Neighbourhood Helper program provides helping hand to Windsorites during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has made tasks such asgetting groceries or picking up prescriptions even harder for some people, but a national Muslim youth grouphas stepped up to help across the country and in Windsor-Essex.

TheAhmadiyyaMuslimYouth Association'sNeighbourhood Helper campaign is intended to assistthose who need help with errands or even moral support,such asseniors andthose in self-isolation or quarantine.

"We wanted to make sure that the youth association was there for them," saidLuqman Ejaz,youth leader andvolunteer co-ordinator for the program in Windsor-Essex.

The program is taking place across the country. President Zubair Afzal said they have received close to 4,000 requests for assistance across Canada.

In addition to doing deliveries for things like groceries or medication,the groupalso contacted businesses andcollected food for those who needed it.

"Close to 700,000 pounds of food was collected and donated to various charities across Canada," Afzal said. "We sent a letter to, in fact, all the charities across Canada. We said, 'if you're food banks or charities, you know, if you need any help, let us know."

In Windsor-Essexabout 60 volunteers are signed up to help. The service is there for "anybody who needs anything," Ejaz said. "There's no criteria they have to fit."

During the first wave, a lot of the calls were from people trying to access items such asmasks and sanitizer, he said.

Those who have received assistancethrough the programhave been "way too nice," said Ejaz.

He recalled one senior who called him an "angel" after he made a delivery.

"I'm just dropping off some sanitizer ... It's literally no big deal... butjust being there at the right time for somebody can impact a lot," he said.

Sounds of the Season is our annual fundraiser in support of theWindsor-Essex Food Bank Association. It's also a chance to take a closer look at the reasons people in our regionare in need, and the steps being taken to help them.

Sounds of the Seasons is going to look a little bit different this year because of COVID-19. While we can't gather in person, we can still come together to fight hunger in our community.

• During the week ofDecember 7, Windsor Morning's Tony Doucette and Windsor News at 6 will speak with Windsorites who are assisting and facing difficulty during this time. CBC Windsor will also highlight lived experiences and stories of giving and community.

You can also follow us onFacebook,TwitterandInstagramfor more information and updates.

Donate to the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association now!

To find out how to donate food in your area, clickhere.

Learn more about hunger in our community or access Feed Ontario's 2020 Hunger reporthere.