The Village of Wilmette is establishing a Community Caretakers program in response to potential needs of the village’s elderly or disabled residents during the COVID-19 crisis.
“The Village of Wilmette wants to coordinate with other local organizations within the village and provide caretaker services to help and support its elderly and disabled population,” said Alexander Arteaga, management analyst in the Wilmette Village Manager’s office. “Ultimately the role of the village in the program will be to act as a ‘matchmaker.’
“We will coordinate with those in need and our partnering organizations to ensure all reasonable requests made by Wilmette Village residents are fulfilled.”
The program works in the following way:
Residents who need assistance should call Alexander Arteaga at Wilmette’s Village Manager’s office (847) 853-7502.
A staff member there will take the name of the caller and give it to the police or fire department staff person for verification the person is a Wilmette resident and then refer the name of the caller to a local group with volunteers interested in helping—such as a church, synagogue or other civic organization.
The village staff plans to determine specific needs of Wilmette residents requesting help and work with the organizations and volunteers to coordinate the provided services.
“The village prefers not to coordinate specific needs with specific volunteers,” Arteaga said. “We prefer that the organization’s leadership do that coordination.”
He added the delivery of essential items to residents who cannot leave their homes include food — such as grocery store and market items, water, toiletries and medicines and other health care material readily available.
“The services provided to residents may change over time depending upon what residents request,” Arteaga said. “The village or network of organizations may not be able to fulfill all requests.”
Arteaga asks that any organization with questions or interested in becoming a part of the program should call him at (847) 853-7502 or email: [email protected]
Wilmette’s Trinity United Church, Lake and Wilmette avenues, continues to open its food pantry from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday morning for anyone needing food.
Sts. Joseph and Francis Xavier parish continues to make each of its church vestibules sites where people can make food donations. They are open7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Monday through Friday’ and 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday.
