NORFOLK, Va. — There's a big push to help those most at-risk during the coronavirus outbreak.
Things as simple as going to the grocery store might not be easy for the elderly or people with compromised immune systems. So a group called "Norfolk Grocery Runs" is stepping in to help. It's a massive community effort that started online.
"There's a lot of people who can't get out of their house right now safely to go and run the errands that they need to," organizer Jena Garren said.
"There are a lot of people with disabilities who are housebound and we're also concerned about them. We're anticipating - nobody can predict the future - we anticipate the trajectory of this thing is going to increase over the next couple of weeks and so the need for community support and for us all to pull together is only going to continue to grow."
Here's how it works: volunteers will go grocery shopping for the elderly or people with compromised immune systems.
"I think this is something that we see after even natural disasters - like hurricanes or tornadoes - that people want to help, want to do something, and when the system is pushed to its limits and starts to begin to shut down, we see people step up," Garren said.
"I'm seeing what's happening in Italy right now and hoping for the best but imagining such a scenario happening here and if that does happen I think we need to have neighborhood and community infrastructure in place to support one another."
Garren said there are some people who are nervous about leaving their homes right now because of the COVID-19 outbreak and for good reason. Health experts recommend those most at risk, stay home and practice social distancing.
She said it's all about coming together to help and in times like this, something as small as helping an elderly neighbor, goes a long way.
"I always want to emphasize that this is a collective effort, that we're all organizers if we want to be. If we talk to our neighbors. If we talk to each other, we're problem solvers. If you can plan a camping trip or a themed party, you can do this."
For more information on how on the group, visit their Facebook Page.
If you want to volunteer, organizers created a website for you to sign up.
If you need help, you can e-mail coronaaid757@gmail.com or contact them via this website.