While COVID-19 case numbers are not quite as high as the record setting weeks of September, there are still hundreds of new cases every day in Alaska. Since the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have advised quarantine for those infected, but staying put for two weeks can be a real logistical challenge. Now, the Upper Susitna Food Pantry hopes to make it a little easier.
For someone who tests positive for COVID-19, putting life on pause for two weeks is a big ask. There are the obvious issues of missing that much work, canceling plans, and letting potential close contacts know they may have been exposed. But what if that positive test comes back when someone doesn’t have a lot of food in the house? Going to the store and potentially infecting others isn’t a great option.
For Northern Valley residents, the Upper Susitna Food Pantry says it can help. Pantry Director LouAnne Carroll-Tysdale says the pantry can deliver groceries for those under quarantine.
“We have teamed up with Cubby’s so that…you can make an order through Cubby’s with your debit card, and we will pick up your Cubby’s order, as well as any food you may need from the food pantry. And we will deliver it to your doorstep.”
The deliveries are no-contact, meaning the driver will bring items to someone’s porch, but won’t come inside in order to minimize exposure. The food pantry has been delivering food to some of its clients since much earlier in the pandemic, but grants that pay for additional staff time mean the program can be expanded to those who are not normally pantry clients. If missing work for two weeks also means a tighter budget, LouAnne says temporary arrangements can be made to get help from the pantry in addition to any grocery delivery.
“We can just sign you up on a temporary basis for a couple weeks. We can sign you up as a temporary client of the pantry for a couple weeks as well as pick up your food from Cubby’s.”
While Cubby’s can take orders for groceries over the phone for this service, LouAnne says there are still some details to be worked out before Northern Valley residents will be able to use SNAP benefits for delivery.
In addition to food delivery for those who test positive for COVID, the Upper Susitna Food Pantry will soon begin distributing rapid COVID-19 tests that can be taken at home. LouAnne says the organization is trying to do what it can to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Northern Valley.
“We’re just trying to keep people from going out until they’re negative. And perhaps we’ll just not become the number one hot-spot [for COVID-19], and we’ll all get better.”
