‘Called to action’: How Stanislaus County teens are helping during coronavirus pandemic
While the novel coronavirus pandemic clearly has resulted in bad (hoarding) and worse (scamming) behavior, it’s also letting the goodness in people shine.
In Turlock and Patterson, members of New Life Christian Center’s High School Ministry are volunteering to make grocery store runs and do other errands for those who can’t get out. A private Facebook group called Modesto Area COVID-19 Support had nearly 1,500 members as of Wednesday morning. And though its citywide volunteer day set for April has been postponed until November, Love Modesto has launched loveourneighbors.org as a “platform to help those in need during this crisis.”
A Facebook post that went up Monday announcing the New Life Christian volunteer shoppers quickly got two inquiries, said Brittony Rafatti, who leads a group of seven high school junior and senior girls in the ministry.
One call was from a single mother of four whose children now are home with her full time, and she’s panicking a bit, Rafatti said. She didn’t need the girls’ help immediately, but said she’ll keep Rafatti’s number close at hand. The second call also was an inquiry into how the volunteer shoppers’ offer works.
The way it will work, Rafatti said in a phone interview Tuesday, is that the girls likely will go out to stores as a group, ideally shopping for a few customers at a time.
As to how customers will pay for their groceries, “we’re playing out a few options,” the girls’ leader said. “I think it will come down to case by case, however they feel comfortable. If they don’t want to hand over cash in advance, I totally understand and we’ll take that burden off them.”
Customers may be able to pay upon receipt, or Amazon sells Safeway gift cards that can be emailed to the buyer, Rafatti said. A customer may prefer that because it keeps track of the remaining balance when shopping is done. Another option, she said, is that for grocery stores that offer online ordering for pickup, the girls are happy to bring customers’ items home to them.
The New Life Christian Center High School Ministry shopping volunteers are offering their services weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to noon. To receive the group’s help, call Rafatti at 209-985-1614.
The teens’ shopping offer began with the thought that one of their grandmothers and her neighbors in a retirement community could use some help with errands. They quickly decided that a broader offer to the communities where there are New Life Christian Centers — Turlock and Patterson — was the way to go.
“These girls really feel called to action,” Rafatti said. “A lot of teens are worried now about not having prom, and their sporting events. It’s hitting the girls hard, too. They’re saddened by that. But even in that time, they thought, ‘How can we can help?’ ”
A lot of people are thinking that, thankfully. Across social media platforms are reminders to check in on neighbors who are among the more susceptible. Those include older adults, with risk increasing by age, and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. People also are being asked to think of others when tempted to hoard canned and frozen foods, toilet paper and other products that are being grabbed up from cases and shelves.
On its Facebook page, the Modesto Area COVID-19 Support group is described as “a space to share resources and help each other out. Maybe you can spare an extra bottle of hand sanitizer to a retirement home in need? Maybe you have some unopened infant formula for a mom that is unable to work? Maybe need your lawn mowed because you are feeling unwell?”
One member posted on Wednesday morning photos of new children’s games and puzzles, with the offer, “We can drop them off on your front doorstep.” Another informed the group that United Way has launched a worldwide COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. “They will help with bills, rent and food,” the member wrote. “You can call 866-211-9966 and provide ZIP code and will be given a list of local agencies to provide assistance.”
Other examples of group posts are:
- “I was a cloth-diapering mom. It is very easy. I also have a lot of flannel fabric I would be willing to cut and donate to women who can’t find or can’t afford baby wipes.”
“If anyone needs milk and can’t find any, you can always take a little drive to the Nutcher Milk Company on the dairy out on 5213 W Grayson Rd, Modesto CA 95358. They’re open Mon through Fri 8-4.”
On the Love Our Neighbors site, visitors can click on “Give help” and “Get help.” The first leads you to “Five ways to help people in need,” including volunteering at a food pantry, or simply dropping off food, donating money for food and home supplies, and signing up to deliver food to a home-bound family. Click on “Get help” and you’ll be asked to fill out a needs form that will connect you with the right organizations or volunteers.
In one of the NextDoor neighborhood social networks in Modesto, a member posted an offer to run errands for those who can’t or shouldn’t go out. “Not too sure how far this thing is going to go,” she wrote, “but I’d like to make sure my neighbors are okay in advance.”
The post was met with many replies of appreciation, and at least one offer to do the same.
In an exchange of messages with The Bee, the woman who made the initial offer on NextDoor said she works in a hospital, so knows the pandemic “is serious and especially for the elderly and people with low immune systems. In these times, I feel like people should be coming together for the ones who cannot do for themselves. If you have extra time and some extra funds, people should step up and help. God’s duties.”
New Life Christian Center’s Rafatti commented that she saw a social media post saying that events may be canceled because of the virus, but it can’t cancel love and hope. “I think we’re going to see some really beautiful stuff come out of this chaos,” she said.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 10:57 AM.
