HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.039 2018-2020 P/fir. CAW*
COUNTY CLERK Mom 20 n^ 20 n^�
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I �
RECEIVED
Time 12.01 pn By,
Thu 3/19/2020 12:01 PM Date MAR 1 9 2020
Food delivery services an important need now, critical in the near future
To: Council Testimony
Aloha,
We all know that those aged over 70 are the most vulnerable demographic,but as things stand now,
they will need to expose themselves to the ongoing epidemic by going to the grocery store to get
food and other supplies. If the county goes to a "shelter-in-place" program of social isolation, it will
be difficult for everyone, including the elderly to get food supplies without encountering other people
who are possibly infectious during their shopping trips. Community spread is coming. When it
arrives, maximum social isolation will be required,but food must somehow get from stores to homes.
As President of our local community association(Paauilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association), I
have communicated with the only full-service grocery store in Honokaa(Malama Market) to try and
arrange volunteer delivery of groceries to the elderly at their doorstep. Also discussed was call-in
orders to be gathered by store staff and delivered into the trunks of customer vehicles at the store
entrance. The store managers are still waiting for a response from corporate headquarters regarding
the possibility of facilitating delivery programs by volunteers,but they also indicated that they don't
have enough staff to provide call-in ordering and in-car delivery.
As long as shipping and wholesale distribution networks continue to function there will be plenty of
food on the island. But to avoid the prospect of crowded grocery stores becoming a source of
continuous infection, some method must be developed to get the food from the store to the customer
with the absolute minimum of personal interaction. Only one infected,but asymptomatic, clerk could
infect peopleall day long as customers proceed through the checkout line,not to mention the people
standing in line infecting each other.
There will soon be plenty of people out of work(think bar,restaurant and hotel employees). Perhaps
they can be redirected to work pulling web or call-in orders off grocery store shelves, tally the total
payment required,take payment with credit card numbers and deliver food to people's homes or
directly to the trunks of sedans, backs of pickups and cargo areas of SUVs. In addition to fees to
customers,public subsidy may be required to support grocery stores in implementing these kinds of
programs.
If everyone could be outfitted with the proper PPE (masks, eye protection, gloves), this kind of food
delivery intervention would not be as necessary for younger people,but the elderly should now be
isolating at home rather than relying on face masks. Let's help them do just that. Please do everything
you can to facilitate food sales and delivery programs that require minimal social contact.
Mahalo,
Joe Clarkson
President,PMKCA
Comm. No. C61VPA
Ref. To: PI
Ref. Date MAR 2 0 2020