By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Sitkans are volunteering to help those in need, and also seeking offers from others who want to provide assistance.
The Sitka Conservation Society is coordinating the Facebook page “Sitka Mutual Aid – Covid19” for people needing financial or delivery help, and for others to volunteer. The effort started Tuesday.
“Our vision is to connect Sitkans who need help with Sitkans who can help,” said Chandler O’Connell, the SCS staffer who is coordinating the Sitka Mutual Aid project.
“We’re prioritizing no-con tact, doorstep delivery service for folks in isolation and quarantine,” she said. “We’re also able to provide some grocery relief to folks who have financial need due to COVID-19 impacts.”
There are links on the Facebook page for Sitkans to sign up for help, in the categories of “supplies delivered,” “financial support,” “supplies delivered and financial support,” and “other.”
Another link allows Sitkans to volunteer to donate time, transportation and/or money. Other questions give residents a chance to provide other services, including dog walking, household assistance and child care.
“If you’re facing a challenge, there might be a neighbor out there who can help – that’s who we want to connect,” O’Connell said.
SCS put in $1,000 and is accepting donations, but hopes to be operating mainly as a “matchmaker,” and not a social service organization.
So far, there have been 25 requests for help, and 23 of them have been fulfilled. About 40 volunteers have signed up to help, and distributed more than $1,200 worth of groceries.
Generally those needing help are self-isolating because they are in higher risk groups by age or medical condition. Others are in self-quarantine, as recommended by health authorities, because they recently traveled out of state.
Volunteers pay for the groceries and are reimbursed through Paypal, either by the person making the request or by the Conservation Society.
As with other organizations, staff members are working from home and following CDC and state mandates, O’Connell said. Volunteers who are making deliveries also are following guidelines.
“SCS’s mission is to build sustainable communities, and community health is a big part of that,” she said. “We can’t provide health care, but we can help connect neighbors so that’s where we’re starting. As the community response to this crisis evolves we hope to contribute to more systematic long-term initiatives.”
