The COVID Pivot:
A Note from Glenn Novack, Owner of Moving Miss Daisy
As the world began to shift in early 2020, we found ourselves asking how we could best support our community during such uncertain times. Seniors were frozen in place and my business, Moving Miss Daisy, came to a screeching halt. On March 16th, as the reality of the pandemic set in, we quickly started offering free grocery shopping and pharmacy pick-ups for seniors in need. This simple act of service soon expanded into something much larger.
We connected with Cares4Paws, helping to deliver pet food to seniors so they could keep their beloved companions. We also began volunteering with the Santa Barbara FoodBank, assisting with the distribution of groceries to low-income seniors. When the FoodBank had to pause its Backyard Bounty program, we stepped in to help harvest and distribute excess produce from local homes.
During this time, a small group of us also began making soups in our own kitchens to support the Buellton Senior Center and the Meals on Wheels Program. It started modestly, but soon grew, with home cooks coming together to provide much-needed nourishment to our senior community.
Amid all this, we received a touching poem from a kind lady who let us harvest vegetables from her backyard. Her name was Isabelle, whose words captured the bittersweet beauty of those challenging days:
"Within this capsule of fear, has arisen great beauty. The people trapped in these times hail and greet each other. This is new. And beautiful. Strangers and neighbors alike inquire earnestly if one is doing all right; offering help, food, medicine, supplies, etc. There is warmth on the streets. Warmth that automobiles cannot offer to each other. The internet has 'warmed,' too. Besides necessity, the new addition is its beacon of closeness, concern and well-wishes. Frequently! You might say, the internet has become kind... Time has slowed down. Time now, has an allotment for squeezing in happiness. Happiness happens when movement pauses. Hurried movement, that is. Notice the essence of things. Notice a new blossom. Notice one’s cared-for person needs consoling. One's Love’s hair has developed a curl. The sun has warmth, welcome. There is light and shadow. The mockingbird is still singing, though it be getting dusky. A virtual feast going on. And, perhaps best of all—the pause offers our planet 'breathing' room. To get on with clean, beautiful blue skies; with generating greenness, helping clothe harmed patches. With creating creature beings, at least as fast as they get swallowed. And without the furious pace that streams off waste. ALMOST ideal operation. Inside this unwanted bubble. How get it out of ye bubble, and streaming live?"
Her message reminded us of the quiet strength and kindness that emerged during those difficult times. It was a humbling experience to see so many come together to care for one another, and we are grateful to have played a small part in supporting our community.
Update: After four months of serving the community we had the opportunity to take over a small consignment store. This was July 2020 when everybody was staying home and many stores were closing. You can read about the history here, HISTORY