Katie Schulz took this picture of Swarthmore’s unofficial photographer, Andy Shelter, taking a picture. She writes:

One of Andy’s favorite photographic pastimes is taking pictures of others who are taking pictures. I ran into him about a week ago by Henderson field while walking my dog Sadie and sat on the curb, six feet away from him. Suddenly, out came his telephoto lens, because something of interest caught his well trained eye. I was fortunate enough to capture the moment. It is not often that we get to see him, as he is always filming all of us. Photo: Katie Schultz

Ann MacMullan of South Philadelphia — formerly of Swarthmore — has been teaching yoga and balance classes since 2015 at venues such as the Swarthmore United Methodist Church and the Wallingford Presbyterian Church. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has moved her classes online. She writes:

One thing that’s been lovely is being able to expand our offerings to include kids of all ages. Not only does it give their parents a break, it helps kids move and breathe as a way to work through stress. I’ve been able to teach my nieces and nephews, who live in Swarthmore, and their parents seem grateful for that friendly diversion. My regular students report that the routine of “going to yoga” at the same time every week has been helpful. That’s why we decided to offer “live” classes (though you can get the recording later). Since we can’t go out, “looking inward” seems like the right thing to focus on now. I’ve always encouraged students to explore the limitless inner landscape of the body and mind, but now more than ever our yoga practice can become a “discipline of freedom.”

Ann MacMullan is a founder and owner of Team Sun Wellness
Photo: June MacMullan practices a Sun Salutation. Photo by Juliet Koczak

When Swarthmore Girl Scout Troops 50220 and 51125 realized they could not serve dinner at CityTeam Chester as originally planned on Saturday, April 11, they decided to help out in a different way instead. The scouts have been helping CityTeam by collecting donations of diapers, baby formula, and food. Useful food donations include canned goods (such as tuna, chicken, beans, and fruit); breakfast items like cereal, oatmeal, and grits; and peanut butter and jelly. Donations can be dropped off in the bins at 101 Dartmouth Ave., 625 Strath Haven Ave., and 210 Dickinson Ave., between now and Friday, April 24.

Stuart Young waves to passing traffic (predictably pointing at a truck). Frances Young, a kindergartner at Swarthmore-Rutledge School, is busy in the background. Photo: Alexis Young

“My 20-month-old son loves vehicles, so we’ve been parking ourselves at the end of our cul-de-sac and watching passing traffic each day. He and my five-year-old daughter sit atop the pillar as we wave to drivers. My daughter performs the double bicep tug to garner honks (and delight my son), and we share many heartfelt smiles with strangers. This new ritual allows for safe social fun, calms the toddler, and shortens the distance between our hearts at this time.”

Alexis Young
Swarthmore

We’re interested in hearing from readers who, like Alexis Young, have found ways to make the best of this bad situation. Please email us at editor@swarthmorean.com.

Ice-cream makers and confectioners Eric Berley of Swarthmore and his brother Ryan (along with various helpers) delivered over 100 orders of Franklin Fountain Ice Cream and Shane Candies to households in Swarthmore, Rose Valley, Wallingford, and Media on Good Friday. Ryan writes:

“We pressed into service our 1959 Ford Thunderbird, and, inspired by the old car’s time period, we dressed in Vietnam-War-era flight suits and donned Cold-War-era gas masks. The masks were obtained from the now-shuttered Nelson’s Ice Cream plant in Royersford, Pennsylvania, built early in the 20th century. The plant had masks because, like most ice-cream factories that operated in that era, it used ammonia as part of its chilling system for the freezers. Because of ammonia’s toxicity, the government required these factories to keep specialized gas masks on hand in case of an emergency leak. Luckily, this never occurred at Nelson’s, and the gas masks were kept sealed in their boxes until we broke them out last week.”

Ryan, his partner Lizzie Reed, and her brother Jim — who all volunteered to help with these deliveries — are also all caretakers at the Rose Valley Museum at Thunderbird Lodge. As Ryan says, “It’s truly a local effort!”

Isys Nelms, an eighth-grader at Strath Haven Middle School, was on a walk through Swarthmore when she noticed how many stores had signs about altered schedules in their windows in response to the coronavirus outbreak. She took pictures of some of them and compiled them into this image. Photo: Isys Nelms

Betsy Crane of Swarthmore sent this photo of her granddaughters, Emma Crane Vogel, age 5, and Alexandra Crane Vogel, age 7, in a tree near the Swarthmore Public Library and Central Park. She writes: “In this time of social isolation, I’m so glad we have natural beauty here in our town. Alexandra and Emma love this tree. When they were in it a few days ago one of them said, ‘We are tree people.’” Photo: Betsy Crane

Inspired by a prompt from the Getty Museum, Jeannine Anckaitis’s family is keeping busy by making reproductions of famous works works of art using household objects. What can you spot in this picture? Photo: Jeannine Anckaitis

With blood donors in short supply due to the coronavirus pandemic, community members answered an emergency call by filling all slots at a hastily organized Red Cross blood drive. The drive, scheduled for Monday, March 23, was extended through Tuesday, March 24, and the additional slots quickly filled. 117 pints of blood were collected over two days. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5) of Swarthmore stopped by the Swarthmore Community Center to show support and take a few pictures. The drive was so successful that the Red Cross added a third day, April 1. Red Cross staff wore masks and took the temperature of all the donors at the door. “It is a heroic thing [happening] right here in our borough,” said Doug Harnsberger, who helped organize the drive. Photo: Mary Gay Scanlon

For their son Joe’s 13th birthday on March 27, Liz and Jamie Orye got up early to cover their house with balloons, making his day a little brighter while everyone is staying at home and away from their friends. “Turning this giant lemon into lemonade,” Liz Orye says. “Without this crisis, we never would have discovered the opportunity to wake early, work together to create a surprise for Joe, and give a little spirit lift to the neighborhood and passers-by.” They also invited friends and family to surprise (“and mortify”) Joe with a birthday greetings drive-by in the evening. “So many responded that they were excited to swing by. It’s sweet to see the new and creative ways folks have found to connect and encourage each other. I can’t help but think that if we play it right, so much beauty and relationship can emerge from the rubble of this strange season.” Photo: Jamie Orye

Paul Feldmayer, the proprietor of Swarthmore’s breakfast and lunch spot Vicky’s Place, decided to shut down for a week to deep-clean his restaurant and get ready to move to take-out-only business. Wondering what to do with his leftover produce, bread, and eggs, he called Swarthmore Town Center coordinator Anita Barrett. Barrett put him in touch with CityTeam in Chester, a nonprofit that serves people struggling with homelessness, poverty, hunger, and addiction. CityTeam’s kitchen manager said they could put the extra food to good use. “I threw in some paper and towels and stuff because they needed it,” Feldmayer said. “It wasn’t much.” Photo: Rob Borgstrom

Vicky’s Place is open now for take-out from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. seven days a week. Feldmayer says he will gladly bring your order out to your car, curbside.

The Foundation for Delaware County supports nurse-family partnerships that provide home visits to pregnant women and new mothers living in poverty. The foundation, which recently announced over a million dollars in grants for nonprofits serving Delaware County, has launched a Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund to provide immediate resources to nonprofits serving the county’s most vulnerable residents. Photo: Zave Smith