If the emergency situation has unexpectedly forced you to stay at home because you are in the COVID-19 risk group or quarantined due to the virus, for example, it may raise a number of concerns in the practical organisation of daily matters. If you have any symptoms of illness, stay at home! You should not feel embarrassed in this situation: stay at home and do not hesitate to ask for help.
Where can I find help?
Many villages and city districts have active village and urban region associations and village elders. Feel free to contact them – many of them are ready to help the people in their community. If this option is not available to you, contact Helpific https://helpific.com/et/, tel. 56604642, or www.kogukondaitab.ee, tel. 7168 068, who bring together volunteers and people in need of help.
Residents of Harjumaa, Lääne-Virumaa, Põlvamaa, Pärnumaa, Viljandimaa, and Võrumaa can directly contact the coordinators of Kodukant, the Estonian Village Movement, who coordinate and supervise volunteer work in the social field on a daily basis: https://vabatahtlikud.ee/projektid/sotsiaal/kontaktandmed/. Call 5170214 or 5665 9118 for help.
If you are in need of substantial help or help that requires direct contact, make sure to notify your local social worker by phone. You can find the contact information of your local social worker on the website of your home town or municipality. Volunteers are instructed to avoid any direct contact with the people they are helping.
What kind of help is offered?
Volunteers can go to the store or pharmacy for you and leave the purchased goods at your door at the appointed time. Please note:
- Ask the volunteer to put the purchased goods in a paper bag, as viruses survive there for a shorter period.
- Ask the volunteer to pack products with a long shelf life and products requiring freezing in separate bags.
- Place the items that must be stored at refrigeration temperatures immediately into the refrigerator (without taking them out the bag, if necessary) and wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
- Items with a long shelf life should be left unpacked for 24 hours. If you decide to unpack the bag earlier, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with water and soap after disposing the packages.
Please note: Viruses can live on paper packaging for 24 hours and on plastic bags for 2–3 days.
Talking to another person and having their support is also important. If your old acquaintances and family are not enough, then our volunteers can also provide telephone and Skype chat. Feel free to contact us and let us know of your needs using the contact information above.
How can I know that a volunteer is honest and trustworthy?
Dealing with strangers can be scary: you may find asking yourself who is this person and will they take advantage of my helpless state? Here are some tips for safety:
- Do not get it direct contact with volunteers, ask them to leave your purchases behind the door, and communicate with each other by phone, e-mail, etc.
- Do not open the door to people with whom you have no prior arrangements. For example, coronavirus mass screening is currently not being done, which is why it is important to deny entry to people who knock on your door and claim to perform screening tests.
- If a volunteer brings you groceries from the store, avoid dealing in cash. Ask the volunteer to take a picture of the receipt and pay by bank transfer. Before any activities, agree with the volunteer on all costs, e.g. ask them if they also want you to cover transport costs, etc.
The activities of the Kodukant volunteer movement is supported by the European Social Fund.