DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — With the stay at home orders not going away anytime soon, people in the Tri-State are finding new ways to help each other.
Deerfield Township just launched a program called "Adopt a Senior" to make sure residents are getting the supplies they need delivered right to their door.
“This idea of adopting a senior program came about after talking to the United Way of Warren County,” township trustee Lelle Lutts Hedding said.
In order to keep the senior’s exposure to the outside world minimal, goods donated to the United Way are now dropped off at houses of people dubbed "Neighborhood Captains." From there, the United Way picks up the supplies and then goes door to door to leave the products on the front steps of those seniors in need.
“There’s a lot of folks here in our community that need help to be taken care of and that’s why this resonated with me. This was something to raise my hand for,” Neighborhood Captain Bryan O’Maley said.
Items handed out included hand sanitizer, soap, toothpaste, disinfectant wipes and even hard candy.
Jean Berkmeyer, also a Neighborhood Captain, has enjoyed watching the program take off.
“I thought the folks that I know well are going to do this because I know who they are because I know their character but to see other people do it as well and to watch it grow is really inspiring,” Berkmeyer said.
Those who wanted to help were encouraged to print a list of items and then purchase what they could find before dropping the items off at their Neighborhood Captain’s house.
“We have seniors that are scared that have already been sheltering in place for a few weeks already. They’re frightened that maybe they’re not going to get their basic needs met,” Lutts Hedding said.
All of the items will be stored at Warren County Community Services until they’re distributed later this week, so those looking to help still have time.
Lutts Hedding explained volunteers can contact the United Way in Warren County and ask what items are still needed.
