Brookline High Schoolers Make Special Delivery Amid Coronavirus

BROOKLINE, MA — When the new coronavirus pandemic closed school and abruptly ended the sports season, it meant students - used to days full of school, studying and practice - had a whole lot of extra time on their hands.

One Brookline High junior got an idea to keep busy and bring a smile to others at the same time.

Noah Schwartz, who usually spends time outside of school practicing for his varsity high school tennis games, thought to organize and assemble a tennis “treat” bag for people who are more at risk to leave their houses due to the virus.

Figuring that many have ways to get the basics, he thought it would be fun and nice to do treats -for example chips, chocolate, pretzels, granola bars, licorice, trail mix, orange and a drink in an effort to bring some joy and a smile to those who are stuck at home.

Noah also got the idea to add printed out crossword puzzles and Sudoku packets to each bag as a way to keep minds engaged.

"This idea grew out of Noah seeing his grandmother really bored and stuck at home and thought it would be a nice thing to do and something she would appreciate and love," said Deborah Schwartz, Noah's mom.

He bounced the idea of his teammates and many of them needed no convincing. Since they couldn't gather, Noah asked each to come up with 10 people that they could deliver bags to - in their neighborhood, family or friends that they could drive to and drop off the treat.

Noah and his brothers, Benjy who is in the ninth grade, and Jordy who is in the seventh grade at Solomon Schechter day school, used gloves and pack the some 100 bags up with treats and then the family drove them to his teammates houses for them to distribute.

Several of the tennis team friends have already made deliveries, and Noah and his brothers plan to deliver their batch Friday, after Passover.

The model has since inspired others across the state and in New England, according to Schwartz.

Read more:

• Brookline Requires Face Masks, Covering Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• Brookline Union Joins Town In Calling For Halt To Construction
• MBTA, Amtrak To Sound The Horn Thursday
• Brookline Neighbors Step Up To Help Brookline Amid Coronavirus
• Boston Marathon Bombings: City Marks 7th Anniversary Online

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).