Elizabeth Louise McCoy died on April 8, 2020, at Spring Village Assisted Living Center in Galloway, NJ. Elizabeth was born on October 5, 1935 to Thomas and Matilda (Tilly) Graham. She attended Merchantville H.S., where she met and married John McCoy. John and Elizabeth were devoted to each another and were married for 60 years. They had four children: Michelle (Shelley), Bunny, Bonnie and John, as well as two grandchildren: Gayneta and Cali. Arrangements entrusted to Wimberg Funeral Home in Galloway 609-641-0001. For condolences, please visit wimbergfuneralhome.com.

In addition to the Food Bank of SJ we are very fortunate to have several local food pantries that serve community needs. The Dolores Clark Food Pantry, located at Grace Episcopal Church, operates from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and clients in need can drive up the church driveway, receive a pre-filled bag of groceries, and drive out of the parking lot all while keeping a safe distance. The Linda Knaus Food Pantry, located at Temple Lutheran Church - who recently received a $5,000 grant from the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund - will be distributing food bags on Tuesday, 4/14, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. NJ residency and ID are required. For more details or interested in helping please contact the church office. If you are willing and able, bags are prepared around 6:30 pm the Monday before distribution and any help is appreciated. Special thanks to the for their grant of $5,000 to our food pantry! St. Vincent dePaul Society Pantry Day, located at St. Peter R.C. Church, takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m. Trinity UMC hosts a food pantry on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. A very special thank you to all who keep this vital human service going!

Today, on Easter Sunday, a number of churches and their congregations in Merchantville will conduct and participate in remote or virtual services, worshiping with each other from a distance. One thing that area pastors appear to agree on is that no matter how the sermon is delivered to the faithful on this holy day, it will contain the message to not only remember, but celebrate Christ’s resurrection. This morning, in his message at the Vatican, Pope Francis focused on what he called “the contagion of hope” amid “a world already faced with epochal challenges and now oppressed by a pandemic severely testing our whole human family,” Vatican News reported. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, he said, marks “the victory of love over the root of evil.”

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly warns that multiple threats can be expected over the next 24 hours. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and very large hail are possible from the South on Sunday into the mid-Atlantic by Monday. Very strong winds, severe weather, heavy rainfall, even coastal flooding on the Chesapeake. A strong storm system will approach our area Sunday night into Monday. The main hazards associated with this system will be strong to damaging wind gusts and the potential for severe storms on Monday. Additionally 1-2 inches of rain can be expectedDamaging winds, with large hail and even an isolated tornado are possible Monday with the severe storms. Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds.

If safety comes first, cuteness definitely comes second when it comes to a few precious photos coming out of Thailand during the coronavirus pandemic. Babies born at several of the Thailand’s hospitals are sharing photos of newborns who have been fitted with special plastic face shields - mini visors - to protect them from any risk of contamination from the coronavirus. The masks are designed to stop any droplets with the virus from coughs or sneezes from reaching the baby's face. Getty images uploaded a few photos by Lillian Suwanrumpha taken at Praram 9 Hospital in Bangkok on Thursday.

New Jersey health officials have been reporting statewide totals and providing a county-by-county breakdown, but some county and municipal health departments have been providing additional detail, including town-by-town case numbers. As of 4/10/20 Merchantville has 9 Covid-19 positive cases. Our adjoining towns are Cherry Hill with 181 cases and 4 deaths, Camden with 162 cases and 3 deaths and, Pennsauken with 93 cases and 1 death. Nearby are Collingswood with 17 cases, Haddon Township with 22 cases, Maple Shade with 29 cases, Cinnaminson with 23 and, Moorestown with 52 cases. 

First lady Tammy Murphy said the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, known as NJPRF, was established “to collect donations and distribute funds. One hundred percent of donations received online by NJPRF will be used to fight the medical, social, and economic impact of COVID-19 on New Jersey’s most vulnerable, supporting organizations that provide essential services and aiding those on the front line of the pandemic. NJPRF is proud to be hosted by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, which has been serving the needs of New Jersey nonprofits and philanthropists for more than 40 years.” NJPRF announced its first round of grants on April 9th to help stabilize the food distribution network that provides food security for more than 1,000,000 residents in vulnerable communities across the state.To donate, go to https://njprf.org/. There are also many other ongoing statewide volunteer and donation efforts.

Who wants a FREE LUNCH? Mulherns Auto Repairs wants to reward their neighbors while helping out our local food establishments by offering a FREE LUNCH giveaway on Thursdays through May 10th. How to participate? Just respond on their Facebook page post by typing the words, "FREE LUNCH", and you're automatically entered. No need to visit them, just "LIKE" us on Facebook and they will pick the first winner next Thursday, April 16th, for a $20.00 meal at a local restaurant. Don't be hungry, enter today!

Mike Denardo from KYW Newsradio interviewed Randy Oakford from Aunt Charlotte's Candies yesterday to talk about how the pandemic is impacting this year's Easter sales. Oakford said 40 percent of the store's annual revenue normally comes at Easter and the need to "stay-at-home" resulted in laying off two-thirds of her 35-person staff. However, although the volume of sales are down, customers have been very loyal and they have been busier than ever filling phone orders for curbside pickup, local delivery, or shipping - even causing their phone system to crash early in the week when 276 calls came in at opening time. 

For Christians, Easter is the holiest of holidays. One tradition - receiving communion - won’t be possible this year for many followers because of the coronavirus crisis. But yesterday 3 CBS Philly visited a South Jersey church that found a way for followers to continue the meaningful custom. With Easter just days away, High Place Church in Merchantville got creative in how they celebrate and worship this year due to COVID-19. “We determined you know what, let’s hand out communion and then live-stream our service on Friday,” High Place Church Senior Pastor Edgar Alvarez said, “and then in the evening, we’re all going to partake virtually together.”