College student helps community during coronavirus outbreak, matches shoppers with seniors who can’t go to stores

A pre-med student is using her time while the country is trying to prepare to be homebound to help those who can’t go out during the COVID-19, or new coronavirus, social distancing.

Jayde Powell has started the group called Shopping Angels.

Powell isn’t charging fees or any additional costs to go shopping for those who are most at risk from the pandemic.

She’s connecting volunteers with senior citizens to get their supplies as they take shelter from the virus at home.

"Going to one store could be an all-day affair for an elderly person. They don't have money to get gas or energy to go to a lot of stores just to find out they don't have the basic supplies to last them a couple of weeks," Powell told KVVU.

She has about three dozen college students in Reno and Las Vegas to shop and drop off groceries.

The volunteers will take measures not to pass on the illness to those they're helping. They will be told to wear masks and gloves while shopping and dropping off, KVVU reported.

Powell says her idea, while started for the coronavirus outbreak, could last long after everyone gets a clean bill of health.

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