Where do I begin to summarize a year such as 2020? The last newsletter was sent to print late on Thursday, March 12th and was so out of date by Sunday the 14th that it was never mailed to you. What a difference those three days made; COVID-19 had arrived.
With all clients and most volunteers being members of an aging demographic at increased risk for serious complications from COVID, we immediately suspended transportation but were concerned about how our clients would get groceries while confined to their homes. In a responsive partnership with the Area Agency on Aging and Weld Recovers we developed and implemented 60+ Grocery, a no-contact order and delivery program. By the end of March, volunteers and staff members had begun making grocery deliveries from Weld Food Bank, King Soopers, and Wal-Mart. The thought of not getting groceries for two weeks makes most of us
uncomfortable, yet the situation was dire for those without the financial ability to keep extra food on hand.
In mid-August, with protocols in place and Weld County Health Department’s encouragement, we re-purposed our staffed minivan to restart transportation for standing medical appointments, primarily dialysis. In early October we reopened our volunteer transportation program for medically necessary appointments on a limited basis including volunteer exposure to just one client each week. With a digital volunteer recruitment campaign financed by Daniels Fund preparing to launch, we are poised to continue flexing with COVID and the resulting needs of our clients even though it’s hard to know what that might look like.
Witnessing the Weld County community and its nonprofit agencies pull together to take care of our own during the pandemic has been a remarkable privilege. And, judging from what 2020 has brought, I have confidence that everything will continue to work out well in 2021. We live in the magical land of Weld County, Colorado, after all, where people care.
Merry Christmas, be blessed, and be well,
Janet
