University students in Halifax are volunteering to run errands, walk pets and buy groceries for healthcare workers tied to the office in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
The initiative organized by Dalhousie University medical students kicked off on Monday and already has roughly 30 young people from various allied healthcare programs signed up to serve their communities.
“We’re hoping that healthcare professionals and students can come together during this especially difficult time to support and deliver the best healthcare to the patient,” said Freddy Lee, co-organizer and president of the Dalhousie University Medical Students Society.
“We really believe that supporting our frontline workers in this way and provided these valuable services is much-needed at this time.”
While unaffiliated formally with Dalhousie University, the ‘Dal Health Students for Healthcare Providers’ group is offering free childcare to health workers between March 23 and April 3, while schools in Nova Scotia are shuttered.
Its volunteers can also transport items, visit elderly relatives, make trips to the grocery store and complete other tasks at the request of health workers scrambling to find assistance as they cope with the pandemic at work.
“We’ve indicated that we’re quite flexible and if there are any services the volunteers can provide or the healthcare professionals may need, indicate that on our forms,” Lee told Global News.
Workers interested in enlisting the aid of volunteer students can do so by emailing Dal[email protected] or filling out this online Google doc.
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