Video Update for April 3

Good evening, Melrose. This is your Mayor, Paul Brodeur.

Tonight we learned that while there are no new COVID-related deaths today, our community does have 52 confirmed cases. This number is likely to go up in the coming days and weeks, and now more than ever, we have to practice physical distancing, reduce unnecessary trips outside of the house, and continue to pull together as a community.

I am very proud to announce the launch of a new initiative the city has created to help our neighbors through the pandemic. It’s called Melrose Helps. While many of you have already signed up to volunteer, I hope many more of you will do so in the coming days. The mission of Melrose Helps will necessarily change over time, but here’s how we’re going to get started: Volunteers will join remote phone banks to check in on our older neighbors to see how they are doing and see what needs they may have. This data will be processed, and other volunteers will fulfill those needs, be it grocery shopping, picking up medicine, or as simple as providing a check-in to make sure folks are doing OK.

While our initial push is targeted at our seniors, any Melrosian should feel free to e-mail us if they are in need, as the Melrose Emergency Fund does stand ready to assist. To sign up to volunteer and get involved, please visit melrosehelps.com. Or if you could use some help, please e-mail melrosehelps@cityofmelrose.org.

Lastly, at 7 p.m. tonight, April 3, I want you to join me and communities from across the country, get out on your front steps and make some noise in appreciation of our front-line workers, those folks who can’t take a day off or work from home: Police, fire, DPW, grocery store workers, and of course our front line medical personnel, all deserve a round of applause. So grab a pot or a pan, dust off your instruments, or just scream and yell and show our heroes how much we appreciate them. And if you are so inclined to post what you do on social media, please use the hashtag #ClapBecauseWeCare.

Melrose is a city with a big heart. Through your volunteering, donations to the Emergency Fund, your many kind gestures, and yes, all the noise you are going to make tonight at 7 p.m., you have shown time and time again what being One Community Open to All truly means. 

Thank you very much for your attention, and together we will get through this.

Have a good night.