Portland Office Of Elder Affairs Temporary Volunteer Program

Press release from the City of Portland:

April 9, 2020

The Portland Office of Elder Affairs will implement a temporary volunteer serviceto provide grocery shopping and food delivery to elderly Portland residents whomay have difficulty accessing food during the Coronavirus pandemic. The service is intended to serve the most vulnerable senior citizens who are withoutcommunity/family support.
Basic criteria to receive volunteer services:

• Age 65 or older

• A resident of PortlandLives alone or with an elderly spouse

• Unable to go to the grocery store or food pantry

• Has no family/friends able to help

• Priority given to those not served by other community programs

What volunteers can do:

• Get a grocery list, go shopping, and deliver food once every two weeks

• Use cash or a grocery store gift card to make purchases. Keep/show receipts.

• Pick up and deliver pre-ordered items curbside (ie: Hannaford-to-Go Program)

• Pick up and deliver boxed food from local food pantries

• No contact delivery: Alert recipient of arrival, leave food outside, move away quicklySmile, wave, and greet at a safe distance (at least 6 feet away)

What volunteers can’t do:

• Cannot go inside the community member’s home

• Cannot use checks, debit, or credit cards to pay for groceries

• Cannot accept tipsCannot transport community members anywhere

• Cannot share confidential information about the recipient with anyone

For more information: Contact Linda Weare at lsw@portlandmaine.gov

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