16 | MAY 7 • 2020 New Volunteer Delivery App Launches LAUREN HOFFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jews in the D A New York-based com- pany called Umbrella is offering a new service to combat the realities of iso- lation, and it has just launched that service in Detroit. Before COVID, Umbrella was running a marketplace app connecting adults over 60 with a network of gig econo- my workers who would run errands and do household tasks for them: such as picking up prescriptions or helping to clean out gutters. Operating in New York, New Jersey and in Florida, it charged an annual membership fee plus an hourly fee for the length of each task completed. Now, in the era of fraught grocery store visits, when leaving one’ s house can feel like suiting up for battle, they are doing something new. Umbrella is using its technol- ogy to mobilize volunteers to fetch groceries, prescriptions and household items for seniors, and deliver them in CDC-recommended, safe and contactless ways. Delivery is free. The the 60+ user covers the cost of the items delivered and may chip in a donation, but is not required to pay any- thing for delivery services. This comes at a time when few grocery delivery services in Metro Detroit (Instacart and Shipt) have seen histor- ic demand and are almost entirely unavailable. For folks over 60 looking for items to be delivered, this is a godsend. Lindsay Ullman, the CEO of Umbrella, said, “We look for- ward to doing our part to help make navigating this pandemic a little bit easier for older adults in Detroit. If we can relieve some of the fear and anxiety that people have about how to get groceries, medications and other essentials while staying home, that’ s our goal. “ Umbrella rolled out its volunteer delivery service in the three new markets of Metro Detroit, Birmingham, Alabama and Cleveland, Ohio, in partnership with Venture for America, a national entrepre- neurship fellowship that helps connect recent college gradu- ates (including, three years ago, the author of this article) with startup jobs in cities across the US, including those three markets. VFA is helping Umbrella to build their volunteer forces in those cities to meet demand. Sign up to volunteer at askumbrella. com/volunteer. Request a delivery at askumbrella.com/request-delivery or by calling (844) 402-2480 between 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday-Friday. I nvisible Hands, a nonprofit organization started at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic by two friends in New York, delivers groceries and other goods to vulnerable members of the community. Now, Ben McColl, a freshman at Michigan State University and a member of Temple Israel, is hoping to expand that outreach to Metro Detroit. “Right now, we’ re in the ini- tial stages of it. We’ re trying to recruit a big base of volunteers in the Metro Detroit area, ” McColl said. Once the chapter is launched, people who need groceries or other supplies will fill out a delivery form request online. The organization will match requests with a volun- teer who lives nearby. Volunteers will call to con- firm the delivery and ensure they are shopping at the right store and picking up the exact items needed. People can coordinate payment by calling ahead to the grocery store, cash or by reimbursing the volunteer through a cash app after the delivery is complete. All volunteers are required to wear a mask and gloves while shopping, wipe down the grocery bags before delivery and are asked to use self-checkouts if possible. Volunteer will drop off items at the person’ s home and ring the doorbell to let them know their items have arrived. They will then step 6 feet away to ensure the person gets their order and have a friendly con- versation. McColl needs at least 200 volunteers to launch. He’ s a handful of volunteers away from meeting his goal. Volunteers can participate in grocery pickups and deliver- ies or stay at home to handle phone calls and other duties. “This small gesture can go a long way in making some- one’ s day. Participating in this type of organization can help others in the community who may not be able to do it them- selves, ” McColl said. To volunteer, visit https://tinyurl.com/ yaghgctp. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER Offering ‘ Invisible Hands’ Front- Door Deliveries These new services aim to help get food and supplies to those who can’ t get out on their own. AMONG THE EMOTIONS many of us are experiencing right now, a shared sense of isolation is emerging as a common theme. For some, that sense of isolation is inten- sifi ed because it is, practically speaking, quite real. Especially for older adults, who may be choosing between physical safety at home and venturing out to get much-needed food and supplies. Here are some new options for those who might need help — and vol- unteer opportunities for those who would like to lend a hand. VIA UMBRELLA FACEBOOK