Portland City’s Volunteer Shopping Program For Elders To Begin April 20

Press release from the City of Portland:

April 16, 2020

The City of Portland’s Office of Elder Affairs has created a temporary volunteer program to provide grocery shopping and food delivery to elderly Portland residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is intended to help people aged 65 or older that live alone or with an elderly spouse, and do not have family members or friends able to get groceries for them. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable senior citizens who have limited support in the community and are unable to get their own food safely due to the coronavirus outbreak.

There has been a tremendous community response since volunteer recruitment efforts began late last week. The Office of Elder Affairs is processing volunteer applications and screening 60 community volunteers who will be available to help Portland seniors get the food and supplies they need throughout the coming weeks or months. No additional volunteer applications are being accepted at this time, but names are being recorded for future needs, depending on how long the pandemic continues. Volunteers are expected to begin actively serving community members on Monday, April 20.

For more information, to refer someone to the program, or to request assistance for yourself, contact Linda Weare, Director, Portland Office of Elder Affairs, at 207-541-6620 or email to lsw@portlandmaine.gov.

Click here for form to request assistance through this program.

This press release was produced by the City of Portland. The views expressed here are the author’s own.