The novel coronavirus outbreak has forced elderly people from around the globe to stay in their homes because of their own safety. A Durham woman has decided to step in during these difficult times and help her elderly neighbor with grocery pickups.
Becky’s act of kindness helped her neighbor in self-isolation
Becky Hoeffler works at Duke University, Durham, N.C., and, like many other university workers in the country, is now forced to work from home due the COVID-19 outbreak. However, Becky didn’t want to stay idle while the virus is infecting people around the globe and decided to help her community.
On her lunch breaks, Becky does grocery runs for her elderly neighbors who’re in self-isolation.
“The idea actually came about when I called my grandfather the other day,” Becky said. “He told me, ‘I’m on my way to the grocery store’ and I was just kind of concerned because he’s 91 and I thought, ‘is there a reason you have to go to the grocery store?’”
In these difficult times, Becky was concerned for the well-being of her elderly neighbors
Becky explained that she was concerned for her neighbors because the elderly are at risk of getting the coronavirus. She knew it was time to act and do something to help them.
“So that’s what made me think, maybe I can go grocery shopping for others since I do live in a community that has several senior citizen neighbors,” Hoeffler said.
She took it upon herself to do daily grocery runs for her neighbors and so make it easier for them to stay safely at their homes and not expose themselves to the virus. Helping her neighbors out feels like the right thing to do for Becky and she’s eager to help more.
“Am I excited that I’m probably going to get a sweet loaf of banana bread from my neighbor, Patti, because of this, yes,” Hoeffler said. “Either way though, I think being able to help people and being able to help your neighbor is one of the most American things that you can do.
“I think utilizing people power is one of the best ways that we can combat the virus”
As a sign of gratitude for helping her pick up paper towels, fresh fruit, and flour at the store, Becky’s neighbor Patty baked her a loaf of sweet banana bread! Becky is not willing to stop there, however.
She’s posted a local Facebook group to try to reach more people who need help.
“In these situations, when the community steps up, you really lessen the pressure on first responders and medical personnel,” she said in an email. “If you’re able to decrease, even by a little bit, the number of patients that have to seek care because they’ve been exposed to something, it’s good for the community as a whole. Utilizing people power is one of the best ways that we can combat the virus.”
Even at the time when the world is faced with a major pandemic, people like Becky go above and beyond to help those in need and do something good for their whole community. The new virus may be a major danger for our health, but it also brings out the best in us.
