Danbury Senior Center distributes at-home test kits
DANBURY — The Elmwood Hall Senior Center is passing out free, athome COVID-19 test kits this week to older residents who may otherwise struggle to access them.
The kits will be distributed on a first-come, firstserved basis from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday, while supplies last. Only Danbury residents 60 and over are eligible.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the center gave out more than 400 kits outside Elmwood Hall, Director Susan Tomanio said. The city’s health department gave the kits to Elmwood Hall so seniors could avoid the long lines for testing and test kits.
Demand for at-home kits and testing in general has been high due to rising COVID cases and exposures.
“As you age, you have certain issues that can make it more challenging to wait in line for three or four hours,” Tomanio said. “Certainly, driving in the evening for some older adults could be more challenging. To be able to come down to the Senior Center, a place they’re familiar with, it’s just much more comfortable for them.”
A part-time van driver and others will deliver about 50 kits to seniors who lack transportation, she said.
“At this point we’re pretty much at capacity for delivery,” she said. I’ll probably be delivering some myself.”
About 130 kits are left to be distributed, beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.
“They will go very quickly,” Tomanio said.
The center alerted senior housing buildings to the distribution, in addition to sending out a robo call and posting the information on social media and the website, she said.
Mask-wearing staff and volunteers keep warm with mini heaters as they hand out the kits outside, Tomanio said. Due to icy conditions on Wednesday morning, they saw a “slow start,” but distribution “went really well,” she said.
Residents are required to bring an identification with proof of age and residency.
Seniors who lack transportation may call the Senior Center at 203-7974686 to make delivery arrangements.