Volunteer York Hospital meal delivery drivers practice social distancing. Front row, left to right: Donna Wilson, Ruth Swift, Neal Sherman.
Back row, left to right: Chris Woodbury, Dominic Bressi, David McGuire. Not shown: Joanne Dixon, Jim Burke, Tom Pavlidis.
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When COVID-19 changed life as we knew it and closed much of Maine’s social and economic infrastructure in mid-March, York Hospital ramped-up home meal deliveries to seniors following orders to shelter in place. “Our volunteer drivers have continued non-stop to support the York Hospital Bridges & Meal Delivery Programs and our community members in need during Covid-19” said Jorge Descart, Director of Dining & Nutrition. Descart added, “We have a total of 11 volunteer drivers who service the areas of Kittery, York, Eliot and Ogunquit. After COVID-19 hit southern Maine, York Hospital enlisted additional volunteer support from our Bridges Program to extend meal and grocery deliveries to shut-in seniors in Berwick, Wells and South Berwick.” Since the pandemic began in mid-March, Descart explained the hospital has received requests for, and has delivered, two to three times more meals to seniors in their homes than in March, April and May of last year. “We are so grateful to partner with our amazing team of volunteer drivers to deliver nutritious food to seniors in their homes during this extraordinary time.”
The York Hospital Bridges Program is a volunteer-based service that introduces a York Hospital patient to someone in the community who provides a weekly check-in and help with grocery shopping, meal deliveries, visiting and companionship, transportation or errands. The York Hospital Home Meal Delivery Program started in 1999 in response to patient requests for assistance during recuperation from surgery and/or illness. Over the past 20 years, the program has grown to include not only York Hospital patients, but many community members at large – due to the high quality and low cost of the prepared meals.
April Roberts, Administrative Dietary Coordinator for York Hospital, oversees home meal deliveries and explained that there has been a strong and consistent increase in demand as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. “In mid-March when people started to realize they shouldn’t venture out for meals or groceries, we saw about a 10% increase in the number of requests received for home delivery of meals. In April that jumped to 50% and in May we saw a 63% increase in call volume and deliveries to seniors at home. When you look at the numbers it is a powerful testament to how valuable this program is in our community – especially in this socially isolating time. In May 2019 we delivered 255 meals and in May 2020 we delivered a record-breaking 675 meals to seniors in their homes. In one month, 675 meals.”
“Yesterday I delivered 15 meals to seniors in Kittery and Eliot” said volunteer driver, Ruth Swift. “That is more than I ever delivered in one day before coronavirus came here.”
“We all wear masks and gloves, are very careful, and stick to curbside delivery,” explained volunteer driver and Ogunquit native, Chris Woodbury. Sometimes they ask us to just place the bag near the front door and ring the bell so they know the food has arrived. Other seniors enjoy a bit of socially-distanced interaction after spending months indoors. Volunteer driver Jim Burke said he enjoys delivering meals – and trading jokes – with one York resident. “Maurice always comes to the door and has a great one-liner to brighten my day. Honestly, so many people are just so grateful for this program and I am honored to be a part of it. My daughter Kirsten is a nurse in the Emergency Department and Kirsten’s mother-in-law, Connie, works in Surgery, so York Hospital is like family,” adds Burke.
Behind the scenes at YH: Vicky Muscarello, Jorge Descart, and April Roberts.
Neal Sherman, a longtime volunteer driver for the Meal Delivery and Bridges Programs at York Hospital shared that “Sometimes it is the little things that matter most. A few weeks ago I was reading the newspaper online and saw that one of the couples I deliver meals to just celebrated their 60th Anniversary. I printed the article and delivered it with their meals and they were touched. When I brought a card on Mother’s Day, there was so much gratitude for my gesture. Sherman added, “I truly enjoy working with everyone at York Hospital and love delivering meals to seniors at their homes. I look forward to continuing this important work that WE ALL provide.”
If you would like more information about these York Hospital programs, or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer delivery driver, please contact Kate Ford, Director of Volunteer Services at York Hospital (207)351-2224 or [email protected]. To donate directly to the York Hospital COVID-19 Caring for All Fund, please visit: https://www.yorkhospital.com/giving-back
York Hospital is grateful to the John T. Gorman Foundation for supporting the Bridges Program during the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis in our southern Maine communities.