by Mohamed Farah “DULYADEYN”
Tuesday, April 07, 2020
The novel Coronavirus has upended everything. While Governor Tim Walz’s “Stay-at-home” order has affected everyone, it has especially taken a toll on the lives of African immigrant seniors and disabled individuals. They who used to rely on adult day care centers and restaurants in the neighborhood for daily meals are worrying over the basic necessity now that everything is shut down all of a sudden and they are forced to be in quarantine.
Considering this adversity, the Greater Minneapolis Community Connections has decided to hand out 200 boxed meals to the elderly African immigrants on a daily basis. This non-profit organization in Minneapolis city is playing its role by providing the vulnerable population with their favorite food items at their homes. They plan on continuing to do so for two weeks.
While this certainly is a commendable step, the immigrant seniors have lost their freedom to go out, sit in restaurants and enjoy their meals. They do, however, understand the urgency of the global crisis and are taking the state’s orders of isolation seriously in order to prevent the spread of the virus. One more reason for them to abide by the orders of the Governor is that they have come from dictatorship countries where civilians are used to spending their lives as per the government’s orders. So, it’s not something new for them but they’re certainly feeling it.
“Before COVID-19, “we had freedom, we could go to anywhere”, Hussein Sheikh, an elderly immigrant said. “We would go to restaurants.”
Most of the male African immigrants do not know how to cook food because their culture has taught them that only women belong in the kitchen. Needless to say, many of them might not be able to survive if they are to stay at home for weeks or months. Imam Tawakal Ismail, the newly elected chair of Minnesota-Somali Task-Force, with all the knowledge of their culture, considers himself one of them.
Fortunately, some local non-profit organizations and Somali community volunteers and faith leaders from the twin cities have stepped up to form the Minnesota Somali COVID-19 Task Force. The idea is to assess and fulfill people’s immediate needs in these challenging times. “As imams and community leaders, we have learned that many senior immigrants among the disabled population can’t come out of their homes for food and perhaps can’t even cook at home.” Imam Ismail announced. “Therefore, we have organized ourselves to help our community”.
Upon realizing this, G.M.C.C. instantly got in touch with Imam Ismail and showed interest in helping to put food on the tables of the elderly immigrants. With the help of the prolific faith leader, GMCC has started handing out nutritious meals to people in need. While the Minnesota FoodShare launched in 1982, it began working state-wide in I984 with the March food campaign fundraiser to fight the hunger problem in the local communities. It remains one of its cores focuses to date.
In return, the appreciation and acknowledgement from the homebound elderly and disabled people have been insane. “I am appreciating the food I am getting here at my home”, John said. “I am hungry, I can’t drive, I can’t go outside, and I am scared because the governor said you have to stay at your house, so police may stop me if I try to go out.” Clearly, the senior immigrants are thrilled about getting the food resources that they need to survive in quarantine in the form of boxed balanced meals on their tables. However, there seems to be an air of confusion and uncertainty all around. “What will be next?” Hussein Sheikh asked. “What will happen if the governor’s stay-at-home order lasts more than two weeks?” The immigrants know that the food drive has been announced for a couple of weeks in the hope that the situation will get better but the ‘what if’ questions are sending chills down their bodies. While they are ecstatic to receive tasty, hygienic food every day, they can’t help but think about what the future holds for them.
Mohamed Farah “DULYADEYN”
Email: [email protected]