City offering help during crisis

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — During this time of crisis, Robertsdale Mayor Charles Murphy said he wants residents to know that city employees are still available to help anyone who might need assistance.

“I just can’t say enough about our city employees and volunteers who are stepping up to help in this time of crisis,” Murphy said. “We are still doing everything we can to make sure residents get the help they need.”

Murphy said city hall and other city facilities remain open to help any resident who needs assistance with any day-to-day activity, such as help with a bill, utilities or maintenance.

“Our employees are still here to help, but they are practicing safety and social distancing during this time,” he said.

The city is also offering links to other types of assistance through its website, robertsdale.org, Murphy said, and assistance for older residents is being offered through the George P. Thames Adult Activity Center.

“Early on we met with senior center officials to determine what needed to be done for our older residents,” Murphy said. “We also met with churches and school officials to figure out what the city could do to assist families and they have been working hard to meet those needs.”

While all activities at the center have been suspended, volunteers are offering services for homebound seniors, such as the daily Meals on Wheels program, pick up and delivery of prepaid medical orders and small prepaid grocery orders.

Volunteers are also trying to cook at least one hot meal per week for homebound seniors and are partnering with Catholic Social Services to provide sack lunches through the organizations backpack program.

“Things have been a little slow so far with the student program,” said Mary Williams at the senior center. “I think there’s been a little confusion as to what we’re doing, but we had 11 orders on Monday and 16 on Tuesday. We’re hoping it’s going to pick up and we just want people to know that we are here to help.”

Families who have received assistance through the backpack program and want to continue to receive assistance need to contact Williams or Center Director Amy Ochello at 251-947-8973.

Anyone needing assistance is asked to call 24 hours prior to when they plan to pick up the food so that volunteers have time to prepare and make sure food items are on hand.

Lunches are being handed out from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Center on East Chicago Street in Robertsdale.