'It's My Calling:' Lacey Hero Organizes Drive-By's Amid Pandemic

LACEY, NJ — When the coronavirus outbreak hit New Jersey, Tim Nagy couldn't help but notice people in need. Not just people who got sick but also those who couldn't leave home, meet with loved ones or celebrate special occasions.

Nagy helps run the "Wawa Crew," a group of motorcycle enthusiasts that often meet at Wawa in Lanoka Harbor. If you ever see 50-100 motorcycles rolling by, it might be the crew trying to make someone happy — a child with a birthday party, sick kids, those with special needs and veterans.

They don't limit themselves when it comes to who deserves a drive-by celebration.

"He makes good things happen," said Laurie Amiano, who nominated Nagy as a Lacey Patch hero. "He is the most unselfish person charitable person you would ever meet."

Sometimes the crew's good deeds go beyond drive-by's. They've raised money and provided donations for families.

The crew gave stuffed animals to a 4-year-old boy in Waretown with cancer, which Nagy says has been his most rewarding experience so far.

"Anybody that needs our help, we’re there," said Nagy, who was nominated as a Lacey Patch hero. "We’re not limited to certain things. We’re pretty much open to anything. The look on people’s faces alone is what makes it all worthwhile for me."

Nagy hopes to continue the drive-by's. The Wawa Crew even contacted the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — a nonprofit focused on pediatric treatment of and research into children's catastrophic diseases — about organizing drive-by's for kids in the cancer ward.

Anyone interested in organizing or receiving a drive-by can join the Wawa Crew's Facebook group, call Nagy at 609-312-3589 or approach him at Wawa in Lanoka Harbor.

"I want to keep going," Nagy said. "I’m not going to stop. I think it’s my calling."

>> Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Lacey Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.