Locals unite to deliver supplies to vulnerable residents

A vulnerable Tablelands resident who called our office in near tears – unable to get groceries – is overjoyed after an army of volunteers assembled to help her and other isolated residents.

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WHAT started as a social media group to support Tablelands residents during the COVID-19 outbreak has morphed into an army of volunteers gearing up to deliver supplies to vulnerable local residents.

Tablelands Unite is calling for volunteers across the region to help out their fellow citizens, and ensure those forced to self-isolate are being looked after.

They will help people like an elderly Mareeba woman, who was in near tears when she rang the Tablelander office yesterday.

Steffany Fenton – who has only 10 per cent lung capacity “at the best of times”- was told by her doctors to stay at home to avoid contracting the virus and distraught at the thought of facing crowds of shoppers in her local Coles supermarket.

She had been unable to organise delivery or a click& collect pickup and was growing increasingly concerned about how she – and others in a similar position – were supposed to secure provisions.

Christine Doan and Bree Hargreaves.

“They told me to ask my neighbours, friends or family but I don’t have family here and am isolated,” she said.

“What the hell am I supposed to do? I’ve got to risk my life to go shopping.

“I know I’m not the only one, there must be lots of people in my situation who are alone and don’t know what they’re supposed to do.”

But within hours after making that emotional phone call to tell us about her dilema Fenton was connected with Tablelands Unite and said it had given her confidence she will be looked after not only today but in the uncertain months to come.

“This makes such a difference,” she said.

“I’ve been so stressed, this is a weight off my shoulders, it’s given me hope for the future.”

It was situations like these that prompted Atherton Tablelands Chamber of Commerce president Bree Hargreaves and local business woman Jacqui Webb to launch Tablelands Unite.

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Less than 24 hours after their first post they had more than 45 volunteers register.

Hargreaves and Webb launched the group after trying to find local community organisations to deliver local meals to residents.

They soon realised organisations in contact with the area’s senior citizens – like Meals on Wheels and the Lions Club – were primarily run by volunteers in the same high-risk group while others were reducing services.

“We couldn’t find a service that could help,” Hargreaves said.

“Tablelands Regional Council can’t touch it, other services are pulling back, a friend came to me with an idea and I just couldn’t help it.

“I am finding a way to help, there’s red tape but I’m barging through that red tape.

“My friend and I said we’d re-evaluate the situation in a few days, but I got off the phone and within three hours had a website and domain registered.”

Volunteers are needed to help, working on everything from administration and delivering grocery to dog walking for those forced into self isolation, and to volunteer or request the group’s help visit tablelandsunite.com.au

Originally published as Locals unite to deliver supplies to vulnerable residents