PLYMOUTH – Christopher Hart is out of breath and talking through a mask at the moment. The cars keep coming, and his own could use some gas.
He’s delivering groceries these days to veterans, but also to seniors who aren’t veterans and emergency workers who have been quarantined. Some don’t want to leave their homes for fear of catching the coronavirus; some can’t leave their homes.
Hart said Town Manager Melissa Arrighi has done a fabulous job coordinating a response. He was part of that response. He said she asked if his nonprofit, Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers, would step in and expand its reach beyond veterans to seniors in general. Hart said “yes,” without hesitation.
“Usually we only help out vets,” Hart said. “Now, we’re working with the senior center here and veterans services offices in Kingston and Plymouth to bring food to some people who are quarantined. They can’t leave the house, and some are first responders who are on watch.”
Many seniors suffer from underlying health issues, he said, and the simple fact of their age makes them much more vulnerable if they catch the virus. Some drive up to the Plymouth headquarters of Nathan Hale Outreach Centers at 116 Long Pond Road and open the trunk or the back seat door so Hart, in his mask and gloves, can carry the groceries to the car without touching anything. He’s also delivering free groceries to seniors who need them and can’t drive to the center. He noted that selfless volunteers like state Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, D-Kingston, are also delivering groceries from Nathan Hale. LaNatra is extraordinary and doesn’t want any recognition for doing what she’s doing to help - all the more reason to give it to her, Hart said.
“I’ve never felt so useful in all the years I’ve been doing this,” Hart said. “This is the time that people step up to the plate. At the risk of me getting sick I get to help a couple hundred seniors citizens get their food. The governor said we’re essential. We feel kind of special and we want to be there for our town. It’s very, very important.”
Those who donate food are also behind the front lines, as a supply train. The Boston Food Bank and local pantries have become even more essential in the crisis, and Hart and others urged the public to donate what they can. Hart said many veterans are beset with respiratory issues like asthma and chronic pulmonary disease, so getting these donated groceries to these people has never been so important. Not only are their immune systems compromised; their bank accounts are too.
“We went from going to the Boston Food Pantry every other week to going every week,” he said. “The VA is basically closed. Our drivers who used to drive veterans to the VA are now delivering groceries. We’re almost double in capacity as far as the food pantry goes.”
He and wife Diane Hart are also offering eggs and Easter candy to veterans and seniors who stop by Saturday at Three Harts Farm Veterans Growing Opportunities at 232 Beaver Dam Road for curbside pickup, he said.
Incorporated in 2006, Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers is a nonprofit organization committed to providing everything from free counseling and food to free rides to doctors appointments and a myriad of programs for veterans.
The coronavirus pandemic is hitting the vulnerable members of society the hardest, Hart said, so protecting these people has to be priority number one. He said he’s honored to do that, and is gratified to know that Arrighi understands this and calls him for whatever support his organization can offer. He said Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers will do anything to help.
For more information on Nathan Hale Veterans Outreach Centers, visit thenathanhaleveteransoutreachcenter.com.
