Saturday, March 28, Vietnamese advocates for seniors and other community members disinfected and sorted through individually wrapped masks, gloves, hygiene products and non-perishable foods to assemble senior’s survival kits. Volunteer drivers also received kits composed of face shields, medical grade gloves, face masks and sanitizer to aid in safe delivery drop offs.
United Together efforts allow seniors who speak very little English to communicate with volunteers in Vietnamese on a hotline number. Grocery drop offs are then coordinated and dropped off to their doorsteps.
Safety protocols were put in place at the centre to make sure that person to person transmission is preventable. Facility staff consisting of 5 persons wore personal protection equipment and drivers did not enter the facility.
Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte has endorsed United Together efforts to protect vulnerable members of society who are unable to leave their homes due to COVID-19.
“From our two days on the United Together hotline, our volunteers took over 50 calls and reached 35 seniors who requested help. We can confidently say from the conversation, this is an age demographic that needs our support. The elders have no choice but to stay home to self-isolate since they are high-risk and are now in fear of when their food supplies may run out. With no support, we need to let them know that we are there for them. I implore not only the Vietnamese Community, but other communities as well, to check up and see how their elders are doing. Language was not their main concern arriving in Canada, raising us was. So, let’s be there for them now. Let’s stay United Together.”
– Tai Nguyen, Seniors project lead and United Together co-lead