Necessity Boxes Available for Seniors

Beginning today, March 19, 2020, the following services will be available:

Necessity Boxes
Older adults in greater Columbus in need of food and supplies can call the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center at 614-268-3539. Delivery is available twice a week, and pick-up is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm at CRC.

• Requesting Boxes
  • Older Adults can call 614-268-3539 to request a box
  • The receptionist will take caller’s name, address, phone number and whether the recipient needs delivery or picked-up
  • Delivered is onTuesday and Thursdays between 9am-5pm
  •  Picked-up at CRC is available Monday-Friday, between 9am-5pm
• Volunteer Protocols
  • CRC staff and a small group of vetted volunteers will assemble the boxes
  • Volunteers temperatures are taken at the start of their shift
  • Volunteers are required to wear gloves when packing and loading boxes
  • All surfaces are sanitized at beginning and end of packing
• Boxes will include a rotation of items as availability allows. Potential items include:
  • Census
  • State COVID-19 hotline and relevant info
  • A note of encouragement with friendly phone line number
  • File of Life
  • Paper towels
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Disposable Thermometer
  • Gloves
  • Shelf stable food and snacks

Friendly Phone Line
The Friendly Phone Line, 614-993-3614 is available to older adults in greater Columbus who are looking for friendly conversation and social connection.

The Friendly Phone Line is intended to combat loneliness during this unprecedented time of social distancing. These calls are NOT intended to be a space to provide counseling, case management, or health information/recommendations.

• Phone number set up through Grasshopper
  • Older adults may call Monday – Friday, between 9am-5pm
  • Vetted community volunteers will be available to take phone calls
    • Volunteers will be provided a protocol sheet and script with potential conversation topics
    • Volunteers will be provided a workflow chart with community resources
  • A voice message has been set-up to remind callers the phone line is not for emergencies and not staffed 24-hours a day

“Now more than ever, it is important that we support the most vulnerable in our community,” said Brown. “I encourage all residents to contact older family members and friends to express support during this period of isolation.”

Christine Happel, Director of The Greater Columbus Network of Villages, commented, “We are working hard to provide non-duplicative services with broad availability to swiftly meet the ever-changing needs in the community.”