Thread by @devasissarangi

My experience as a #VolunteersAgainstCovid19 4 #Elders in #Bhubaneswar
@ajmahapatra started a #Facebook page inviting local non-contact volunteers 2 assist Elders namely- Covid19 Support 4 elders

Cc: @meeramohanty @SarangiSudhansu @cpbbsrctc @HFWOdisha
#threadstories

A core team was formed with few senior volunteers 2 plan out Non-contact based volunteering guideline
to create awareness, overcome loneliness, co-ordinate online support & facilitation of essentials deliveries.
IT volunteer prepared google doc 2 get volunteers on board.

A WhatsApp group brought all volunteers under one roof for ensuring that the guidelines laid are strictly adhered to & there is no legal complications or issues at a later date. It was 2 be non contact program, mere comfort calling, coordinating, no financial transaction .

This sort of thing had not been done earlier in pas probably no where in the world. We were also dealing with senior citizens which had its own challenge & it was important 2 derisk the whole process.
The pilot involved senior volunteers ~ Me @adityadash_bbsr @dharitri .

To give comfort 2 Core team & elders who had registered 4 support; we had to send a small introductory video of less than a minute as to who we are, where we live, why we volunteered to help elders. This was 2 bring transparency that this was voluntary & derisking as well

The volunteer protocol involved that we were in good health /low risk, address with respect Mr XX,Smt YY (avoid Mausa/mausi).No asking intrusive or personal questions like children, marital status. Wait 4 them to speak. Remain social & polite. No physical contact. Limited support

As this was limited non physical support (fine 2 say not possible if it required 2 b said). We will try was encouraged than committing & not delivering.
A deck of information-protection from COVID 4 elders provided from information only from @HFWOdisha or @WHO was 2 b 1st shared

Commander Dwitikrushna Mishra ,a core team volunteer, assigned me 2 a Senior Citizen in Patia (I live in Maitree Vihar near Fortune Tower) on the day when State had already locked down but Centre was yet 2 issue lockdown call.
I gathered basic preliminary information from him.

We encouraged them 2 self-isolate, explained social distancing,tried 2 not give any bleak/dark picture about vulnerability of elders,we were selective of Whatapp forward (if reqd) which was prior verified content & circulated within group & okayed by core group (Govt info)

The Senior Citizen I was assigned to had a requirement of medicines (Pantakind Flux - 2 strips & Sugarfree Gold Power -1 No).
I initially tried 2 crowdsource numbers of medical stores, doing home delivery, but that didn't work as they were far off from location of drop .

We were also armed with some contact details of medicine & essentials home deliveries but that was not useful in this said case. I think did a @Google search of medicines stores near the location and came up with 3 options closely to the person's area of stay whom I called

One of them agreed 2 help out when he realised that it was not 4 us but a voluntary activity to help elders. But he did not have the 1st medicine & could only deliver the next day. We had been asked not to be part actual transaction but only assist the coordination (no financial)

I called up the senior citizen & conveyed this. Then came lockdown news from @narendramodi for whole country. Fearing it may become more difficult 2 deliver I tried 2 communicate that 2 the medicine vendor again, 2 deliver that day if possible.He said possible next day & 2 remind

The most important task of volunteer is 2 follow up without antagonising & requesting very politely. I called up again at 11 AM the next day as he had directed & he mentioned he will try & deliver in the afternoon. With my follow up call to the senior citizen found didn't happen.

Again I followed up with the Medicine vendor at 1 PM (Core team at the backend I was updating and they were calling 2 check status as this was our pilot run)and he said that he had procured the medicine and would deliver in evening at around 5PM.

This time did not want 2 check with Medicine vendor but directly called up the Senior Citizen to learn that the delivery had just happened & he was gonna call me back & thank me for this. I concluded politely asking him 2 just give feedback through core team he had registered.

Process was discussed with the Core team of volunteers & we agreed that it should be shared. Due care, as stipulated, was taken that 3rd party delivered & receipt of push case and risk/returns/quality issues if any r btw buyer (elder) & vendor(medicine store) program contactless

The idea was to have 1-2 calls /day 2 check about general well being without being polite & non intrusive
So I called up today 11 AM (need 2 call during proper hours ) 2 check & found that they had a need of vegetables. Agreed to try & arrange if online delivery no didn't work.

His requirement of getting vegetables was not resolved. Called today morning at 11 AM without any response. Left a message (with BMC supplied Home Delivery services at Patia). Elder called back at 12.30 & confirmed those numbers & said will Whatsapp them but was skeptical.

Gave him an alternative method. Asked him if he was comfortable with internet usage which he said he was. Asked him to google 4 grocery shop near his location & check if they deliver. Then he can check if they have a local vegetable vendor number and use that. He felt empowered!