Cold Lake residents create social media support group to help during COVID-19

A couple of Cold Lake residents are trying to help where they can amidst the COVID-19 escalation.

Allison James, Lori Geneau, and Tammy Mears have started a Facebook group called Cold Lake COVID-19 Volunteer Response, which connects people who need help and are willing to support.

“I can’t believe the outpouring of help from people from our community because when you say that you want to volunteer and you’ll be kind of like a hub, you just never know,” said Mears.

“But people are so willing to help. It’s amazing.”

It started as trying to help seniors and immune-compromised get the food or supplies they need, but has grown to try and support as much where they can in these challenging times.

“I kept seeing things on Facebook about how the elderly and seniors were really not given the opportunity to get the things that were essential to them,” she said.

“The seniors and the immune-compromised that was our main focus to begin with. But we’re seeing that our community really needs our help. We’re not opposed to helping there either, so that’s probably the way we’re going to head up.”

The private group is welcoming help and figures they’ll have to broaden their reach if they grow, but are also looking for some supplies as well.

“We just want to make sure that people are still following the protocol, like, social distancing and not unnecessarily being in contact. So what we were thinking at first was to pick up a few things that people needed, and then we would just put it out at the door.

“But my main concern the fact is, so we could probably use some hand sanitizer and stuff. So I’ve been looking for that and also gloves. So we can protect ourselves and the people we’re trying to help.

Mears is originally from Winnipeg and was first posted in Cold Lake in 1992.

She returned in 2009 and calls Cold Lake her home.

“I’ve been blessed and the other people in this community also and I think that’s why we want to give back. This can happen to anybody where they’re stuck to their home or all of a sudden they are going without. I mean, it’s just prevalent. So if I can do whatever I can to help, I am gonna do that.

“I’m really so overwhelmed as well as I know the other ladies better that are doing admin. We’re just really so thankful and with our community. We’re it’s pulling through and that’s Alberta, Cold Lake, Canada Strong right there. That’s why we’re different.”