UPDATE 4/20/20 — This group has provided groceries to more than 80 elderly residents of Charlottesville and surrounding counties. They have enough donations for now, so please don’t leave off more supplies until this is updated.
We have elderly people in the Charlottesville community who are WITHOUT FOOD and other necessities. The family members who have helped them until now are without the funds to assist and in some cases cannot visit. Meals on Wheels has cut back on its operations due to concerns about spreading the virus further. Older people may not qualify for food stamps (their Social Security may put them just over the limit). They can’t drive, and don’t know how or don’t have access to services like InstaCart. The area food banks are having a hard time keeping up with demand.
Two neighborhood businesses, Gelbman Law, an elder care law firm, and Open Arms, Helping Hands, a companion care company, are combining forces to put together a major initiative to help feed seniors in need. Doris Gelbman and Jennifer Burns and their trained volunteers are collecting and re-bagging food contributions and arranging for their safe “touch free” delivery to area elders in need. These volunteer caregivers, wearing PPE while doing deliveries, are trained to do wellness checks — meds, blood pressure checks, looking for fevers, checking blood sugar, etc.
The Little High Neighborhood can help!
The biggest immediate need is for donations of food. Food donations should be brought to Gelbman Law (525 Meade Ave — within the Little High Neighborhood!).
Please do NOT call and please leave donations ON THE PORCH.
The BEST donations are non-perishables like pasta, canned goods, flour, sugar, powered milk and fruit drinks, dessert mixes like Jello and pudding, canned fruits, too. Canned meats like tuna, chicken or even Spam. Also, fresh produce but the best options are those that keep in cool dry storage like apples, potatoes, onions, carrots and other root vegetables. Also bread and baked goods that can be frozen if not used immediately.
You can also donate cash (the GoFundMe account was set up by Elder Health Care professional Jennifer Burns) that will be used towards groceries and other common shopping list needs.
