Richard Smith wishes he could buy his groceries online and get them delivered right to his door in the pandemic. It's not so easy.
Smith, 74, is retired and has COPD, a chronic lung disease. He has trouble breathing from his years of smoking cigarettes. In September, he was hospitalized for his condition.
kAm%H:46 2 >@?E9[ $>:E9[ H9@ 5@6D?VE 92G6 2 42C[ 8@6D H:E9 2? 2:56 :? {J??[ |2DD249FD6EED[ E@ |2C<6E q2D<6E[ 2 =@42= DFA6C>2C<6E 492:?[ E@ A:4< FA 7@@5 2?5 6DD6?E:2=D] %96 S`hc 2 >@?E9 96 C646:G6D E9C@F89 E96 $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2>[ 4@>>@?=J <?@H? 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_a_^`_^_`^A@=:E:4D^7@@5\DE2>AD\36?67:ED\:?4C62D6\C646DD:@?^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm7@@5 DE2>ADk^2m[ 96=AD 9:> 277@C5 9:D 8C@46C:6D]k^Am
Recommended for you
Scenes from the Hands for Humanity Donation Day and Locust Grove High School Band Christmas Concert held Friday at Locust Grove High School. Click for more.PHOTOS: Hands for Humanity Donation Day and Christmas Concert at Locust Grove High School
kAmqFE $>:E9 :D 7CFDEC2E65 96 42?VE @C56C 7@C 56=:G6CJ :?DE625 @7 C:D<:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^H@C=5^=:G6\?6HD^4@C@?2G:CFD\A2?56>:4\`a\_c\a_\:?E=^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm6IA@DFC6k^2m E@ 4@C@?2G:CFD H96? 96 G:D:ED E96 DE@C6] QxEVD >@C6 4@?G6?:6?E[ 2?5 x 5@?VE 92G6 E@ 56A6?5 @? 2?J3@5J[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ |2C<6E q2D<6E 5@6D ?@E @776C 4FDE@>6CD E96 @AE:@? @7 FD:?8 E96:C $}p! 36?67:ED E@ @C56C @?=:?6] Wp DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C |2C<6E q2D<6E D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:= E96 4@>A2?J H2D 2DD6DD:?8 H96E96C E@ 6IA2?5 56=:G6CJ]X x? |2DD249FD6EED[ D9@AA6CD 42? @?=J FD6 E96:C 36?67:ED E@ @C56C @?=:?6 7C@> p>2K@? 2?5 (2=>2CE F?56C 2 A:=@E AC@8C2> DE2CE65 :? a_`h 3J E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6[ H9:49 25>:?:DE6CD $}p!]k^Am
kAm%92E 5@6D?VE H@C< 7@C $>:E9[ H9@ :D 2=D@ 2 >6>36C @7 |2DD249FD6EED $6?:@C p4E:@? r@F?4:=[ 2? 25G@424J 8C@FA 7@C =@H\:?4@>6 D6?:@CD] (2=>2CE 5@6D?VE 56=:G6C E@ 9:D 9@>6 2?5 96 D2JD 96 42?VE 277@C5 p>2K@?VD AC:46D @? :E6>D =:<6 >:=< 2?5 7:D9] p>2K@? 2=D@ 492C86D 2 766 @? @C56CD F?56C Sbd[ 2?5 E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?E AC@9:3:ED $}p! C64:A:6?ED 7C@> FD:?8 36?67:ED E@ 4@G6C 56=:G6CJ 766D @C E:AD]k^Am
kAm$>:E9VD 32CC:6CD 9:89=:89ED E96 2446DD 82A :? @?=:?6 8C@46CJ D9@AA:?8 2>@?8 E96 >@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7?D\AC@5]2KFC66586]?6E^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^C6D@FC46\7:=6D^ah$}p!4FCC!!\f2]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmc_ >:==:@? A6@A=6k^2m H9@ C6=J @? $}p! 2E 2 >@>6?E H96? 3FJ:?8 7@@5 @?=:?6 92D 364@>6 >@C6 A@AF=2C H:E9 H:56 DH2E9D @7 E96 AF3=:4 :? E96 A2?56>:4] $}p! 6=:8:3:=:EJ G2C:6D 3J DE2E6[ 3FE EJA:42==J 9@FD69@=5D >FDE 36 2E @C 36=@H `b_T @7 E96 7656C2= A@G6CEJ =:?6 —23@FE Sa[g__ :? 8C@DD >@?E9=J :?4@>6 7@C 2 72>:=J @7 7@FC\— E@ BF2=:7J 7@C 2DD:DE2?46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?E]k^Am
