By MADDY VITALE
Ocean City beauty queens can’t fulfill their duties in the traditional way by attending and participating in fun events through April.
So instead, they are reaching out to serve the community in the ways they can, explained Michael Hartman, the city’s special events coordinator.
“As O.C. queens, they act as ambassadors of Ocean City,” he noted.
This past week, Miss Ocean City Mary Grace Jamison, Junior Miss Natalie Argento and Little Miss Antonella DiAntonio took to the old form of communicating – letter writing.
The girls have been busy over the last few days creating handmade and personalized cards for 200 residents at the full-service senior facility United Methodist Communities at The Shores, located at 2201 Bay Ave.
“This compassion and willingness to give back shows why they were selected to be O.C. titleholders,” Hartman added.
Michele Musto, volunteer coordinator for The Shores, said the letters will be very welcomed and noted that it was a kind gesture.
“The letters and the notes that we receive from the queens are going to brighten up everyone’s day,” Musto said. “We are a full-service community from assisted living through hospice. The letters will really help raise the spirits.”
Currently, the facility has visitation restrictions in place for the safety of the residents. Musto said letters and other forms of communication by people in the community are so wonderful in an unprecedented time in history.
“Keeping the residents safe is our first concern,” Musto said. “That is why it is so important that they receive cards and artwork to keep being connected and engaged, thanks to volunteers in the community.”
When the announcement came that Ocean City had to cancel or postpone events through April amid the coronavirus outbreak, there had to be a game plan for the queens to not only fulfill their duties, but also enjoy the time spent as crown holders, Hartman said.
Some of the events canceled or postponed that the queens would have participated in include the Doo-Dah parade, Girls Weekend, the Great Egg Hunt and the Easter Fashion Stroll, among a host of other activities.
It is also not clear whether the May events will also be postponed.
“Their love for Ocean City is strong and I hope this creates more positivity,” Hartman said of the title holders’ commitment to do good things for others. “Our O.C. queens are stepping up and leading with their hearts.”
