Emily Cherry is the kind of coach who’s always in touch with the athletes on her squad, even during the offseason. And several weeks back, when most of the Barnegat High School swimmers were expressing their desire to do something to benefit the community as everybody continued to battle the effects of  COVID-19, she gave them an idea.

“Because I work at St. Francis Community Center, I get all the messages about what’s going on there,” said Cherry, who during the summer coaches the St.