Northstar Neighbors helps connect volunteers with senior citizens who need help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(FOX 9) - Once a week, Nick Ryan stops by Marlene Simonson’s house to drop off groceries at her front door. Even though they live about a mile apart, the two had never met before the COVID-19 pandemic.
They were matched by an organization called Northstar Neighbor, which pairs volunteers with seniors who could use some help during the stay-at-home order. The nonprofit asks volunteers to call their senior every couple of days to check in on them and pick up groceries and prescriptions for them if needed.
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Northstar Neighbor program connects volunteers with senior citizens during pandemic
Once a week, Nick Ryan stops by Marlene Simonson’s house to drop off groceries at her front door. Even though they live about a mile apart, the two had never met before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I makes me feel good to be a part of something that is a reaction to the crisis that we are going through that is helping people through a very basic grassroots level,” said Ryan.
Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson and a few friends helped create the program as a way to organize the large numbers of volunteers.
Macular degeneration left Simonson with poor eyesight and unable to drive or order groceries on a computer.
“I just get cold shivers because it feels like it was an answer to my prayers,” said Simonson. “I just couldn’t believe after I sought out all kinds of questions to myself, how am I going to get the groceries? How am I going to do it? So when I heard about this, I said, oh, I hope it will work for me.”
Ryan says he hopes to continue his weekly visits with the 87-year-old after the pandemic is over because he’s done more than just been a good neighbor. He’s made a friend.
“The silver lining to the whole situation is getting to help people that is a direct benefit to both parties,” Ryan said. “We get a chance to meet each other and get to know each other when we normally wouldn’t have been able to.”