Burch urges Ford to help seniors access groceries
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch is urging Premier Doug Ford to create more services for seniors in need of groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter sent to Ford earlier this month, Burch used the plight of Welland’s 83-year-old Eugene Golec as an example of someone struggling to get food on his table in a timely manner.
Golec and his 82-year-old wife don’t have internet access or smartphones with apps to place orders, said Burch.
The Golecs contacted Burch after experiencing delays with an order they placed through a grocery store in Welland.
“When they couldn’t get food, Mr. Golec had to dust off a box of disposable gloves in the garage left over from his mechanical tinkering days and come up with an infection control plan to follow when he returned home with the groceries,” Burch wrote. Burch asked Ford to explain how people such as the Golecs can be helped and seniors like them who “worked hard all their lives, helped build this province and never asked for anything in return — to get groceries into their homes during this pandemic without putting themselves at risk.”
In a response to Burch obtained by The Welland Tribune, Ford said the government is recommending individuals over 70 years of age only leave the house or see other people for essential reasons.
The premier said in an effort to ensure seniors and people with disabilities and chronic health conditions get the essentials they need while at home during the COVID-19 outbreak, the province is working with the Ontario Community Supports Association to deliver a new Ontario Community Support Program.
The $11-million program will provide Meals on Wheels services to isolated seniors and people with disabilities and help deliver medication and other essentials by working with local businesses and charities, Ford said.
Golec said he waited a week after placing an order through Zehrs in Welland, through a service contracted to California-based Instacart. He later received a phone call saying the order was cancelled.
This resulted in Marilyn having to go to the store — but there were no issues there.
“Everything was just perfect,” he said about physical distancing measures in place at the Niagara Street grocery store.
He said the government needs to offer supports for seniors to create less difficulty with accessing groceries.
“The politicians had a lot to say about how much they’re helping seniors but when this happened it was a bit disturbing,” he said.
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. said demand for its express pickup and delivery service has more than doubled in recent weeks as the numbers of customers shopping from home continues to spike.
“This is driven in part by the encouragement to social distance, but also because we’ve dropped fees to make sure those who need the service don’t face cost barriers,” said a statement provided by Catherine Thomas, Loblaw senior vice-president of external communications.
She said the company is managing the rising number of orders and continuing to communicate with customers as their order is prepared so that if there are any delays or substitutions, they are made aware in advance of their scheduled pickup time.
Wait times for online orders will vary between location depending on demand, she added.
“We are doing our best to fulfil orders as quickly as possible, but at times when demand is particularly high, wait times for pickup or delivery could take a few days. We do apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate customer understanding at this time of increased demand,” she said.
A spokesperson for Instacart could not be reached Monday.