A Midale man has been helping people in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Landon Emde, who lives in the town, has been delivering groceries to those who wouldn’t be able to get them otherwise. The petroleum manager for the Southern Plains Co-op, he started providing the service in April.
He noted that the co-op has been offering free delivery in the Estevan area since the pandemic started, so he offered to bring the service to the town.
“When we first started out, it was probably about three days a week I’d bring groceries home, and now it’s about two days a week. On average, it’s about two to four people (each time).”
The co-op was on board with the concept as soon as he brought it to the attention of general manager Brian Enns.
Midale residents will place a grocery order through the town office. Then he will receive a text or a phone call, saying how big the order is, and he lines it up with the Town of Midale on when he will be arriving and where they want the groceries dropped off.
Grocery orders typically include vegetables, dairy, bread, cereal and possibility some frozen items or toiletries.
“Everybody has really welcomed it. It saves a lot people coming from town into the stores, and we get a really good response,” Emde said.
Senior citizens represent the bulk of the clients, but there have been a couple of orders from younger families.
“We … had two in Midale who self-quarantined. I believe they came back from other countries,” said Emde.
Sometimes he will take the groceries directly to the house. Other times he will take them to town administrator Linda Dugan or Mayor Allan Hauglum, who then arrange for people to get the groceries.
If he hasn’t been around, then Jamie George, the Estevan food centre manager for the co-op, has found a way to get them to the public.
Emde said he has enjoyed doing what he can to help others, and he hopes to continue to do this at least until people return to a level of normalcy from COVID-19.
“I don’t mind bringing the groceries home, since it’s on my way.”
