© 2024 WYPR
WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

How Volunteers Are Rising To Meet The Challenges Of The Pandemic

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland
/
Facebook

Hunger and isolation are two devastating side effects of the pandemic. But eager volunteers are stepping up.

Quinton Askew leads 2-1-1 Maryland, the state’s health and human-services hotline. Volunteers have answered 36,000 calls a month, on average, since March. He describes how 2-1-1 helps seniors grocery shop, take their medications, and navigate telehealth appointments.

You can connect by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone, texting your zip code to 8-9-8-2-1-1, or chatting online. Learn how to receive services or volunteer with the Caregiver Services Corps.

Plus, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland has tripled meal delivery since March. Julie Hollander, Senior Director of Volunteer Services, tells how they’ve ramped up operations. Volunteer Gerry Galuardi says packaging thousands of meals is hard but worthwhile work. Sign up to volunteer here. Apply for meals here.

Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.
Maureen Harvie is Senior Supervising Producer for On the Record. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and joined WYPR in 2014 as an intern for the newsroom. Whether coordinating live election night coverage, capturing the sounds of a roller derby scrimmage, interviewing veterans, or booking local authors, she is always on the lookout for the next story.