By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
Up until about a year ago, Pam Milac was a stay-at-home mom caring for her four children in Radisson.
“I’m a mom first,” said Milac, who now works part-time for SEKO Logistics.
When Milac saw her Facebook friends’ posts about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the rapid succession of businesses, workplaces and schools shutting down, her mom instincts kicked in. Milac’s virtual family has grown by about 2,200 members since she founded the “Baldwinsville Helping Baldwinsville – Covid-19” Facebook group on March 15.
“I created the group on Sunday [March 15] after I started reading posts of friends of mine worried about childcare, worried about issues that would be coming up in the next few weeks or months,” Milac said. “By Sunday afternoon there was over 500 people in the group. I couldn’t believe it grew that fast.”
The Baldwinsville COVID-19 group has become a hub for Google Classroom tips, a virtual marketplace for items such as food and toilet paper, and an outlet for thousands of scared, frustrated B’villians. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon even gave the group a shout-out in one of his daily COVID-19 updates last week, commending the neighbors for coming together.
“It’s just been a way for … for Baldwinsville to actually help Baldwinsville,” Milac said. “It gives everybody an avenue to feel like they’re helping when there’s so much stress and anxiety.”
Milac also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels and the Baldwinsville Rotary Club’s Backpack Program, which collects nonperishable snacks for students in need in the Baldwinsville Central School District. Milac said she would like to supplement Rotary’s contributions with fresh produce.
“If there’s any money leftover I’m going to donate it to various Baldwinsville charities,” Milac said.
While many Facebook groups are plagued by squabbles in the comments, Milac said her members have kept the discussion civil overall. One evening last week, a person’s comments seemed mean, Milac said, so she posted a reminder asking group members to “play nice in the sandbox.”
“Mostly everyone has behaved themselves,” she said, adding that she understands why things can get heated these days. “Some people are using this as an avenue to vent frustration. People are scared. This is just the beginning of this pandemic.”
That said, Milac added, “I don’t want to babysit 2,000 adults.”
While she’s not babysitting her group members per se, Milac is looking out for them. Residents of B’ville neighborhoods and apartments have volunteered to be “community ambassadors” in the group. Milac said the representatives for St. Mary’s Apartments, O’Brien Road Senior Apartments and other senior housing in Baldwinsville are especially key.
“Those people are going to be checking in with residents. I worry about the seniors, especially about the ones who are not on social media,” Milac said.
While the group is still less than two weeks old, Milac said her next goal is to start an “Adopt a Grandparent” program, connecting families with seniors who may be isolated during the pandemic.
“It gives everybody a little bit of a distraction. The senior just wants somebody to talk to,” Milac said.
Members are gathering other resources in the group as well. Baldwinsville resident Edwina Hay has posted about making facemasks for healthcare workers, linking another Facebook group called “CNY Masks for Medical Heroes.” Local businesses such as Your Home CNY Realty and the Northwest Family YMCA have coordinated donation drives for the Rotary Backpack Program. Group member Jen Gilliland created a spreadsheet of area businesses — mostly restaurants — and their contact information.
“A lot of the restaurants in Baldwinsville are nervous. They need the community for the support,” Milac said. “We’re just trying to provide all of the information needed to be stronger together. I keep coming back to that.”
Join the “Baldwinsville Helping Baldwinsville – Covid-19” group at facebook.com/groups/623688781747261.
