The Public i has received this press release from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Champaign-Urbana, detailing its new, free grocery delivery service. The program is designed to help those affected by the pandemic get access to essential goods. While the program will operate based on reimbursements, no one will be turned away for an inability to pay the the full price for their groceries. We’ve published their press release in its entirety below.
GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE
Please pass this info on to those struggling to obtain groceries during the pandemic.
This delivery service is intended to serve people who have difficulties obtaining groceries during the pandemic. Some people that may be facing such difficulties are
- Those with immune-deficiency issues who want to avoid public interaction
- Those with disabilities who find it difficult to travel to stores
- Those taking care of children who are home from school
- Those who lack consistent access to cars or other transportation
- Those living with individuals who are at elevated risk of contracting COVID
This list is not exhaustive and no explanation is required for those who want to use this service.
At this time, we are delivering groceries on Fridays and Saturdays, with a maximum of 10 orders per day. You can fill out the grocery order form at https://forms.gle/GULL5DysqYjbw7rZA
The groceries will be delivered without contact. Shopping for and transporting groceries will be done with strict sanitary guidelines. We will use masks and gloves, and disinfect the bags and vehicles before and during delivery. You may request a comprehensive list of protocols by contacting our gmail address given below. We still recommend disinfecting items or washing them in the sink before using.
Due to limited resources we ask users of the service to reimburse us the cost of the groceries through our PayPal (username is pslchampaignurbana@gmail.com). NO DELIVERY FEES OR ADDITIONAL COSTS WILL BE ADDED.
Because many people pay for groceries with SNAP, or are facing financial difficulties during the pandemic, NO ONE WILL BE TURNED DOWN FOR INABILITY TO PAY.
To help cover the cost of those who cannot pay, we ask those who are able to DONATE to a fund set aside for this purpose. You can send donations to the PayPal account given above or email us directly at pslchampaignurbana@gmail.com for alternative payment of donations.
Why are we doing this?
On March 11, the World Health Organization of the UN declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. In the United States, for-profit health care, cuts in social services, workers with no guaranteed paid sick leave or vacation pay, and the severe shortage of testing kits have combined to produce a catastrophe.
The response of the federal government is completely inadequate. The United States has the resources to mass-produce COVID-19 testing kits and to provide testing free of charge. We have the resources to provide protective equipment and hazard pay for all medical workers, EMTs, firefighters, and home-care workers. We have the resources to provide emergency pay and benefits to everyone who is not able to work during the crisis, to cancel rent and mortgages, and to hire a massive workforce to check-up with seniors and other vulnerable people to ensure their needs are being met.
Despite having the resources to do so, the federal government has failed to enact these and many other policies. The bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act gave $454 billion dollars to big corporations and banks. The government “of the people, by the people” is one that works to protect corporate interests, not the needs of working-class people.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation believes another way is possible. A society based on meeting people’s needs, instead of ensuring profits, can be built through an egalitarian, compassionate, and socialist transformation of society. We can guarantee the rights and needs of all people in our society without relying on charity.
While our delivery service is only one part of what is needed in such a society, we aim to demonstrate through action that a society based on meeting people’s needs is possible, and can be built by workers and oppressed people.
If you are interested in learning more about the PSL in general, you can do so at pslweb.org/, or follow the Champaign-Urbana branch on Facebook at facebook.com/PSL.CU to learn about what we do in CU, including our mutual aid program!
1,892 total views, 1 views today