There is a new Nordonia volunteer corps set up to help seniors / others without transportation collect food/ supplies / other necessities during this dreadful COVID-19 emergency.
Our services would include: – picking up groceries and medications for elderly or shut-in’s or families without transportation: they email us a list and a budget, we go shop and drop it off at their door.
– Any other similar assistance for people who do not have transportation or very limited transportation
– Preparing meals for those with such a need: some of our volunteers have indicated an interest in preparing meals for people who need them….that is great, and we will forward such requests to the appropriate volunteer.
I have set up a dedicated email account: YOUknighted2020@gmail.com
People who (1) need assistance or (2) want to volunteer can send me emails at this account and I will contact them as soon as possible.
I will be reviewing every email and respond as appropriate – with the volume of email we are receiving that may take a little time. So please be patient and we will get back to you. If you need something urgently, its better to send your email and follow up with a call to our number: 330-468-0317 and leave a detailed message. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Here are some of our ground rules for volunteers:
We will pick up whatever the requester wants provided the requestor has the funds to pay the volunteer (either before pickup or at drop off)
Volunteers will be responsible for contacting the requestor, getting their list of needs, filling that list and transporting the necessities back to the requestor, as well as collecting their reimbursement (Without collecting any additional fees – this is purely volunteer – NO profit or costs, such as gasoline)
We will endeavor to fill requests within 24 hours.
If requests are for pick up of medication, the requestor will have to contact the pharmacy to authorize the volunteer to pick up the medication. AGAIN, requestors must have funds to pay for whatever they request.
We (Kim, Darayus, our elder son who is a Junior at Nordonia, and I) will endeavor to fill the requests. If more requests come in beyond our ability, we will ask for additional volunteers. Therefore, if anyone wishes to volunteer, please send me an email with all your contact information, as well as the times you are available, and I will put you on a list!
For people who DO NOT have email or access to a transmittal device, please feel free to Kim or Farhad at 330-468-0317 and leave a detailed message with your name and call back number so we can follow up.
Please circulate these guidelines to your friends, congregations, fellow churches, and groups. We are happy to help as many as we can.
With sincere wishes for strength to carry us all through YOUknighted through these difficult times.
UPDATE
STATUS REPORT: Kim and I wanted to give you a report on our activities thus far:
I’ll get straight to the point: we are very fortunate – it seems – that in Nordonia, not too many people seem to need our help. Now, that is a wonderful thing, and that means that at least in our community, seniors and others who need help are able to access it. However, we have received less than 5 (five) requests for help thus far. That is nothing in keeping with the earnest desires of our members to help!
REQUEST: So – this brings me to the request on which I would like to get your input:
I wanted to extend our offer our help to neighboring communities – like say – Twinsburg, Stow, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Maple Heights and Walton Hills. But – before I reach out to these communities, I wanted to get some feedback from you all on the following points – so please reply to this email and give me your input on each of the questions below, answering each question so I can note the extent of the participation that each of you can commit to.
1. Are you willing to serve the needs of those who may need our help in the above communities and perhaps other communities as well in a reasonable (less than approx 10 mile) radius?
2. Do you have any concerns driving to and from these communities?
3. There may be some requestors who do not have sufficient funds to buy groceries or necessities – are you willing to pick up some or all the tab for such requestors? (you can decide what your limit is. You will speak to the requestor directly to ascertain that their need is in line with your budget.
Please reply to YOUKnighted2020@gmail.com.
At this auspicious time it seems only appropriate to consider the needs of those who are less fortunate than we are. Thank you for your generous offer to help – now let’s discuss expanding our “footprint” to other communities as well.
Regards,
Farhad Sethna
