i'm lindsay riser. >> i'm kendis gibson.next, alex witt speaking with debbie dingell of michigan about the protests in her state and who is behind them and whether they are more about politics than anything else. isn't just a department. it's a voice on the other end of the phone. a note to say you're on our mind. a willingness to come to you. the world and how we interact with each other is changing. but that will never change who we are at lexus. now, more than ever, you and your needs come first. find out what service options are available in your area at lexus.com/people first in this time of crisis we run with them, toward those in need. we are 7,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and therapists supporting their efforts on the ground and virtually. and just as we are by their side, we're by yours, too. with answers to your most pressing questions and expert advice at cigna.com/covid19 >>> first up here on msnbc, how soon is too soon to start reopening the country? this morning where the battle lines are being drawn. >> so

. >> let's head back to new jersey now where lindsay riser joins us.has demand for help been like where you are? >> reporter: food banks and food pantries stretched thin be p this church here in newark is feeling it as well. they closed early today because they ran out of food. now, prepandemic they were running this food pantry about two sundays a month and help about 75 families. now, they are running it every single sunday and they are helping about 150 families. today they helped 200. the pastor tells me a lot of members of their congregation have been laid off or furloug d furloughed. they are filling that gap with items families can't find at the grocery store. there's still a level of risk involved for the volunteer who is come out and dole out the food or physically deliver food boxes to families in need. let's hear what they have to say. >> i take precaution. i'm protecting me because i don't want to die either. i'm very susceptible to it. i want to be a blessing. >> i believe that this is a calling for us. i don't know how people believe in g

i'm lindsay riser alongside kendis gibson. before we go into those headl e headlines, we're going to look at a very empty times square in new york city. >> striking. this is absolutely striking. on an early sunday morning when many people would be walking or many vehicles would be driving around. >> there's a car. >> there's a car. it is "i am legend" come to life right there in new york's times square. in the meantime, just about six hours away from new york city, right now, a live picture in the vatican. palm sunday ceremonies are taking place right now. these are live pictures. the pope was there just a moment ago. these are live pictures. they are doing a little bit of social distancing. the pope is 83 years old. he had been seen coughing over the last few weeks. they're trying to make sure that his health is very, very, very taken care of in these times right now. palm sunday, one of the big and holiest holidays of the christian calendar there. we'll keep an eye on the pictures there. >>> this morning, there's more than 3

my colleague lindsay riser is joining me from newark. i understand that you're outside of a church working to feed the community there. what is happening? >> reporter: yeah, food banks have been stretched thin and this church in newark is no thin. in fact, they were supposed to be dolling out food for another 15 minutes but they have stopped because they've given it all away. before this pandemic started they would open up the food pantry two sundays a month and feed about 75 families. now they are open every single sunday and they are doubling that number every sunday. 150 usually and today they helped 200 families. the pastor here tells me that congregates have been laid off or furloughs and they're helping families fill refrigerator and pantry with things that the grocery stores don't have like milk. i talked to that volunteer why she and her husband come out here sunday and i sbopoke to a furloughed worker who came here to grab a box today. >> i believe this is a calling for us. i don't know how many people believe in god. but for us

thank you, lindsay riser from newark.ial leadership during a pandemic. (burke) at farmers insurance, we've seen almost everything that can happen to your home...or car. and we covered it all. ah, memory lane sure has a lot of accidents. we know a thing or two about bundling and saving. so get a quote today. ♪ we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪ introducing tide power pods with cat & nat. that is such a large load, don't the stains sneak through? new tide power pods can clean that... whole situation. it's like two regular tide pods and then even more power. even the largest of loads get clean. it's got to be tide. ♪ >>> i think faith means different things to different people. people with a strong foundation and faith, i think is very, very important. when you go through serious, really terrible ordeals. the country is going through. i think this helps people through this. >> anthony fauci discussing the role of faith as many americans are celebrating the holy day of easter. joining me now, msnbc contributor john

i'm lindsay riser. >> i'm kendis gibson. up next, alex witt. >> prayer versus peril. easter services tomorrow despite all the risks. mornings were made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. when considering another treatment, ask about xeljanz xr, a once-daily pill for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis or active psoriatic arthritis for whom methotrexate did not work well enough. it can reduce pain, swelling, and significantly improve physical function. xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections like tb; don't start xeljanz if you have an infection. taking a higher than recommended dose of xeljanz for ra can increase risk of death. serious, sometimes fatal infections, cancers including lymphoma, and blood clots have happened. as have tears in the stomach or intestines, serious allergic reactions, and changes in lab results. tell your doctor if you've been somewhere fungal infections are common, or if you've had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. don't let another morning go by without asking your do

lindsay riser is new jersey for us. , i know you're at the meadowlands ex position center converted into a temporary hospital. does the coronavirus patients go there or is this just for non-coronavirus patients. >> >> reporter: it is to be a pop-up hospital but we saw that javits center was to be a non-co vid to match the demand. they're in in communication with the governor of new york and they may have to make the facility and change it and also accept covid patients. inside is 250 beds. think of army cots separated by a white curtain for privacy and it has a pop up pharmacy and sink and shower and nurses station and this is unique because this should see a beer ex poe or a dance competition and when you walk around outside you don't notice anything is different. other than two things. first it is eerily quiet out here and two you occasionally see national guard troopers walk out of the doors and also new jersey state police who we see because this is a secure area. but new jersey state police and the state troopers bu