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A second-grader in Astoria, Queens, isn’t letting the coronavirus quarantine keep her down.
When 7-year-old Emma Mudrick’s school was closed last month because of the COVID-19 outbreak, she turned the bad news into an opportunity to do what she does best: Give back.
“Her sixth birthday was an animal supplies collection for the ASPCA,” said her mom Maryam Shariat, 35, who runs an event planning company. “People dressed up as animals and shared facts about animals (and) she asked for gifts to be supplies that could be donated to the ASPCA.”
The year before that, everyone attending Emma’s fifth birthday party had to go around picking up litter in the neighborhood.
“Emma has always been interested in giving back,” said Shariat, who wasn’t at all surprised when Emma began to brainstorm on how she could help her neighbors during these trying times.
Taking into account social distancing and the number of senior citizens in their neighborhood, Emma and her parents created the Astoria Mutual Aid Network, a pick-up, drop-off, errand and delivery service for community members who are most vulnerable to contracting coronavirus, such as the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
On March 14, the family printed and distributed 500 flyers around Astoria. A day later, Emma and her parents had an influx of texts, calls and emails from neighbors who needed their services ? or wanted to volunteer.
As the number of requests continues to grow, so has Emma’s outreach — the network now has more than 450 volunteers, Shariat said. Dispatchers receive up to 15 requests a day via phone or email from Astoria residents.
Volunteers do everything from pharmacy, grocery and mail runs to carrying items between neighbors who can’t leave their home.
For 29-year-old resident Elissa, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2017, Emma’s enterprise came at a much-needed time.
“I take about 12 medications a day, and with Astoria Mutual Aid I can have my medication brought to me,” she said. “I can have groceries for when I need them and I’m safe.”
Volunteer Katherine Kling, a 29-year-old Stony Brook University graduate student, said working as a mutual aid dispatcher has kept her energized during the local lockdown.
“I have always loved Astoria for its homeyness and sense of community,” Kling said. “I typically work from home, and I hadn’t found a way to really get to know my neighbors.”
Recently, Kling received a call from a neighbor who needed gloves and a face mask. Kling connected her to a volunteer who biked to the caller’s house with spare gloves and promised to return with a homemade face mask.
“It has been incredible to see how people step up and support complete strangers,” Kling said. “This community is so strong, and I believe we’ll continue to look after one another once we’ve gotten through the pandemic.”
Despite not being able to go outside herself, Emma has found a way to add a personal touch to deliveries or pickups.
“She makes up jokes,” says Shariat, and then slips the note into the delivery packages, her proud mom added.
“I thought it would cheer people up — and everyone can use a laugh these days,” said Emma. “I feel frustrated I can’t go out on delivery and shopping trips because of social distancing … but It feels really good to be helping people and helps me not think about the scary parts so much.”
Do you know a New Yorker going above and beyond to help their community during the coronavirus crisis? Tell us about them! Email us at news@nydailynews.com