Delivering Hope: A Volunteer’s Perspective

As soon as the stay-at-home orders rolled out for Philly, I was eager to find a way to serve those most impacted in my neighborhood. I reached out to AlphaCare to see how their offices were affected by the unknowns and new restrictions created by COVID-19. I was excited to discover that the staff had already developed a plan to serve the most vulnerable of our city and that volunteers were needed! Public transportation was severely limited, and many non-profit centers providing diapers, wipes, and other support were unavailable to clients.

Due to the confidential nature of AlphaCare’s work, our family gives monthly and prays for the clients, but rarely do we have an opportunity to put hands & feet to our prayers. Following contactless drop-off protocols with masks, hand sanitizer and gloves, my daughter and I found ourselves looking forward to our Thursday outings to deliver food, diapers, wipes and other baby essentials to clients. The eager waves of welcome we would offer and receive during this time of uncertainty filled our hearts with joy. Clients were quick to express thanks for the supplies as well as acknowledge the risk we were willing to take to serve them. During the first week of June, when Philadelphia was rocked by significant riots as well as peaceful protests, a client opened the door with the comment, “I didn’t think AlphaCare would actually come this week.” I smiled through my mask and responded with a verbal hug: “What?! And miss out on a chance to love my neighbor?” Her grateful laughter was the best gratuity I could have received.

Not too long ago, I was a young mom counting pennies to pay for diapers and wipes. However, I never needed to rely on public transportation and enjoyed a strong practical and emotional support network, and so I cannot imagine the stress of running out of diapers or other essential items without the financial means to obtain more or a reliable way of getting to a store. The chance to help AlphaCare serve fellow moms during this historic season has been a unique privilege. Pandemics last only for a season, but moms facing uncertainty will keep coming to AlphaCare.

I will shortly return to a regular in-office work schedule and reduce my volunteer role with AlphaCare to primarily donor and prayer support. However, I will remain mindful of the vulnerable people that the AlphaCare staff serves daily with hope and emotional and physical care. My prayer is for practical financial provision for AlphaCare to meet the needs of the pregnant women coming their way—especially since this pandemic will result in an inevitable baby boom and the women served by AlphaCare’s delivery service will be sending their friends in need to the place they trust. Why do they trust AlphaCare? Because AlphaCare continued to show up for these moms and their families during this crisis.

Submitted by Rachel McConnell