A Solution to Grocery Delivery for the Elderly during COVID
By Miranda Essig, Product ManagerMilkCrate and Jersey Cares Develop Senior Shopper App
COVID has been really hard on everyone but let’s be honest: the people who have the highest chance of losing their life are the elderly and disabled. I am not particularly overjoyed knowing that there is a high chance my grandparents will suffer complications if they contract the virus. They are strong but 80+ years of living can also wear you down. So of course I was the one at the very beginning chastising my Grandmother for not being more precautious. Thank goodness my Grandma is practicing better social distancing, yet they still need necessities like groceries.
COVID has been really hard on everyone but let’s be honest: the people who have the highest chance of losing their life are the elderly and disabled. I am not particularly overjoyed knowing that there is a high chance my grandparents will suffer complications if they contract the virus. They are strong but 80+ years of living can also wear you down. So of course I was the one at the very beginning chastising my Grandmother for not being more precautious. Thank goodness my Grandma is practicing better social distancing, yet they still need necessities like groceries.
Okay yes, there are some great companies out there that will deliver your groceries to your door but that additional cost is not always in an elderly person’s budget (nor mine for that matter but that’s a different story). What the world needs is a little bit more compassion and that is exactly what Jersey Cares is doing with their Senior Shopper Program.
Jersey Cares, a nonprofit organization, established in 1993, recruits and engages volunteers in rewarding, effective efforts that address community-identified needs. They partner with local nonprofits to identify needs and implement volunteer projects to meet these needs. Shortly after the virus spread they started a new program focused on fulfilling grocery requests from senior citizens in neighboring municipal senior centers.
Michele, the VP of Programs at Jersey Cares, called up my team at MilkCrate and asked if our platform could facilitate the volunteer experience. So in less than a month, we launched their Senior Shopper app in the iOS and Google Play store.
Our Senior Shoppers program continues to grow! We need volunteers to assist seniors with grocery shopping in Gloucester, Morris, Ocean and Somerset county! Register today and participate in a virtual orientation to learn more: https://t.co/VJ7kjs7QRI pic.twitter.com/OU5l70XdBZ
— Jersey Cares (@JerseyCares) June 14, 2020
If you want to donate to Jersey Cares so they can expand their Senior Shopper Program please visit their website. If you are interested in volunteering for a program similar to this one but don’t have one use the hashtag below and tag MilkCrate.
#SeniorShopper
