Police around Newfound Lake make deliveries to vulnerable people
Officers help people most at risk of serious illness
Officers help people most at risk of serious illness
Officers help people most at risk of serious illness
Because of concerns about COVID-19, police in the Newfound Lake area are making deliveries to those who are most vulnerable and who should never leave home.
Police said the service is a work in progress, but they hope more people take advantage of it in the coming weeks.
Jeanne Duchesneau, a resident of a senior apartment complex in Bristol, said she was grateful for the special delivery Friday morning.
"I would have had to go without," she said. "I don't know what would happen, but I'm eager for the toilet paper to come in. Thank God."
The logistics of the program are still being worked out, but the idea came from officers' desire to help.
"In this particular case, the officers were looking for work, and we thought maybe we could help the at-risk population for doing some transactions," said Bristol Police Chief James McIntire.
The shopping is done by volunteers who come from all walks of life.
"They may be retired," said volunteer coordinator Cathy Redman. "They may work and can help after work. They may be working from home at this point and can help with paperwork, and we also have some young people, some teenagers, who are interested in helping out, as well."
The effort involves several police departments from around the Newfound Lake area. Danbury Chief David Suckling said it's a natural extension of the motto: "Protect and serve."
"We're going to protect people from the virus and the outbreak, and we're going to serve them at the same time," he said. "I'm really happy about this opportunity to work for our communities here."
Police said they might expand the service to others, depending on how it goes.