Schools

Look for the Helpers: UA Student’s Shopping for Elderly Service Expands to Tuscaloosa

BY DCL STAFF

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, University of Alabama junior Michael Arundel was at home on spring break in Chicago. That’s where the 20-year-old got the idea for Leave It To Us, a non-profit organization that helps shop for senior citizens – who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus, and thus not always able to brave the stores for food.

Tuscaloosa coordinators of Leave It To Us are Lauren Shilling, left, and Abbie Ray, top right. Ibukun Afon, bottom right, is the Birmingham coordinator. Photo: University of Alabama

Leave It To Us took off quickly, and Arundel put together an initial group of volunteers to help shop for the senior citizens – by picking up their grocery or pharmacy order.

Now, that much-needed free grocery service is getting off the ground in Tuscaloosa, thanks to the efforts of UA senior Lauren Shilling and UA sophomore Abbie Ray. They’re the coordinators for Leave It To Us locally.

Shilling, a 22-year-old from Los Angeles double majoring in advertising and communication studies, said she saw a story about Arundel on Instagram and reached out to him to see how she could replicate it in Tuscaloosa.

“I left for spring break, but came back here, and I am now quarantined in Tuscaloosa,” she said. “I think this could be great for Tuscaloosa because now that we’re taking classes online there’s a lot of students out of work with a lot of free time. While we’re quarantining and trying to finish out the semester, we can help others.”

The Tuscaloosa branch started March 31 and already has 25 volunteers. They are prepared for seniors seeking aid with their grocery shopping or pharmaceutical pickups, Shilling said.

And Leave It To Us has also expanded to Birmingham, thanks to recent UA nursing graduate Ibukun Afon, who works at UAB Hospital. Afon says he’s passionate about helping people during this crisis.

“Considering that I have an elderly grandparent myself who I cannot see due to risk of exposure, I figured I’d do what I can in Birmingham to help those in need,” he said. “As a nurse, helping others in need is something that we’re constantly doing, and it’s a natural fit to me to want to serve the community in whatever capacity I can when I’m not at the bedside. It’s a God-given purpose.”

Those interested in volunteering and seniors in need can contact Shilling and Ray via the organization’s website, covidseniorshoppers.com/tuscaloosa_chapter.html.

Other chapters of Leave it To Us are unfolding throughout the country, from Queens, NY to Los Angeles, to Baton Rouge, LA.

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PreK Pals’ Ponderings: The One Where They are Quarantined BY ALICIA JENNE’

Wow. When I wrote to you last month, I never imagined that this quarantine would last longer than the initial April 6 extended date. Well… I think we all know how that turned out. It has been an adjustment for all of us. Teachers have had to learn new platforms to reach students, students have had to navigate online deadlines and class meetings, moms and dads are suddenly doing school and work from home, and everything is turned upside down.

Time is such an abstract concept to 4-5-year-olds, so for a while, the PreKPals just thought they were still on spring break. Once the announcement was made to close until August, Mary Agnes’ mom told me, “I just haven’t had the heart to tell her about not going back to the actual classroom yet.” None of us could find the words to tell them that their year had been cut short.

Alicia Jenne’ is a Tuscaloosa mom and a veteran teacher of little people. She is the PreK Pals Lead Teacher for PreK#1 at Rock Quarry Elementary School.

The Tuscaloosa Area PreK teachers are working hard to provide a little bit of normal for their PreK Pals. Some are reading and recording stories and lessons, some are adding activities to online platforms, some are doing FaceTime and phone calls, some are making packets, and some are sending “Mailbox Science Activities.” All of us are missing and mourning the loss of the sweetest time of the year with the sweetest grade level at any school. I, for one, vow to not take one minute with my little learners for granted, ever again… and I know my PreK colleagues all feel the same way.

Tori and Alex (5) enjoying a nature walk.

I thought it might be fun to show you some of the many fun things the PreK Pals are doing during this unprecedented situation. I hope it brings you some joy – it definitely brings me great happiness to see how they’re adjusting.

Salih (5) making homemade playdoh from “Mailbox Science.”