By TIM KELLY
Every day we are bombarded with grim statistics related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How about a good statistic for a change?
Ocean City’s VFW Ferguson-Foglio Post 6650 recently marked an impressive milestone – its 2,000th meal donated to Ocean City residents severely impacted by the crisis.
The Post has also provided hundreds of meals for first responders and frontline medical personnel.
“I’m not the least bit surprised,” said Drew Fasy, the chair and organizer of OCNJ CARE, the nonprofit organization charged by Mayor Jay Gillian to organize and distribute aid to those in need.
“If I’m surprised at all, I might question the number as being too low. I would have guessed an even higher number,” Fasy added.
Mike Morrissey, Post commander, laughed when Fasy’s comment was passed along.
“He’s probably right about that. We can say definitely there have been 2,000, and yes, that’s probably being (conservative),” Morrissey said.
Fasy noted that when OCNJ CARE launched its efforts in early March, one of the first calls he received was from Morrissey.
“Mike called and said, ‘What do you need?’ and the Post has been on board and one of our strongest partners ever since,” Fasy said.
According to Fasy, it was mentioned the first challenge would be to feed those sheltering in place who did not have the ability to get out to the supermarket, or the means to do so.
“Mike and the members of the VFW Post organized and ran the whole meals program,” Fasy said. “Almost immediately they were providing dozens of meals three nights a week for three months straight.”
The Post brokered a deal with local restaurants in which full dinners would be provided for a per-meal price. Anything under that number was profit for the restaurants, but with a caveat.
“Mike is a stickler for quality,” Fasy said. “They had to be good, quality meals. It was a win-win-win arrangement.”
The folks in need won by receiving free, high-quality meals from some of the top restaurants in the city and region.
The restaurants, some struggling to survive during the lockdown, had the opportunity to sell meals they otherwise wouldn’t, meals that could be prepared in advance of their dinner rush.
OCNJ CARE won by delivering on its mission to help the needy.
“Mike and the members of that Post 6650 were absolute beasts,” Fasy said.
He said that police, fire, EMS and other first responders were also given quality meals on a regular basis. Additionally, OCNJ CARE’s meal program was no stranger to Shore Medical Center’s respiratory therapy department and emergency room personnel.
In the middle of all of this, Morrissey underwent open heart valve replacement surgery. He’s on the mend now, he says, although perhaps moving a bit slower.
“Remember, we have outstanding people in this Post who step forward when they are asked to help,” Morrissey said. “This isn’t about me.”
So how does it feel to reach the 2,000-meal milestone and to help so many people?
“We are part of this community, and if we can help, that’s our obligation to do so.” Morrissey said.
He explained that the most gratifying aspect was “the fact my grandchildren know we did this.”
Apparently, the lesson was well-learned. His grandson, 17-year-old Michael Morrissey III, set up a crowdfunding site to help aid people affected by COVID-19 in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
“He’s raised approximately $8,000 already,” Mike Sr. said. “That’s something to be proud of.”
