Local service helps seniors stay safe at home

By Laural Samson

BELLEVILLE – Ally Wojewski and Chrissy Williams-Hunt launched their business in January 2020. Two months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

And while many local businesses have been struggling since then, Wojewski says that it made their company — Allow Us — more needed than ever.

“The COVID, as terrible as it was, may have been a blessing for us too.”

Allow Us is meant to give seniors a familiar face and a personal connection when helping them with their errands. These errands include drives to the doctors, vet clinics, and grocery stories, as well as picking up any food or items that clients may need. The costs for services run from upwards of $20.

“We go above and beyond just the simple transportation part of it.” Wojewski said. “We pride ourselves on being personable with people. We have lots of conversations, and we want to know about people as much as they want to tell us.”

Once the pandemic hit in March, the company stalled briefly before Wojewski says they realized they were more important than ever.

Now helping seniors stay safe at home during the pandemic, Wojeski says they decided to offer their services for free during that four month span.

“We did grocery shopping and would drop it off on people’s doorsteps and wave from the window, and we did that for four month so seniors could stay safe in their homes.”

In the Hastings and Prince Edward County, there are other organizations that offer similar services to Allow Us, such as Community Care for South Hastings.

However, Wayne Bowler, a 72-year old client of Allow Us, says that he’s tried others and found that Allow Us stood out because of its focus on a personal connection.

“There are other services around that are similar, but the problem with the other services is that you don’t know who they are gonna send to do what for you. But when I phone Ally and Chrissy, I know them because I talk to them all the time. They are very personable, and I know who I’m talking to because they know me.”

Bowler also shared a story about using one of the other services during the pandemic, and being forced to ride in the backseat while the driver didn’t wear a mask.

However, Bowler says that he’s always able to ride comfortably with Wojewski and Williams-Hunt, and they follow proper COVID-19 precautions while helping him out.

Another one of the 20 clients Allow Us has, Donna Westsall, says that while this is her first time using a service like this, she has been very impressed.

“It’s been a godsend.” Westsall said about Chrissy, who she says doesn’t turn anything down. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

And while other organizations are known for their free services or affordable prices, Wojewski also said that they offer competitive prices.

“We want to be cost-effective as well.”

And even with this service being especially important during COVID-19, Wojewski says that this company is a passion of theirs that started before the pandemic.

“Initially, Chrissy was the one that came up with the idea. One day, we were driving back from a friend’s house, last year, and she told me about an idea she’s been mulling over and thinking about. She proposed the idea of helping seniors. And when I thought of it, I thought it was a great idea.”