Jennifer Clinger is tough. She survived abuse, decades of sex trafficking and a heroin addiction.

But COVID-19? That terrifies her.

"I'm really frightened to go out there right now," Clinger said, choking up on the phone in her Sylvan Heights apartment, "because I can't fight what I can't see."

Thanks to Thistle Farms, Clinger doesn't have to leave her home.

Clinger is a graduate and employee at Thistle Farms, a two-year recovery program for women survivors of addiction and trafficking.

Its founder, the Rev. Becca Stevens, is dispatching her singer/songwriter son, Levi Hummon, to deliver packages of food, toiletries and pet supplies for the 30 current Thistle Farms participants and for many of the more than 200 alumni and staff members sheltering at home.

► In her own words: Becca Stevens talks about responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Stevens said many women in the Thistle Farms community have underlying medical conditions brought on by years of abuse. Most also have post traumatic stress that could make them, like Clinger, uncomfortable leaving the house.

So Hummon — between writing songs and promoting his new music — takes a few hours each day to make porch deliveries.

One box contained peanuts crackers, canned tuna, feminine hygiene products, candy canes, soap, peanut butter, toilet paper, almonds and cleaning products.

While the supplies are appreciated, the gesture and sense of connection might be the most important part of the delivery. Mental health experts say isolation is dangerous to recovering addicts.

Bobbie Smith, 40, who completed the Thistle Farms program last year, could not find dog food at local stores for her pup Mason, a pet the Nashville Humane Association donated to help with her PTSD.

Smith, who lives in East Nashville, was low on money because the tornado knocked out power to her apartment for a week, spoiling the food in her refrigerator.

"Then Levi called and said, 'Where should I drop the dog food and groceries at?'" Smith said.

"It was really touching to know there are people who care and people working hard to keep our community of Thistle Farms close. It was the first time I’ve cried tears of joy in a long time."

Clinger said the porch delivery is one of many gifts Thistle Farms and Stevens and her family have given her.

"It’s so thoughtful and it means the world to me," Clinger said. "It means everything to me that they would go out of their way for me."

Hummon has helpers. He and his network are making as many as seven deliveries a day as more and more food and supplies are being donated.

The busier, the better, he said.

"The idea of love is often a noun, but it's truly a verb," he said. "Let's go out and help. It gives me a sense of purpose. I feel honored to be able to help somebody out in need."

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.