Quarantine Chronicles: Special Delivery
Courtesy of Row Venice, © Nan McElroy
The delivery person has become an icon of quarantine culture. With millions of Americans ordered to stay home, we rely on delivery more and more for necessities like food, medication, and supplies. Especially for those more vulnerable to the virus, this service is more than just a convenient option for online shopping, it’s a lifeline for daily essentials. Many companies have had to pivot their model to provide this essential service, and some have offered discounts and free delivery to help those in need. But a few exceptional organizations, individuals, and businesses have gone beyond the standard delivery and are coming up with creative ways to deliver supplies that not only get essentials out to locals but bring joy to the community during a time of universal anxiety.
Row Venice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Venetian rowing tradition, is delivering food on gondolas to residents across the city. Typically, the all-female team offers rowing classes to tourists. But with tourism in Venice virtually non-existent, the canals are left empty as the boats drift idly at their docks. Seeing the more vulnerable members of the community struggle to get food and supplies, these women decided to put their love of rowing and their empty gondolas to good use. After armoring up with masks and gloves, they work with local farmers to load their boats with organic groceries and row through the winding canals of Venice to bring necessities to the doorsteps of elderly neighbors or other residents who are unable to shop on their own.
Courtesy of Hannah Lucas
Residents in Northern Maine saw delivery by a team of Siberian Huskies when Hannah Lucas, a musher and "dog lover and enthusiast," started delivering food to older members of the community. The idea was sparked when Hannah, who moved to Maine to follow her dream of racing sled dogs, was working her second job at the Circle K. She noticed seniors coming in to buy small grocery items, like milk or eggs, and wanted to help limit the time her more vulnerable neighbors spent outdoors. Hannah began taking orders over the phone and, with help from her fiancé and roommate, Hannah harnessed her 14 dogs to travel 50-75 miles each day making deliveries.
Courtesy of Greek Peak Mountain Resort
With their doors closed due to coronavirus, Greek Peak Mountain Resort, central New York's largest ski resort, is putting smiles on the faces of locals with their “Dancing Dinos.” Playing upbeat music like Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk, these costumed delivery workers have been seen dancing their way to socially distanced food drop-offs as families watch from their driveways and children giggle in amusement. Each day, a Greek Peak chef prepares pre-cooked meal specials that are sold for less than five dollars, giving affordable meal options to those who have lost their jobs or are otherwise struggling financially. The resort has also converted its hotel lobby into a community grocery store, giving locals a closer and safer option to shop for essentials.
Finding themselves in this sudden and unfamiliar new reality, communities across the world have had to come together while safely staying apart. Whether a gondola, a team of sled dogs, or a dinosaur costume, brave individuals are offering their unique strengths and resources to help their communities maneuver through this global pandemic. When it’s all over, these unexpected heroes will be remembered as representations of the creativity and resiliency of the human spirit.
