Nearly two dozen Tucson police officers have taken on a special assignment, answering a call for volunteer drivers to deliver meals to vulnerable adults during the pandemic.
After losing 40% of its volunteer drivers — mostly older adults over the age of 65 who are self-isolating in an effort to stay healthy — Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona put out an emergency alert to assist vulnerable adults who cannot cook or shop for groceries, said Jennifer Tersigni, interim executive director of the agency.
Among those who signed on to help the nonprofit were 20 Tucson Police Department officers who are hitting the streets when they are off duty to deliver meals to ill, home-bound seniors on special diets.
The decision was easy for Lt. Michelle Pickrom, the department’s wellness coordinator, and Detective Mary Pekas of the adult sexual assault unit.
“I saw an opportunity to help where help is needed, and (the work) fits into my normal day off,” said Pekas.
She said there is an inherent fear that everyone feels because of the pandemic and the unknowns.
“But we are taking all the precautions,” said Pekas, who was wearing gloves and a face mask while she and Pickrom loaded up a dark-blue Mazda CX-5.
It was their first shift delivering hot meals to hungry, medically compromised parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, among others. The clients were telephoned prior to the officers’ arrival and the food was handed off at the door.
“It is a very strange time,” said Pickrom. “I compare it to working in the twilight zone. ... There are some who are more at-risk than others, and then on top of that you have a pandemic.
“I am an able body, and I am able to help out. We are considered first responders and we are still working. There are cops who try to be of assistance outside of their normal role,” Pickrom explained, mentioning that there is concern and worry for their own families because “we don’t know what we come into contact with, but we are taking precautions.”
She said officers are still signing up to volunteer as word has spread about the need.
“People sign up to be a cop to help, but in law enforcement we don’t always get to help people unless something traumatic or devastating happens,” said Pekas.
“In volunteering for this work, we are not dealing with jail or people breaking the law. We are helping people because they need food. We are able to fill people’s basic needs.”
The detective said she learned empathy at a young age from her mother, Julia Peaks, a retired hospice nurse.
“She helped people in dire situations who were alone in their homes. They needed someone to comfort them and be sympathetic,” said Pekas.
Margo Susco, the department’s community engagement coordinator, said once she heard about the agency’s need for drivers she knew off-duty officers could fill the void quickly, since they already met background and fingerprint checks required of volunteers. The only thing left to do was for the officers to attend the agency’s orientation session.
“We owe it to our seniors to step up and care for them,” said Susco.
Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona delivers hot meals prepared at hospital and health-care facilities’ kitchens to 260 clients daily during the week and annually serves up to 1,000 people, resulting in about 120,000 meals a year, Tersigni said.
On weekends, clients cover their own meals. However, during the pandemic, a two-week supply of food meeting each clients’ dietary needs has been delivered once and more are expected to be delivered if needed.
The program’s budget is $750,000 a year.
However, budget needs are expected to grow and the agency has applied for government relief.
Since the emergency alert for drivers went out, 100 new volunteers, including officers, have come on board and are ready to deliver meals while other volunteers are undergoing background checks and training.
In the wake of COVID-19, more seniors are isolating at home and are unable to prepare their meals or shop for groceries because of mobility, health or transportation issues, said Tersigni.
Some older adults do not want strangers coming to their homes and have moved in with family, she said.
Other seniors cannot rely on family, friends or in-home service because of stay-home orders and are enrolling in meal deliveries.
“We want to extend a huge thanks to everyone in our community who has stepped up and helped or made a monetary contribution to mobile meals. We could not have done it without you,” Tersigni said.
Photos for April 23: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
Tucson, coronavirus
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Erika Munoz, owner of Seis Kitchen, hands over a bag of meals to Michael Gallagher Carondelet, a registered nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital, to distribute to other nurses and hospital workers, on April 23, 2020. The donation was made in conjunction with A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation's “Project Frontline.” In two deliveries, 400 meals (200 poc chuck chicken and 200 puerco verde burritos) will be given to medical personnel at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital. The particular donation was made possible by the Houston Astros' Pitching Coach Brent Strom, who lives in Tucson.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Hospital workers wheel in carts full of catered meals donated by Seis Kitchen to Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital, on April 23, 2020. The donation was made in conjunction with A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation's “Project Frontline.” In two deliveries, 400 meals (200 poc chuck chicken and 200 puerco verde burritos) will be given to medical personnel at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital. The particular donation was made possible by the Houston Astros' Pitching Coach Brent Strom, who lives in Tucson.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Kristi Hall, a sixth grade teacher at Desert Sky Middle School, participates in planning a lesson with a fellow teacher on Zoom, at her home on April 17, 2020. Schools in the Vail School District are supposed to open in July due to their year-round school calendar. Plans are being made for the possibility of students returning to the physical classroom.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Bry Kelley, a warehouse assistant, places a pallet filled with food down next to other items donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on on April 21, 2020. Forty-one thousand pounds of flour, pasta and canned goods were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is part of an ongoing global effort by the church to address immediate needs of people and orgainzations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
A pallet of food is placed down next to other items donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on on April 21, 2020. Forty-one thousand pounds of flour, pasta and canned goods were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is part of an ongoing global effort by the church to address immediate needs of people and orgainzations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Christian Bergman, 4th year University of Arizona medical student, takes the temperature of a patient outside the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in Tucson, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of Arizona and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. “This is a vulnerable population in our community; they can’t defend themselves in a society already running short on supplies and resources,” said Bergman. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Lekha Chesnick, 1st year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, talks with a homeless man (whom choose to not give his name) outside of the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in Tucson, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of Arizona and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Christian Bergman, 4th year University of Arizona medical student, checks on a patient outside the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in Tucson, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of Arizona and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. “This is a vulnerable population in our community; they can’t defend themselves in a society already running short on supplies and resources,” said Bergman. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Elliott Dumont, owner of Roadrunner Bicycles, 6177 E. Broadway Blvd., works on a customer's bike on April 22, 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not slowed down bike shops. With many people at home, they are bringing bicycles for repairs and buying new ones for exercise. Dumont says he's booked out till the first week of May for tuneups on bikes.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Elliot DuMont, owner of Roadrunner Bicycles, 6177 E. Broadway Blvd., far left, helps Ethan Sasz, far right, and his son, Evan, 10, with a mountain bike purchase on April 22, 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not slowed down bike shops. With many people at home, they are bringing bicycles for repairs and buying new ones for exercise. Dumont says he's booked out till the first week of May for tuneups on bikes.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Marcella Montoya waits in her vehicle as general manger David Kessler brings out her order, as Bear Canyon Pizza serving their customers despite COVID-19 restrictions, April 22, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Kitchen manger Koa Hoffmann tosses dough while working up a crust for a call-in order as he and few others keep cooking at Bear Canyon Pizza despite COVID-19 restrictions, April 22, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Alvaro Enciso, a local artist, works in one of his studios at his home on April 9, 2020. Every Tuesday Enciso travels into the Sonoran desert to post crosses where migrants have died after crossing illegally over the U.S./Mexico border as part of a project he's titled Donde Mueren Los Suenos / Where Dreams Die. With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease his six year project is on hold and instead he works on other artwork at home.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Dolly Spalding works on a pen and ink drawing in her apartment at the Redondo Tower Apartments on April 7, 2020. During her quarantine, Spalding has been creating drawings of all the Greek goddesses. She is collaborating with Emlyn Boyle, an artist from Ireland, and plans to publish a book with Boyle's writings.
