Amid the coronavirus outbreak, a big focus of local giving has been making sure neighbors and vulnerable populations have enough to eat. Across metro Atlanta, there have been efforts to distribute food to school children, workers who have lost their jobs and most recently: senior citizens.
In East Point last weekend, a drive-thru food drive attracted hundreds of metro Atlanta senior citizens.
On Saturday, JenCare Senior Medical Center and Humana partnered to distribute meals to hundreds of area seniors, according to reporting from 11Alive.
“We did a contact-less food drive for our seniors in the community. We wanted to start with Each Point because it was very important for us to make sure that we get back to our seniors,” JenCare Community Relations manager Carmalitha Gumbs told the TV station.
Gumbs said the health care facility plans to host similar events at its other locations.
East Point Council member Joshua Butler told 11Alive that it's important to provide seniors in need with food in this "troubling time in world history where we have a worldwide pandemic affecting our most vulnerable."
Here are some additional ways to consider helping senior citizens amid the pandemic:
Offer to go to the grocery store
As people shelter in place, of course an essential errand is going to the grocery store. While some stores have designated shopping hours for senior citizens amid the coronavirus outbreak, check in with a neighbor to see if they are uncomfortable going out.
If you do pick up and drop off groceries for a neighbor, here are some things to keep in mind: Go to the store alone, wash your hands before going, wipe down your cart and then wash your hands when you get home before dropping off the supplies with your neighbor, Dr. Brian Chow, an infectious disease physician at Tufts Medical Center told WGBH.
“We know that coronavirus can persist on some surfaces for at least a few hours afterwards. We're not really sure what the outside number for that is. But eventually it will dry out and die and not become contagious,” Chow told the radio station.
Send a care package
Most experts agree that its OK to send mail amid the coronavirus outbreak and can be a way to brighten someone’s day.
"Although the virus can survive on inanimate objects for a period of time, the major risk is going to be in the social interactions with people who are sick,” Chow told WGBH.
If you're going to send or drop off a care package for a senior citizen in your life, WebMD recommends including things like over-the-counter medications to treat fever or coughs, food items that will last awhile, and disinfectant sprays or wipes. You can also include things like puzzles, reading materials or crosswords.
