A 91原创 mom is hoping to help seniors get through the COVID-19 virus outbreak by having volunteers do their shopping.

Willoughby resident Michele Damjanovic put the word out on social media Friday, and said the response has been encouraging.

鈥淭here鈥檚 quite a lot of people coming forward,鈥� Damjanovic told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淐anadians are so generous.鈥�

Anyone interested in helping can contact her by email at micheledamjanovic@gmail.com.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创 seniors centre takes precautions to prevent spread of virus

Damjanovic has previous experience with volunteer-based groups, having set up a mother/baby group called Acorns and Oaks.

She said details are still being worked out, but the goal is to have a free service where trustworthy volunteers do the shopping for seniors, who would only pay for their purchases, not the service.

鈥淚鈥檓 from the UK and I don鈥檛 have any family here,鈥� she observed.

鈥淚鈥檇 hope someone would do that for my mum and grandma.鈥�

She was moved to act in part by social media images showing seniors confronted by empty shelves, unable to keep up with the swarms of shoppers loading up on toilet paper, bottled water and hand sanitizers.

鈥淚t just breaks my heart,鈥� Damjanovic commented.

People over 60 years and those with underlying medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are most at risk of developing complications from C0VID-19.

READ MORE: Connect with your elderly neighbours during COVID-19 crisis

BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie has issued a call for neighbours of seniors to 鈥渞each out to the seniors we know around us and see what extra help they might need right now.鈥�

鈥淭he impact of COVID-19 could mean that their care worker is under the weather and can鈥檛 provide help. It could mean that their adult children who would normally help them, aren鈥檛 feeling well and can鈥檛 help them. It may mean that they really shouldn鈥檛 be in crowded situations鈥� somebody else could go do their grocery shopping for them.鈥�

Mackenzie recommends exchanging phone numbers with your neighbours (if you don鈥檛 already have them) and keeping in contact with each other via phone or text.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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