STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Senior Connection will add grocery shopping and errand service next week for seniors who find themselves housebound with the coronavirus spreading through the community.

Jovita Pina said the service will be free. Items will be left at the door.

In addition, the Senior Connection’s Chef Brian Ahern is preparing free meals Mondays through Fridays  that can be delivered to a senior’s home or picked up at the Senior Connection. Meals are available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. Seniors should call by 8 a.m. on the day of pick up or call the day before.

Those who pick up in the meal at the Connection can call once they get there for curbside delivery.

The Meals on Wheels program is continuing to deliver it’s free meals, as always—just call 208-788-3468.

Additional funding is critical since Meals on Wheels will be adding people and meals to its route during the duration of the coronavirus shut-down, said Pina. To make a donation, visit www.seniorconnectionidaho.org/donate

AIRPLANE FLIGHTS CUT

There will be a significant reduction in flights to and from Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) during the remainder of March, said Carol Waller, director of Fly Sun Valley Alliance. Nonstop flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago have been cancelled because of the coronavirus concerns. Denver (DEN) flights will continue to operate through March 29 to accommodate passengers displaced from cancelled flights.

Delta Air Lines will operate three daily flights to Salt Lake City through March 29. It then will shift to two daily flights from March 30 through June 7. Alaska Airlines daily service to Seattle is scheduled to end March 29 and restart May 21.

The number of passengers had already decreased substantially in response to the closing of Sun Valley Ski Resort and concerns over the coronavirus.

The Caldwell Transportation Company will continue to run its diversion busing program through April 15. It has implemented enhanced health and safety measures, which include cleaning each bus thoroughly with disinfecting wipes and sprays after every trip.

SMALL BUSINESS HELP

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states, including Idaho, low-interest federal disaster loans for small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus. Small business owners wanting to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance should visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/EIDLLoans.

Questions regarding the program should be directed to Jerry Miller at 208-287-0780 or jerry.miller@commerce.idaho.gov.

LISTENING EARS

The Senior Connection Friends Line is available from 2 to 3 p.m. weekdays for those who’d like to chat if they’re feeling afraid, lonely, isolated or just want someone to talk to.

In addition, Blaine County Chaplains are available to talk with people via email or phone. Chaplains are:

Mike Higgs, 503-805-1280, sondancemike@gmail.com

Terri Higgs, 503-750-3125, sondanceterri@gmail.com

Jake Hothem, 970-846-8081  pjhothem@gmail.com

Al Oliver, 208-721-8055, alansoliver@gmail.com