Marion’s new foodbank operating out of the otherwise-closed Community Center emanated from an announcement that Town Administrator Jay McGrail made, telling an Emergency Preparedness Meeting on March 13 that the town would be releasing funds from its reserve account to develop a foodbank plan that, by the end of the day, he hoped would be fully developed.
On Monday, March 16, McGrail reported success to the Board of Selectmen during its 3:00 pm meeting at Town House. He doubled down on the message March 17, noting 12 responses to Marion’s reverse 911 call.
The foodbank, at the Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill Street, has been set up to distributing arranged bags of groceries from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Bags are categorized for families of four and families of two. The town asks residents when pulling up to the Center to stay in their vehicles, show proof of residency, and let volunteers know how many members are in their family.
The town notified Marion residents in need who are unable to make it to the Center or feel unsafe going out may call 508-748-3570 and arrangements will be made to assist those residents.
Senior citizens wishing to receive a daily home-delivered meal provided by Coastline Elderly Services are invited to call 508-748-3570 to sign up for the program.
The emergency preparedness team meeting on Friday morning, March 13, included Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Doug White, public health officials including Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downie, Board of Health members including Vice Chairperson Edward P. Hoffer, MD, representatives from the Fire and Police departments, Board of Selectmen member Norman Hills and Assistant Town Administrator Judy Mooney.
Hoffer, a practicing physician, was told not to travel to Boston so he has made himself available to the Board of Health and was nominated Friday morning as chief coordinator for Marion’s emergency-preparedness effort.
Downie continues to remind people that if people think they are sick or think they have the coronavirus, they need to call their doctor first and not to go to the emergency room without calling ahead. “We don’t want anyone going to the doctor without calling first,” she told the meeting.
At the time of the meeting, Old Rochester Regional High School had yet to suspend school per order of Governor Charlie Baker (that would come later that evening), opting at the time to conduct classroom work only. White told the meeting that the “education that will now be provided is essential education.”
White did caution the meeting that if any school in the district was to close, all would close and there would be no online alternative from home. Effectively, public education would be suspended. When asked by the Wanderer, “What about seniors?” White answered, “Fill in the blanks.”
The subject of students on reduced or free lunch programs was also discussed.
“We are at the very beginning of this. We have a long way to go to get to the top of the curve,” said Downie, noting that, while cancelations are a stop-gap measure, a brief school closure might not be effective, adding, “I would be surprised if it’s over in two months.”
Hours before Tabor Academy announced its plan to extend its current suspension of school per its academic calendar to April 13, McGrail reported having asked the Tabor administration to provide a written plan before the students return.
Hoffer wondered aloud if Marion could overrule the prep school if the plans Tabor brings forward in response to McGrail’s request are considered inadequate. McGrail answered, “Yes.” Tabor has many students returning from outside the country.
Marion will arrange for transportation through the Council on Aging for seniors for doctor appointments, but not for grocery shopping. Effective March 13, the town was also looking to expand restrictions on the Meals on Wheels program.
Emergency Preparedness Meeting
By Marilou Newell