By China Cassidy After it was announced that COVID-19 has reached the U.S., panic set in throughout the nation and people raced to the stores to stock up on daily essential items like paper towels, hand sanitizer and milk. Last week, citizens of Holbrook began to experience the direct affects when families couldn’t find diapers for their babies, certain foods or toilet tissue because communities from all over were traveling to Holbrook to stock up when their stores were empty. Holbrook resident Char Baloo said that after experiencing it first-hand after she couldn’t get milk for her grandkids, she knew she needed to do something. So, she closed her business, Char’s Car Detailing, for the week and set out on a mission to help her community. Baloo explained that it all started when she went to Safeway to grab food items for her grandkids and the store didn’t have what she needed. “I went to Safeway to get some milk and they didn’t have anything, so I just took off and got to Taylor and got some milk and some other stuff.” Carla Gabaldon, Director of the Extended Care Center reached out to Baloo and explained that the Holbrook Extended Care facility, where a number of the community’s senior citizens live, was short on supplies, especially dairy, and wouldn’t be receiving any shipments until later that week. Immediately, Baloo went to the center and dropped off the two gallons of milk she had just bought for her grandkids. Baloo explained the reason for her actions were none other than the fact that she was raised to take care of others, especially the elderly. “You take care of your elders, no matter what. So, I took off to Sanders the next day and I talked to the manager (of the Bashas’ grocery store) and he let me get eggs and milk and bread and whatever I needed. That’s what they needed at the extended care. I took the items over there and I thought, well, maybe there are more people that need stuff,” explained Baloo. She began reaching out to the community by social media and word of mouth to let them know she was setting up a location at her home where people in need could go for help. Baloo said that since she began her efforts to help community members gain access to the much-needed essentials still flying off the shelves, she has received numerous donations from throughout the community since more people have learned about her mission. She said people have donated money, food, diapers, milk, water and wipes, among many other items and the Holbrook School District even delivered boxes of non-perishables to help out. Baloo said that her cousin, Carole Jackson-Holyan, who owns Zion Enterprises, called and asked how she could help. “I went to her the other day and she gave me boxes of eggs, bags of potatoes, ground beef, (and) bread. I mean my trunk was full,” said Baloo. Baloo said that other community members have stepped up as well. “Annie Grace came by the other night and she had bread, potatoes, eggs. She had hand soap and Irma up at Dollar General has been helping me with the toilet paper,” shared Baloo. The message Baloo said she intends to deliver through her efforts is that the community needs to come together and support each other. She said she wants to urge those who may be hesitant for whatever reason to utilize what she is offering if they are really in need. “I don’t want anyone to be too proud to come ask for help. We know what it’s like and we want to help. We have to come together when this stuff happens, and we have to take care of each other.” Baloo said that while she will be opening up her shop for business again during the week of March 23, she will continue to collect and offer items needed for the community as long as the situation calls for it.
