DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (KFGO) – A free grocery and medication delivery service that was started by Detroit Lakes police has been so popular, it’s been turned over to a group of volunteers.
Police chief Steve Todd put the project together with Becker County Emergency Management. Todd says he started the service to help qualifying residents avoid possible exposure to COVID-19.
“Initially, we didn’t realize how big it would get, it was just involving department members picking up supplies for senior citizens who have underlying health issues who didn’t feel they should be out and about” Todd said.
“The program has really exploded. They’re extremely busy. We’ve completely transitioned it over to volunteers. Initially, we started out using police department personnel, but the crisis with covid was escalating and we saw that we really needed to focus on law enforcement and public safety.”
Todd says that since April 1, more than 70 food and medication deliveries have been made. He says an army of about 65 volunteers are filling orders and making deliveries in Detroit Lakes and across Becker County.