Jeannette Rosario had been watching the news back in January and seeing the devastation inflicted by the coronavirus in China when she decided it was time to prepare.

"I had early on, towards the end of January, started putting some minor stuff away to fill my own pantry with items for my family," Rosario said.

The mother of three would bring that sense of preparedness when she formed the Cresskill Cares food drive on March 14 after joining an online group assisting people affected by the state's coronavirus shutdown. That group was formed by her friend Robyn Urman, founder of the Pet ResQ animal rescue group.

What spurred her into action was a "cry for help" on Facebook by Valeria Hartman, the executive director of the Thomas J. Reilly Senior Center in Westwood and its sister facility in Hillsdale, who was worried about feeding the 300-plus seniors they serve after a nearby food pantry closed.

"I saw her post. I reached out to her directly just to make sure this is someone who was legitimate," Rosario said. "And very early on, a couple of days later, after putting out a request that I was going to start a food drive, started bringing her essentials to bring to the residents."

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The food drive since then has collected food and other essential items for senior citizens, local food pantries, and families in need, with donations delivered to locations including the Dumont Senior Center. It has also collected cat and dog food.

Those items, dropped off in a donation box in front of Rosario's home, are sanitized before being delivered.

At present, 1,000 care packages are being created for health care workers at hospitals in New Jersey and New York, including Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, Englewood Hospital, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

Rosario, who works in the health care field, said the drive has brought in donations of items worth an estimated at $6,000 and monetary donations of more than $3,000.

And beyond donations, there have been letters written by schoolchildren from Edward H. Bryan School in Cresskill and the Early Childhood Center at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades.

The response has been overwhelming. "It's been so inspiring; I am so touched and humbled by the outpouring of care and love and willingness to support the community and surrounding areas," Rosario said.

To donate, email Rosario at cresskillcares@yahoo.com or send a message through the Cresskill Cares Facebook page. Donations can also be made via Venmo and Paypal. Details are on the Facebook page.

Ricardo Kaulessar is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com Twitter: @ricardokaul