Generosity and altruism is all around us in 70and73 Land. Unfortunately, it isn't always noticed, even though that's not necessarily the intent of those doing good works. 70and73.com wants to recognize such community spirit in this BRIGHT SPOTS column. Do you know of a Bright Spot? Let us know at contactus@70and73.com.
Chris Bruner walked up to the Voorhees home shortly before noon Tuesday and a person came to the door.
"I'm just going to set them on the porch," he shouts, wanting to distance himself from the resident because of coronavirus concerns. Left behind was a donated assortment of food, from milk to marinara sauce to macaroni and cheese.
Bruner usually is dealing in house siding, windows and new roofs — not pasta and peanut butter.
But the co-owner of American Construction, a family-owned firm based in Cherry Hill, and his work colleagues have taken on the role of guardian angels for people in the region who can't get out to shop or pick up prescriptions. The rub here, though, is he pays for the food and essentials, refusing donations. "We have not taken a penny from anybody," Bruner told 70and73.com in a telephone interview.
A conversation about doing good last week in his living room with wife Jessica and business partner Greg Dobkin, and his wife Molly, has over the last four days resulted in more than 220 households getting free delivery, free food and other free essentials paid for out of their own pocket.Â
"We didn't expect it to take off like it did. There was just a tremendous need," Bruner said. Now his living room is the staging area for sorting food and necessities, such as diapers and baby formula, which are much in need, he said.
Bruner and associates started by publishing an offer to help on the What's Up in Cherry Hill Facebook page. They added posts on community pages serving Mount Laurel, Voorhees and Washington Township.
Bruner said he has been struggling with the notion of whether they should suspend operations because he doesn't want to put him or his crew in the position of getting coronavirus or passing it along. Many households he's served have elderly or people in precarious medical conditions. Others are headed by single mothers, working full-time and suddenly finding the need to pay a babysitter to watch the kids.
"Maybe there are just certain times when the community needs people to step up," said Bruner. The crew uses hand sanitizer and makes sure the shopping carts they push are wiped off before using them. However, he hasn't been able to get latex gloves (care to donate gloves? masks, as well? Bruner's number is 215.384.8703).Â
Although the phone has stopped ringing with new business at his firm, the staff is being kept busy with ongoing jobs. After their offer to help was made on Facebook last Friday, they were going until midnight. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, Bruner said he had four drivers going full-time all day on donated deliveries.
The Bruners, parents of a 7- and 2-year-old, have lived in the Old Orchard section of Cherry Hill off Route 70 for about two years. He went to Rutgers Law School after his undergraduate years but joined his wife's family's business. Both serve on the Sharp School PTA and Jessica coaches youth soccer.
