As COVID-19 concerns lead to widespread shortages of certain items at city grocery stores, a Yellowknife man is stepping up to deliver essentials to elders and other at-risk members of the community.

Adeel Moghal took to Facebook on Monday to offer delivery services to seniors aged 65 or older. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 also providing the service to people with pre-existing health conditions who canSA国际影视传媒檛 make it out to stores.

Moghal is asking residents in need to send their phone numbers to him over Facebook. From there, Moghal said heSA国际影视传媒檒l pick up requested items and drop them off to people across the city. He plans on presenting receipts to be reimbursed for the items.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just want to help the people,SA国际影视传媒� Moghal told SA国际影视传媒.

Hand sanitizer, toilet paper, face masks and a variety of grocery goods have largely disappeared from store shelves across town in recent days, leaving owners struggling to keep up with the high demand.

There were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the NWT, or in any of the territories, as of Tuesday morning. The global outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week. 

Health officials, urging social distancing as cases rise across Canada, say most young and healthy people who contract COVID-19 will only show mild symptoms SA国际影视传媒� but they stand to transmit the virus to the elderly and people with compromised immune systems and underlying health issues. 

Born in Pakistan, Moghal moved to the NWT in 2016. 

He wants to give back to a community thatSA国际影视传媒檚 shown him nothing but kindness.

SA国际影视传媒淭his city has given me everything. People are so nice. This is the time to step up and help others,SA国际影视传媒� he said. 

During recent grocery runs, Moghal said heSA国际影视传媒檚 noticed essential items being bought up by younger demographics, leaving little for those most in need SA国际影视传媒� people like his mother, who lives with a pre-existing health issue. 

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a situation where everyone is panicked,SA国际影视传媒� he said. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e can work together to face this problem and reduce the burden on our health care system,SA国际影视传媒� Moghal wrote on Facebook. 

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 not the only one pitching in to help the citySA国际影视传媒檚 most susceptible citizens. 

Sheila Champion launched the Facebook group SA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� on Sunday night. The group, meant to coordinate the collection of in-demand essentials, reached some 150 members by Monday night. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 just kept thinking about how my parents would have fared in this situation because they both passed away from things that would not have gone over so well here SA国际影视传媒� my mom had heart disease, my father had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),SA国际影视传媒� said Champion. 

SA国际影视传媒淭his would have been terrible for them.SA国际影视传媒� 

Champion has been making the rounds to city stores, spending from her own pocket to buy soap, canned soup, granola bars, juice boxes, toilet paper and a host of other items. 

With the help of other Yellowknifers, she hopes to put together and deliver 50 care packages to the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 most in-need. 

She said the Facebook group offers an online space for residents to share whatSA国际影视传媒檚 needed most SA国际影视传媒� and who needs it. 

Those in need also include low-income families, said Champion. 

While Champion called the community support sheSA国际影视传媒檚 received so far SA国际影视传媒渁mazingSA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒� people have donated money and offered to help deliver goods SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 not unfamiliar. 

She was one of thousands evacuated from Fort McMurray during the devastating wildfires of 2016. 

SA国际影视传媒淲hile it was a different situation, the same panic and fear is there for a lot of people. I can see it in their faces. They just donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what tomorrow is going to look like because everyday it seems to be looking different,SA国际影视传媒� said Champion. 

SA国际影视传媒淓ven if one person gets help, that will make everything worthwhile for me.SA国际影视传媒