AROUND THE PARK by Sharon Lee Tegler
There was no shortage of shoppers when Partners In Care Maryland opened its doors on June 1. Regular customers were elated and new customers were curious to see what the organization’s upscale resale boutique at 8151 Ritchie Highway had to offer.
To say there was pent up demand for the boutique to reopen following the COVID-19 shutdown is putting it mildly. PIC Executive Director Mandy Arnold said would-be shoppers regularly stopped outside the doors to inquire when that would happen. Others stopped to ask when Partners In Care’s other services for seniors would resume.
“Our office staff worked all but three weeks of the time we were closed down by the governor’s “Stay at Home” orders,” Arnold said. “We’ve been working the whole time on ways to safely relaunch the boutique (our main source of funding) and the PIC transportation programs vital to many seniors. We’re very pleased we’re back and operating most of our services with minimal COVID-related limitations.”
Special care was taken in preparing the boutique to reopen in accordance with recommended guidelines. However, the store retains its usual charm. The talented PIC volunteer group nicknamed “The Designing Women” went all out with a clever “red, white and blue” clothing and accessory theme in honor of the 4th of July.
Volunteers and staff arranged aisle after aisle of eye-catching displays of items ranging from clothing, china, tableware, linens and antiques to children’s toys, books and tchotchkes – all while making sure the merchandise is sanitized and neat as a pin.
Arnold described several measures taken to safeguard customers’ health including hand sanitizing stations and markings six feet apart at checkout counters. All PIC volunteers wear masks made by members.
For now, temporary COVID hours have been set from noon to 5 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Since only 12 people, including staff, are allowed in the store at any one time, customers rotate through.”
It was necessary to limit the store’s hours because not all of PIC’s member volunteers have come back. Many are seniors and, thus, vulnerable to the illness so they’re putting off their return.
Donations of clothes or other items from the public are now being accepted…..but by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 410-544-0568. Festival at Pasadena is generously allowing Partners In Care to use an empty retail space next door to accept and safely store the donations.
Once accepted, donations are held for a proscribed period of time and then go through a sanitizing process before being brought into the store. They’re then worked into the boutique’s inventory – often in clever ways. For example, The Designing Women’s came up with the idea to display classic handbags in an antique china cupboard.
Quite a few of the seniors dependent on PIC’s all important “Ride” services breathed a sigh of relief on learning limited transportation is now available for essential medical appointments or trips to grocery stores. The two-month disruption of the “rides” provided by volunteers or mobility vans was traumatic for older members who found it hard to make other arrangements.
For now, people accepting rides must wear masks. They are asked five basic questions including if they’ve experienced fever, have been near anyone ill with the virus, etc.
PIC’s popular Seniors Helping Seniors handyman services are being resumed – but for outside work only at present. The organization’s Veterans Helping Veterans Program launch party had to be postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date.
Benevolent Baskets gifts “Gratitude Bags” to essential workers
Benevolent Baskets founders Karen Lerario and Lesley Geisel wanted to express their thanks to those from from Severna Park, Millersville, Annapolis and elsewhere who donated to support the organization’s gifting of “Gratitude Bags” to essential workers who’ve carried on through the COVID-19 pandemic. The bags were loaded with snacks and beverages, sweet and savory…and even some healthy treats.
Benevolent Baskets’ volunteers had so much fun surprising and blessing staff at fire/EMT stations, detention centers, hospitals, train stations and doctors offices in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County.
Reminder that Anne Arundel Co. Public Libraries are offering curbside pickup
The Severna Park Community Library and most other Anne Arundel County Public Library branches are offering telephone service at 410-222-6290 and curbside pickup for books from 10 am through 4 pm Monday through Saturday. Library returns may be made by placing materials in the Book Drop.
