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LAPLACE — Some shoppers wore gloves as they pushed baskets filled to the brim with groceries early this week at the LaPlace Walmart. Scenes at local grocery stores amid the COVID-19 outbreak have been reminiscent of hurricane season — only this time, families are preparing to hunker down without losing electricity.

Much of the eggs and milk were cleared out and the packaged deli section looked ransacked Monday afternoon. A LaPlace Walmart representative told L’OBSERVATEUR there has been high demand for food and consumable products, household chemicals and pharmacy items. Staff has worked around-the-clock to restock shelves.

“We are getting trucks regularly. We aren’t being shorted on product,” he said. “It’s just hard to keep up with the increased demand.”

Not everyone is able to fight the crowds at the grocery stores, and some kind-hearted locals are stepping up to help.

Holly Hymel and her son, Everett, were shopping last week when they realized a need for food delivery services within the community.

Everett, a junior at Holy Cross in New Orleans, thought of a way to earn his 25 required service hours while making a real impact close to his Reserve home. The community service obligation has since been suspended, but Everett and his family still have a vision of making a difference.

The Hymel family is offering free grocery deliveries for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems or other health conditions. Those in need are invited to call Everett at 504-236-3880 or Holly at 504-487-4553.

“This is a way to help the community a lot, since some people may not have grandchildren they can reach out to,” Everett said.

Holly added, “We witnessed a couple of really disconcerting things at the stores last week when older people probably shouldn’t have been out to begin with. Anyone who feels unsafe getting out of the house, please give us a call.”

Class cancellations brought older sister Cameran Hymel home from college a few weeks early. The coronavirus signaled a premature end to her last semester at United States Military Academy (West Point), but she said the health and safety of her community is much more important than having a few fun weekends with friends.

“We’ll be okay because we’re all very healthy, but I know other people in our community aren’t as lucky, and we just want to help out as much as we can,” she said. “It was my little brother’s idea, and we are all very proud and happy to help out.”

She added, “Everything has been sold out as far as Germ-X and paper towels, and you could just see the older people in a bit of panic on their faces. I can’t imagine not having family to help out, but it’s a reality that I think a lot of us forget about.”

Cameran said the biggest challenge will be getting the news out to older people who haven’t seen her family’s posts on social media. The Hymel family can also be reached at cameranhymel2@gmail.com, and Cameran said she is happy to let anyone in need of leisure activities at home borrow some books to read.

Also helping with grocery delivery is the First Assembly of God Church located at 3001 U.S. 51 in LaPlace. Pastor Jonathan Smith said anyone unable to make it to the stores is asked to call 985-212-0082 to arrange a delivery. Additionally, First Assembly of God Church has put in an order for toilet paper and water supplies that should be available for pick-up next week.

“The way I look at it, you see everybody right now panicking over things. The whole point of a church is to be able to show Christ in the midst of all of it,” Smith said. “There is a peace that everybody can have, and it’s the church’s job to display the peace that we tell everybody about.”

The elderly residents of the parish will continue to be a priority for the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. To limit exposure and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, SJSO has temporarily suspended visits for the Protecting Our Precious Seniors program. Officers will continue to check in on POPS participants and/or family members during this time of need via phone calls.

The youngest members of the population will be fed through grab and go meals provided by St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools. School children ages 18 and younger are eligible to receive breakfast and/or lunch between 7 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday. Serving locations will be East St. John Preparatory Academy in LaPlace and West St. John Elementary School in Edgard.

St. Joan of Arc and St. Peter School will begin serving Grab N’ Go meals for children 18 and under today from 10 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday.

As of press time Tuesday, Walmart, Winn-Dixie and Matherne’s Supermarket in LaPlace are continuing to offer grocery pick-up services. Walmart and Winn-Dixie also offer delivery.