In the past two months, Guilford CARES and the Guilford Senior Center volunteers have provided more than 1,500 hours of service, handed out 12,000 masks to residents, and gone on more than 650 shopping trips for seniors.

Working with the Ethan Song Foundation and through donations from community members, Guilford CARES has also donated $2,000 each to the Guilford Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and the Women & Family life Center.

According to local retired teacher Dennis Culliton—himself a volunteer, working essentially full-time hours spearheading these efforts—the work has continued even as the state and the country work on re-opening, with many residents still in need both financially and with other needs.

While many seniors, who are often on fixed incomes, need help with things like grocery shopping and errands, Culliton said he and the other volunteers have realized the financial need is for the working folks who have had their incomes redacted by the pandemic.

The response was to pull together and raise money for those folks, with some of it coming from the seniors to whom Guilford CARES delivers food.

“Our drivers get tips,” Culliton said. “And they don’t keep it, they give it to [the organization]. And so some of the disbursement is not only the money that donors have given us, but also...through the generosity of our customers.”

The Guilford Food Bank and Meals on Wheels have both seen significant upticks in need since the onset of the pandemic, and the Women & Family Life center has also begun serving many more people, and also began administering a direct grant program funded through the Guilford Foundation that supports those affected.

Recently, some volunteers have had to decrease their availability for shopping trips due to work responsibilities, Culliton said. Though the volunteer response from the community so far has been an “uprising,” he said he hopes that people will continue to do what they can as the pandemic continues to affect lives.

For more information on Guilford CARES or for shopping help or other services, call 203-453-8086 or email buckleyT@ct.guilford.ct.us.