When the call for volunteers was sent out, 31 airmen with the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing stepped up to help the state's most vulnerable population at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland.
Armed with cleaning supplies and a desire to help others, the airmen have integrated themselves with the staff at the facility.
"Having the National Guard here has been really helpful," said Allyson Bailey, the chief executive officer of the Vineland Home. "They're supplementing our mission here, which is taking care of our residents. Some of the duties the guard has assumed have been instrumental in helping us to reduce the spread of the virus in the home."
Bailey noted that the housekeeping mission has been especially important.
"For our housekeepers, who have been working seven days a week with no days off, having that extra support has been pivotal," she said. "The guard is also helping us out with life enrichment. Residents and families have not been able to directly interact for more than a month and a half now, so virtual visits, emails and phone calls are very important to the residents' families. It has been a tremendously positive thing to have them here helping us."
"We're supplementing where the facility really needs help," said Air Force 1st Lt. Bernard Cortes, the officer in charge of Team Vineland. "Housekeeping, food service, health screening checkpoints, facility engineering and life enrichment are some of the missions we're doing here. Airmen are getting food orders for residents, talking with them and keeping them in touch with their families. We're giving them that interaction that is a basic human need."
Cortes said that the guardsmen have developed a great relationship with Vineland's staff.
"It means a lot for me to be a part of this," Cortes said. "I'm from New Jersey, I grew up here. I look at the veterans, and I want to give them the best care that I can. To see the residents smile and salute us, it makes it feel worthwhile."
"It's very rewarding," said Air Force Senior Airman Connor Jarvis, who is working on the housekeeping team. "It's nice to be able to help. I'm mopping floors, I'm sanitizing countertops, cleaning bathrooms and common areas eight hours straight."
Air Force Senior Airman Casey Keevill said that working with residents in life enrichment has been a meaningful experience and has made an impact on the lives of the guardsmen as well as the veterans.
"I work directly with the residents," Keevill said. "Our job is to keep residents involved and active. We start the morning by delivering newspapers and engage with them to see how they're doing and what they need. It's been great because you really get to know these people.
"It's been amazing seeing what the National Guard can do when our state needs us," Keevill continued. "You get a whole new perspective. Seeing it and being a part of it gives it so much more meaning."