FEEDING THE NEED
2 COUNTY AGENCIES TEAM TO DELIVER GROCERIES TO SENIORS SHUT IN AT HOME
“Our phones are ringing off the hook and we are doing our best to get back to everyone as soon as possible. This is a critical need and we are working around the clock to meet that need.”
UPPER DARBY » Call it friends in need.
Delaware County senior citizens, stuck inside as the region isolates at home, and unable to get out to groceries, are getting a helping hand from a couple of county agencies.
Carts full of groceries were pushed out of the SaveA-Lot off Garrett Road Friday morning to the three Community Transit vehicles with trunks ajar, ready to be packed with the food destined for Delaware County’s elderly, who are unable to do it themselves.
On Wednesday, Delaware County Services for the Aging (COSA) teamed up with Community Transit to offer seniors an alternative to in-person grocery shopping. Seniors can call Community Transit at 215-900-2519 or email GroceryDropOff@CTDelco.org to provide the grocery items they want to buy. In turn, Community Transit members would get the food and deliver it to them, without senior citizens - many of whom are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus - ever having to leave their home.
Seniors are responsible for paying for the groceries but the pick-up and delivery is being subsidized by COSA.
— Latoria Kirksey, Community Transit customer care officer
By Thursday morning, 300 seniors had put in their orders.
“Our phones are ringing off the hook and we are doing our best to get back to everyone as soon as possible,” said Latoria Kirksey, Community Transit customer care officer. “This is a critical need and we are working around the clock to meet that need.”
Outside the Save-A-Lot, Tiffany Beauford, Community Transit business development officer, agreed.
“Our mission is to serve the seniors,” she said, “and we don’t want to let this pandemic get away from our mission.”
These deliveries are made even as Community Transit continues to take clients to essential medical appointments, dialysis and cancer treatments.
In between 90 transports Thursday, Beauford said 50 grocery orders were delivered.
“One lady said we are a blessing from God because she didn’t know how she was going to get food to feed her and her cat,” Beauford shared. “She was literally crying on the phone because she couldn’t get out. She wasn’t able to get out.
“Another lady said she doesn’t get a lot of family visitors, friends,” Beauford continued. “She normally tries to catch Community Transit to get out or SEPTA and said she couldn’t get out, she’s just stuck. She saw this, she jumped right on it.”
At issue is that those 65 years old and older are at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus. Most of those hospitalized and most of the deaths related to the virus also have occurred in that age range, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Paul Mattus, Community Transit board chairman, said the grocery shopping is just another way to engage their mission.
“It was really important for us to be able to make sure that our constituents that we normally are serving by transporting, we’re still able to get what they need,” he said.
Mattus explained that the agency wanted a food partner with accessibility, capacity and appropriate pricing “because a lot of the people that we serve are price conscious.”
Oliver McElhone, director of administration for Save-ALot, explained how the process worked. First, seniors call Community Transit, where the order is taken.
Then, he said, “We’ll shop the order, then (Community Transit workers) come and pick them up.”
“It’s great to participate since they’re the most vulnerable people out there for this virus,” McElhone added. “We’re happy to be a part of it. We like to serve the community. Anything we can do to help out the community, we want to jump on board with that.”
On Friday, orders were being wheeled out of the store at 1500 Garrett Road, Upper Darby. In a few days, the store at 150 S. MacDade Blvd. also will be involved.
Community Transit’s Kim Strange has been involved since the first day.
“The clients,” she said, “were extremely appreciative. It was nice to be in front of that.”
Strange said she almost teared up a few times.
“It’s amazing to help out because they can’t come outside and I wouldn’t want them to come outside,” she said.
Nick Miccarelli, executive director of Community Transit, credited his staff while purchasing and loading groceries.
“Proud of our drivers,” he said. “They’re soldiers through this whole thing and all of our staff - totally selfless. They’re putting the needs of the community above their own.”
Their focus on their mission was apparent Friday.
“We’re here,” Beauford said. “We were here supporting before and we’ll be here supporting after whatever we can do to make sure we are helping our seniors. If it takes all day and all night, we’ll be out here delivering for the seniors.”