats off to nurse Linda Weber, a nurse on the COVID-19 floor of Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood. Weber not only expressed the continued need for N95 and other protective face mask to wear under their full face shields, but also a desperate need for both audio and video baby monitors and walkietalkies.
“They need these to set up in the patient rooms so they don’t have to keep going in and out all the time and can keep an eye or an ear to their patients,” Bradley explained.
Bradley said that while people are homebound in quarantine, many people are taking the time to declutter their homes and attics. If they have any of these needed items, they are asked to sanitize the monitors and seal them in a clear baggie. Donors can then email Bradley at mbradley@bradleyfloors.com or call 610-308-8994 and he will arrange contactless drop-off or pickup. Bradley is creating drop off locations in Northeast Philly, South Philly Center City, Delco, Bucks, Montco, Chester County, New Jersey and Delaware. If he receives more than are needed at Lankenau, he will get them to other hospitals.
In the meantime, Bradley said he has an army of volunteers to provide pick-up service for those who do not want to leave their homes.
“It’s time to stop reading about these horrible stories and take action to help,” Bradley said. “Nurses, doctors and their teams are the underappreciated heroes of 2020, just like the firefighters were underappreciated until 9/11. We need to thank and take care of all our first responders and healthcare workers.”
Local tailor donates time, talent, and materials to sew protective masks
RADNOR » John Cappelli, owner of Cappelli Tailors, 621 Lancaster Ave., Wayne, has been hard at work for the last few weeks, even though his 62-year-old business on the Main Line was deemed non-essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. The talented tailor decided to donate his time and materials to donate reusable, washable masks for those who need them. His wife, Carmia, a pediatric occupational therapist, is helping in the effort, cutting and preparing the masks. The shop’s women’s tailor, Olga Anderson, did not hesitate to donate countless hours in sewing the masks.
“We are happy to use our talents, time and materials to help others during this time of need,” the generous tailor said.
For more information, call Cappelli Tailors at 610- 688-5239 or email cappellitailors@verizon. net.
Riggin Painting offers to help Easter Bunny
RIDLEY PARK » Riggin Painting will supply Easter baskets to children in need during this trying time. The company, based in Ridley Park, will offer a limited number of complimentary Easter baskets to children of parents who are out of work or struggling this Easter season.
Families in need can call or text John and Lisa Riggin at 610513-4508.
Teacher raises money for local food banks with historyrecording photo shoots
SPRINGFIELD » Kevin Stephan, a technology and engineering teacher at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, is trying to raise money for local food banks during this time of great need. Through the Front Steps Project (www.thefrontstepsproject.com) Stephan, who is also a photographer, has been able to raise over $1,200 for local food pantries in just two days while giving families a safe and fun way to document this unique time in history.
Stephan, a resident of Springfield, is taking photos of families on their porch or front lawn, from a safe distance, using a 70200 zoom lens, in exchange for at least a $25 donation to City Team in Chester or the Upper Darby Food Bank (the Coalition Against Hunger).
Participants get a cute photo or two, do a good deed and document a part of history. He is also looking for more photographers who want to help with this effort. Stephan is also using 3D to create face shields for area hospital workers.
For more information on getting scheduled for a photo or to become a volunteer photographer for the project, visit www. KPSphoto.net/frontstepsproject.