Janice Preschel, a tireless community volunteer who founded the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Teaneck, died Monday at Holy Name Medical Center of complications of the coronavirus. She was 60.

Preschel was known by many in Teaneck because of her widespread community outreach. She was a three-term president of the Teaneck Rotary and an active member of Temple Emeth and served on the township’s Social Services Advisory Board.

Even from her hospital bed, Preschel was arranging with pantry volunteers to give extra food to families in need during the coronavirus crisis and making plans to donate gift certificates from local restaurants to ICU nurses at Holy Name through the Rotary.

... Five years ago, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that took her sight, but she continued her work as director of the pantry, raising money and collecting food for hundreds of families in need.

When she was awarded the Matthew Feldman Community Service Award in 2015, she credited her volunteerism and the support of the community with aiding in her recovery.

"I'm not doing everything I did a year ago. I'm doing less, and it takes me longer, but volunteering has definitely helped in my recovery," she told the Teaneck Suburbanite, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. "Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it really takes a community to help you get over a debilitating illness. I've been so blessed with the support I've had."

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