A nightly celebration and thank you towards health care workers and first responders is raising the volume and funds in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hoboken residents started to clap, cheer or bang pots and pans outside their windows to honor the frontline workers of the pandemic. The routine now also includes a DJ and a fundraiser to help feed those workers.

“Showing some positive energy and vibes for our health care workers, first responders, grocery store workers on the frontlines during unprecedented times,” says Cameron “DJ Cam” Nichols.

Nichols blasts one song out of his window every night and encourages others around the city to do the same.

“I’ve got DJ equipment sitting in the house. Let’s play some Sinatra out the window for all our neighbors while we practice social distancing,” he says.

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Nichols has also teamed up with The Hoboken Girl team to post the songs on their popular social media sites. The songs are sometimes Jersey-related and always uplifting.

“It’s been so wonderful for so many people when we feel so helpless now,” says Jen Tripucka of HobokenGirl.com. “It’s to give that grateful thanks for everything for all our first responders and essential workers.”

The effort also gave birth to a new fundraising effort – Frontline Appreciation Group (FLAG). Hoboken and nearby Jersey City will use the donations to buy meals from local businesses to donate to the frontline workers. A 30-minute livestream with DJ Cam and Hoboken Girl raised over $2,000.

“I want this to be looked at as almost a bright light in a very dark time…we need something to look forward to,” says Nichols.

The DJ and Hoboken Girl plan to hold another Instagram Live DJ Party for FLAG this coming weekend. More information can be found on the Hoboken Girl website.