Health

Batman helps lifts spirits in Merrimack Valley during COVID-19

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — When Batman arrives it’s a tough call as to who’s more excited.

“You can’t imagine driving around the corner of a school and having all these kids screaming as you pull up. It’s an amazing feeling, it really is,” said Jeff Stewart.

Stewart has a full Batman costume and drives the Batmobile, a modified Polaris Slingshot motorcycle, around the Merrimack Valley. All while spreading joy.

His very first visit was to 5-year-old Jacob Hernandez of North Andover. Jacob is battling leukemia. His aunt, Stephanie Hernandez, said meeting the Caped Crusader really cheered Jacob up.

“He was like, ‘these people don’t know me. They really came to see me, especially Batman,’ and I’m like, ‘you know, you were actually a really good boy taking all that chemotherapy so we wrote him a special letter begging him to come and he came,’” she said.

>>>MORE: City, town officials focus on pre-registering residents, local vaccination outreach

Batman is part of the Kindness Collaborative; the non-profit works across the Merrimack Valley to help others one kind act at a time. There are thousands of volunteers, none, though, more visible than Batman. A few weeks ago he made a special home delivery to a 6-year-old Andover boy after his Batmobile was stolen.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Batman would bring a new Batmobile for my kindergartner,” said mom Lauren Kinney.

Batman is proving a little kindness can go a long way. Especially during a pandemic. Batman has visited several children with cancer, a special needs home, a shelter and at several schools. Twenty-seven visits so far in just the past two-and-a-half months. They were all outside maintaining social distancing.

If you would like to find out more about the Kindness Collaborative, click here.

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