The coronavirus pandemic has placed many restrictions on people of all ages: Wash hands often. Cancel non-essential appointments. Avoid public spaces.

The virus is especially dangerous to those over 65 and with preexisting conditions or comprised immune systems. While anyone can catch COVID-19, younger, healthy adults are less likely to have severe or life-threatening symptoms.

Many Alabama food banks and senior centers continue to distribute meals and other food items to senior citizens. But making sure the elderly community is fed will require more people willing to donate their time.

Volunteers are considered the heartbeat of operations at the Food Bank of East Alabama in Auburn. Almost 400 low-income senior citizens a month depend on the food bank, which warehouses and distributes produce and nonperishable items to a network of more than 200 agencies that are delivering the food to those in need.

Tina Tatum, programs and volunteer coordinator, said while the coronavirus hasn’t curbed the nonprofit’s fight to stop hunger, the infectious disease has affected volunteer efforts. Most of the volunteers who sort through and pack up donations from grocery stores are older individuals and younger volunteers are needed, Tatum said.

“We don’t have the staffing to get all of that done,” Tatum said. “We rely on volunteers and we had some people who had to stop because they didn’t feel comfortable getting out because of exposure. We could use some physical help.”

In Birmingham, one woman is trying to help, one boomer at a time.

Mary Braxton, 30, spent her last week like everyone else. She works as a nanny, and she has a big family, so she’s used to social interaction. But then, the rumors stared to swirl about the new novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The rumors turned to facts, and on Friday Alabama confirmed its first known cases.

“With all the doom and gloom we were seeing everywhere, and all the anxiety it causes… I really wanted something positive on something to focus that energy on,” Braxton said.

Braxton decided to set up a space where younger, less vulnerable people— mostly millennials— could help the more vulnerable “boomers,” to stand in the gap for those seniors. She created the Facebook page “BoomerBuffers,” with the hopes of connecting volunteers to those who needed help.

Here’s how it works: A person reaches out to Braxton through the group saying they can’t venture out to get their groceries, prescription, or a certain errand done. Braxton then reaches out to her volunteers, asking who is in that particular neighborhood or area and who is available. She looks at the responses, and then matches up the “boomer” with the “buffer.” The person retrieving the items is supposed to leave them at the recipients’ front door, so no human interaction is required. The boomer, or person requesting help, is responsible for paying for the groceries or prescription; the retrieval service Braxton designed is completely free.

Braxton thought it might catch on in the area, maybe even have up to 50 members. As of Wednesday morning, the group had more than 300 members. “It’s really taken off,” Braxton said. “I thought at best, it would be 25, 50 people… I wanted it to grow like this, to be something I could spread out to help other people.”

“I’ve really been kind of amazed at how it’s going. I am still processing it.”

The second goal of the group, besides physically helping the older generation, is to build the sometimes strained relationship between the baby boomers and the millennials. Braxton said she wanted to show “what millennials are all about.” She said, “We want everyone to be taken care of. We’re going to step up, and we’re going to be here for you.”

“It’s really softening hearts on both sides,” she said.

Braxton said she hopes people across Alabama will get involved and start BoomerBuffers groups of their own in their city. She said she is fine with sharing the name, but wants all group leaders to stay connected and title their pages with the location they are serving. She changed the name of the original group to include Birmingham in the title, so people could easily find the page for their city.

“I have to be realistic about how far I am able to reach,” she said.

Braxton said when she started the group, she jokingly told her sister that she wanted to start a movement. Her sister’s response: “You have.”

Across Alabama, others also continue to try and feed the elderly in the face of a pandemic.

The Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center has ceased operations until April 3, but its Meals on Wheels program is still delivering hot meals to homebound seniors in Huntsville who can’t cook for themselves. Marketing Director Cathie Mayne said the center’s main effort during the outbreak is to get more volunteers for the program, which currently serves seniors who live on 26 different routes.

If the center gets enough volunteers, the center can open a new route for those who have been placed on the waiting list. Those who want to help out the Meals on Wheels program can contact Jeanie Glynn at 256-382-0920, or email at jglynn@seniorview.com.

Mayne said 10 to 12 senior citizens are given meals during each route. Along with delivering a hot meal, Mayne said volunteers are also improving senior citizens’ wellbeing.

“They are always grateful to get food through Meals on Wheels, but especially now because this is a program that is continuing,” Mayne said. “When you are dealing with folks who are older, sometimes your eyes just go past them. So, even as something as saying hello at a grocery store or on the street it can make people’s day.”

Both the food bank and the senior center have adjusted their services to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. An extension of the food bank is the community market, which allowed both seniors and families in need to hand pick the food items they want. Instead of having the elderly risk their health by coming to the market, Tatum said they are packing boxes full of goods that will be handed to their clients. Surfaces are being wiped down with disinfectant at the food bank’s warehouse and staff members are keeping up with the coronavirus as they think of new ways to help the elderly at this time. Those who want to volunteer can sign up on the food bank’s website.

“We are doing our best to stay open and serve the people who need help,” Tatum said. “It’s been a little crazy because things are changing rapidly. We are trying to stay up on the daily news about this and just continuing to find ways to serve the folks who need the food.”

Even if people can’t donate their time or money to help out the elderly, Mayne said anyone can offer their courtesy and check on senior citizens in their area.

“One of the best avenues for volunteering is to encourage everyone who knows a senior just to reach out,” Mayne said. “Say, ‘Hey, how are you doing? Can I go to the store for you?’ It’s just common courtesy that we are all needing right now.”

Here are other food banks across the state who are asking for assistance to help those in need. If you are helping the elderly and want to be added to this list, please email Jonece Starr Dunigan at jdunigan@al.com

West Alabama Food Bank

North Alabama Food Bank

Central Alabama Food bank

If you need BoomerBuffers services but don’t have social media, you can email Braxton at boomerbuffersbham@gmail.com.