Some Victoria residents are offering to help the community鈥檚 more vulnerable members amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Friends Melia Parker and Morganne Bemister posted their offer in online classifieds. 鈥淲e want to provide volunteer assistance to the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and their caregivers who are concerned about going out into the public for health reasons,鈥� they wrote in the ad.
Parker said the two wanted to do something to help people who might be worried about being in crowded spaces, especially if the number of cases increases on the Island.
There are eight confirmed cases in the Island Health region, and more than 100 in the province as of Monday morning.
Parker said they haven鈥檛 had any requests for help since the post went live, but have been contacted by others who also want to offer their assistance. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been kind of inspiring to know that if or when people need help, your neighbours are there for you,鈥� she said. 鈥淢aybe we should be like that if there isn鈥檛 a pandemic. Maybe there shouldn鈥檛 have to be a big scary illness for people to do this.鈥�
It鈥檚 a similar situation in a Facebook group set up to connect those who need help with people offering it. Sally Lin, a moderator of COVID-19 Coming Together, said they鈥檝e seen almost double the number of offers for support than there are requests.
鈥淩equests are being filled really quickly. Definitely within the same day, if not within a few hours,鈥� she said.
The group grew to more than 1,600 members in less than 10 hours after it was created, and had nearly 4,000 members on Monday. People have posted to offer grocery delivery, prescription refills, dog walking, child care and meal preparation.
Lin, who has a masters in public health, has delivered toilet paper and soap to someone putting together packages for Songhees elders. She dropped it off outside the person鈥檚 home in order to minimize contact.
Lin suggested those who need help but aren鈥檛 on the social-media platform can ask someone else to post to the group on their behalf. Group members have also created neighbourhood pods to localize support.
Catherine Turnbull started a group for Fernwood residents, who can fill out a Google document to share their contact information and identify how they鈥檙e able to provide support.
Turnbull said there haven鈥檛 been a lot of requests for help yet, but she anticipates there will be more need in the coming days and weeks. 鈥淭his is a great opportunity to build community even though we鈥檙e practising social distancing and practising social isolation,鈥� she said.
Vicky Pilot, executive director of Seniors Serving Seniors, said it鈥檚 great that community groups are forming to provide help to the most vulnerable. She said one of the main concerns for seniors during the crisis is a lack of social interaction.
鈥淚 think people checking in on people will be really helpful,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely value there, as long as everybody is following public-health advice.鈥�
