The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting thousands of residents in profound ways, including loss of work, a lack of medical care and food supplies. The outbreak has had a significant impact on our most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with special needs.

To help provide much needed assistance to senior residents in Jefferson-Chalmers, we partnered with Hope Community Outreach and Development (HCOD), the Manistique Community Treehouse Center, and SE Michigan Long Term Recovery to coordinate delivery of food and safety supplies to our hardest hit residents. 

On May 15th, approximately 200 food boxes and bags of fresh produce were hand delivered to seniors at the Philips Sims Apartments and Dickerson Manor Senior Complex.  25 residents picked up boxes from Tammy Black at the Manistique Community Treehouse and our own Josh Elling and HCOD Executive Director, Monique Holliday, delivered 40 food boxes and produce bags to homebound residents within Jefferson-Chalmers.  In addition, 15 gallons of hand sanitizer and 275 cloth masks were delivered to our senior complexes in the neighborhood.

 A huge thank you to Monique Holliday for her tireless work coordinating this effort,  Tammy Black at the Community Treehouse for her efforts to link local residents to these critically needed supplies, Mary Lloyd of SE Michigan Long Term Recovery for help identifying the homebound residents and assembling flooding recovery kits, and JEI’s Krystal Fields in linking up with building management to facilitate distribution.

Finally, thank you to Gleaners Community Food Bank and Eastern Market for providing fresh food!