MAPLE SHADE NJ–The last few days I have taken the opportunity to communicate with the public on a variety of messages relating to Covid-19 and our response to this situation. As we have all watched the news and heard reports about the significant concerns surrounding our elderly population, I wanted to address a number of specific issues focused on them exclusively. Having older parents myself who reside in our town and knowing their concerns about their safety and wellbeing, I thought it only proper to author this message to ensure the “bedrock of our community” is in the forefront of minds.
With that said, I am asking each of you to please check on your elderly neighbors and ensure they have what they need during this difficult time. This can easily be accomplished via a simple phone call, text message or knocking on their door and talking through a barrier such as a storm door, a window or at a safe distance of at least 6 feet.
If you have not had much of a relationship with your elderly neighbor(s), now is the time to change that course of conduct. Lasting relationships are often built in times of crisis and damaged relationships can often be repaired under the same trying conditions. Please take the first step for the greater good and reach out now.
During these conversations, please ask your neighbors how they are feeling. If they are lacking anything such a food, medicine or have any other immediate needs? It is critically important that we care for these residents and ensure their needs are being met in order to keep them safe and away from exposure to Covid-19.
Additionally, please also be on the look out for scammers or fraudsters trying to take advantage of our elderly population. These can take several different forms and many can be found in an on-line setting. Examples include fake sites claiming to be the World Health Organization website where they steal your email and password, fraudulent emails claiming to be the CDC with a link that downloads Malware and lastly, charity scams claiming to solicit funds for Covid-19 victims. In your conversations with your neighbors, please remind them that these type of scams are on-going and evolving and when in doubt, they can call the Maple Shade Police for assistance at #856-234-8300.
Lastly, I want to remind our elderly population that they have no obligation to answer the door for solicitors. Approved solicitors in Maple Shade will have an identification card hanging from a lanyard around their neck. A resident can ask to see it if you would like. If a resident has a “No Knock No Solicitation” sticker issued by our agency on their door or a sign either purchased or made by them indicating “No Solicitation” and a solicitor knocks anyway, that is prohibited behavior and you should contact the police immediately to address the matter. If a solicitor is being pushy or persistent and won’t take no for an answer, again, you can contact the police for assistance.
On behalf of the men and women of the Maple Shade Police Department, thank you for your assistance and help in caring for our community. We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears at all times and in all ways and are grateful for the partnership we share with you in protecting our town.