Jamie Meier

May 3, 2020

SOMA Intubation Box Project

Jamie Meier

May 3, 2020

SOMA INTUBATION BOX PROJECT

The people of Maplewood + South Orange, NJ continue to make an incredible difference!

From the SOMA Intubation Box Project’s Facebook post on May 2, “Please email us with any doctor, nurse, or hospital contacts who may be able to help us place boxes where they needed. We have been so grateful for donations which have covered $6000 worth of acrylic. Noah continues to build and we’re doing outreach and scheduling. We have many friends and volunteers helping and we thank you all!! If you are able to donate or volunteering to drive boxes to hospitals please email me directly: lydia@lydiajohnsondance.org”

So what is an intubation box and why are they being made?

I got to talk with Lydia Johnson and Noah Brauner, who started the SOMA Intubation Box Project about one month ago (from South Orange). Please watch this video to learn more about their amazing efforts in providing protection to our healthcare heroes.

Watch the video —>

More images of the intubation boxes and deserving hospital workers who have received them!

more at @livelovemaplewood

Jamie Meier

April 27, 2020

SOMA NJ 3D Printer Alliance: Two Teachers are #SOMAWESOME {Maplewood, NJ, South Orange, NJ}

Jamie Meier

April 27, 2020

These two South Orange Middle School (SOMS) teachers are #SOMAWESOME. #SOMAWESOME means super amazing, charitable humans in the Maplewood/South Orange community.

They are going above and beyond to make sure our front line workers are protected.

Jake Ezzo (Chorus Director) and Brandon Hillman (Language Arts) are middle school educators by day, 3D face shield printers by night. They have single-handedly organized hundreds of local volunteers to print, assemble, and deliver over 12,000 face shields to physicians, nurses, and medical staff during this global pandemic.

Many of the volunteers are Ezzo and Hillman's SOMS students and families, as well as their friends and neighbors throughout Maplewood and South Orange. They are printing visor pieces on 3D printers (each piece takes one hour). Then they are assembling the visors with elastic and clasps, and then making sure they get into the right hands at medical facilities across NJ, NY, and PA.

Watch video —>

Medical Staff Thank Volunteers

Volunteers of all ages help out

Jake delivers

When Ezzo and Hillman are not organizing this massive face shield effort, they are writing and composing songs (check this new one out!) to keep their students spirits up during this time.

Please take a minute to check out the links here and thank these teachers for being such incredible role models and citizens.

Join their Facebook group to help with assembly.
Follow their efforts on Instagram!

Donations greatly appreciated.

DONATE NOW

Jake Ezzo after a delivery at East Orange Hospital

Brandon Hillman assembling shields

Jamie Meier

April 24, 2020

FLAG of SOMA - Nourishment for Healthcare Workers {Maplewood + South Orange, NJ}

Jamie Meier

April 24, 2020

What a privilege! Thank you to FLAG of SOMA founders Ava Martin, Barbara Santoro and Roshni Patel for taking the time to talk to me about FLAG today. These three are simply amazing. The amount of love, energy, and time they are devoting to this cause is extraordinary.

So, what is FLAG? You’ll have to watch the video to find out. ;) In a nutshell, FLAG (Front Line Appreciation Group) of South Orange and Maplewood is a group dedicated to feeding front line healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic, while also keeping SOMA local restaurants in business.

This video tells you how FLAG of SOMA started, why this initiative is so important, how restaurants can get involved, and more!

Donations are greatly appreciated - thank you for your support!

Join their Facebook group and follow them on Instagram!

Thank you to the following SOMA restaurants who have participated!

The Order

Village Trattoria

Baker Street Market

Pickett’s Village Bar

HLS Juice Bar + Grill

Sonny’s Bagels

Town Hall Deli

The Dancing Blender