Skyline resident organizes help for elderly neighbors
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| Kanber-agha |
The Fairfax County Emergency Information Blog on May 6 highlights
Skyline Plaza resident Waleed Kanber-agha, who recruited volunteers to help her
elderly neighbors quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic.
Waleed Kanber-agha knew the high-rise building in Bailey’s
Crossroads had many elderly residents – like her late grandfather and
grandmother who lived there for 30 years – so she began thinking how she could
help.
Crossroads had many elderly residents – like her late grandfather and
grandmother who lived there for 30 years – so she began thinking how she could
help.
Kanber-agha overcame her shyness to ask a neighbor if they
needed help with shopping and emailed the building management to suggest starting a
volunteer group. Within a week, she was working with Ian Sliney and the Fairfax
County Health Department to form a COVID Neighbor to Neighbor program (N2N).
Sliney is an epidemiologist and a volunteer with the Fairfax
County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps. He lives in Skyline
Towers, which is adjacent to Skyline Plaza. After starting an N2N in Skyline
Towers, he helped Kanber-agha and others who live in Skyline Plaza form one
there as well.
County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps. He lives in Skyline
Towers, which is adjacent to Skyline Plaza. After starting an N2N in Skyline
Towers, he helped Kanber-agha and others who live in Skyline Plaza form one
there as well.
The first step was distributing flyers to residents on all
26 floors asking if they need help or want to volunteer. While there was some initial skepticism, it didn’t take long
for others to join the effort and offer further help, such as donating masks or
food for those in need. Quickly, they had enough volunteers to provide all the
assistance requested.
26 floors asking if they need help or want to volunteer. While there was some initial skepticism, it didn’t take long
for others to join the effort and offer further help, such as donating masks or
food for those in need. Quickly, they had enough volunteers to provide all the
assistance requested.
Now their goal is to make sure all residents of Skyline
Plaza know they have caring neighbors who are willing help in any way possible
to reduce the spread of the virus
Plaza know they have caring neighbors who are willing help in any way possible
to reduce the spread of the virus
“I’m also proud to say we have elders who are so caring that
they want to help others to bring groceries themselves,” she said. “That’s where
I jump in and try to tell them, let us take care of you now, you have done your
part.”
they want to help others to bring groceries themselves,” she said. “That’s where
I jump in and try to tell them, let us take care of you now, you have done your
part.”
Anyone who would like to start a COVID-19 Neighbor to Neighbor program should request a toolkit from the Health Department. All you need is two to four volunteers willing to organize. Contact: [email protected], 703-246-8962.