Melissa Spiotta, Morristown High school alum class of 1985, felt compelled to help amidst the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic in Northern New Jersey. She had been tapped to help fellow resident, Jeff Haag, manage the Morristown Order Out Twice a Week Stimulus Plan Facebook group and as they worked to help the restaurants, she realized there were other needs in the community and there wasn’t a central place for people to connect around them.  

To fill this need, Melissa created the group Morristown Helps (formerly known as Morristown Helps its Medical Professionals). Within days, the group had over 1,000 members actively doing everything they could to assist the community. Dozens of people were busy making homemade masks looking to connect with groups and individuals who were desperately in need. Financial and in-kind fundraisers developed to offer additional means of support. 

Community members and businesses rallied together to deliver food, medical clothing and even temporary housing to the front-line hospital workers to keep them energized and safe during their seemingly endless shifts at the hospital. Stories were shared by these heroic medical professionals to provide the members with a glimpse of their daily battles helping those affected by the virus. 

Children wanted to help as well, in any way they could.  A group of Brownies sent over 100 handwritten notes of support to those in the hospital. Many created beautiful chalk art to honor their hometown heroes.  A young lady began making small flags to recognize restaurant owners and other community members who supported the hospital. Two other young ladies walked a marathon to raise money to send food to the hospital.  The outpouring of support showed how generous and philanthropic the community truly is.

As the curve started to flatten in our area, Melissa changed the focus of the group to be a place where anyone could go to get or offer help of any kind.  And now, four months later, there continues to be a constant flow of new needs being supported everyday with the help of its over 2,500 members. 

“I couldn’t be prouder of our community for coming together during the pandemic," said Melissa Spiotta.  "I love Morristown and have always been proud to live here, but the outpouring of support from our community has been absolutely staggering. I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of it.” 

When Melissa isn’t managing this or the Stimulus group, she is a career coach and the Vice President of the Morris School District Board of Education. She is also actively involved in many local non-profits. She is the grant chair of the Junior League of Morristown and a founding member of the FLAG of Morristown/Morris Township. 

Melissa and her husband, Marc, live in Morris Township with their daughter, Makena, who is a rising MHS Junior and their dogs Max and Milo.