kAm|2?J $}p! C64:A:6?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 @=56C A6@A=6 2?5 A6@A=6 H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[ H@?VE 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 2?5 D9@A @?=:?6 3642FD6 E96J 5@ ?@E =:G6 :? DE2E6D 4@G6C65 3J E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?EVD @?=:?6 AC@8C2> @C 2C6 :? 2C62D @FED:56 @7 C6E2:=6CDV 56=:G6CJ K@?6D] p5G@42E6D D2J >2?J $}p! A2CE:4:A2?ED H9@ 2C6 6=:8:3=6 E@ 3FJ 8C@46C:6D @?=:?6 FD:?8 E96:C 36?67:ED 7246 @E96C 492==6?86D[ DF49 2D :?E6C?6E 2446DD[ =24< @7 6IA6C:6?46 FD:?8 2 4@>AFE6C @C 76H A=246D E@ 5C@A @77 56=:G6C:6D]k^Am
kAmQxEVD @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 72:=FC6D :? E96 A2?56>:4 C:89E ?@H] %96C6VD @?6 DJDE6> 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 $}p! 2?5 2?@E96C 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?VE] xEVD C62==J 7CFDEC2E:?8[Q D2:5 {F4:2 {6@?6[ 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C :? E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>F?:EJ w62=E9 2?5 w62=E9 q692G:@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@]k^Am
k9bm~?=:?6 6IA2?D:@?k^9bm
kAm%96 5:DA2C:E:6D 4@>6 2E 2 E:>6 H96? 4@?46C? :D 8C@H:?8 @G6C C:D:?8 4@C@?2G:CFD 42D6D[ 6DA64:2==J :? A@@C6C ?6:893@C9@@5D]k^Am
kAmvC@46CJ DE@C6D 92G6 6>6C865 2D 2 AC:>2CJ A=246 @7 4@C@?2G:CFD :?764E:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 DEF5J AF3=:D965 :? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_a_^``^`_^962=E9^4@G:5\`h\>@56=:?8\9:89\C:D<\A=246D\DEF5J\H6==?6DD^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm;@FC?2= }2EFC6 =2DE >@?E9k^2m E92E 2?2=JK65 46==A9@?6 >@3:=:EJ 52E2 @7 hg >:==:@? A6@A=6] %96 DEF5J 7@F?5 E92E 8C@46CJ DE@C6D :? =@H\:?4@>6 ?6:893@C9@@5D 2C6 =:<6=:6C A=246D @7 4@C@?2G:CFD DAC625 E92? DE@C6D :? 9:896C\:?4@>6 2C62D] %9:D H2D 3642FD6 8C@46CJ DE@C6D :? =@H6C\:?4@>6 ?6:893@C9@@5D 925 e_T >@C6 A6@A=6 @? 2G6C286 3J DBF2C6 7@@E 2?5 D9@AA6CD DE2J65 :? E96> =@?86C]k^Am
kAm%96 a_`c u2C> q:== 2FE9@C:K65 E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?E E@ DEF5J 2? @?=:?6 $}p! AFC492D:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7?D]FD52]8@G^D?2A^@?=:?6\AFC492D:?8\A:=@EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmA:=@Ek^2m[ 3FE E96 A:=@E H2D ?@E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_`h^_c^`g^3FD:?6DD^2>2K@?\H2=>2CE\7@@5\DE2>AD\FD52\D?2A^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=2F?4965 F?E:= =2DE J62Ck^2m] $:?46 563FE:?8 :? }6H *@C< H:E9 p>2K@? 2?5 (2=>2CE[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 92D C2A:5=J 25565 5@K6?D @7 DE2E6D E@ E96 @?=:?6 $}p! A:=@E :? E96 A2?56>:4[ 2?5 >@C6 E92? @?6 >:==:@? $}p! 9@FD69@=5D 3@F89E 8C@46C:6D @?=:?6 :? $6AE6>36C]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ ce DE2E6D 2?5 E96 s:DEC:4E @7 r@=F>3:2 2==@H $}p! C64:A:6?ED E96 23:=:EJ E@ FD6 E96:C 36?67:ED @?=:?6[ 3FE p>2K@? @C (2=>2CE 2C6 E96 @?=J C6E2:=6CD E92E @776C 56=:G6CJ :? E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E9@D6 DE2E6D] %96 286?4J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7?D]FD52]8@G^?6HD\:E6>^7?D\__`ga_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2??@F?465k^2m =2DE >@?E9 E92E >@C6 8C@46CD[ :?4=F5:?8 $276H2J[ p=5:[ w\t\q 2?5 D6G6C2= D>2==6C 8C@46CD[ H@F=5 36 25565 E@ E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm(2=>2CE[ zC@86C[ wJ\'66 2?5 @E96C 492:?D 2=D@ 2446AE A2J>6?E E9C@F89 $}p! 7@C 4FC3D:56 A:4<FA @C56CD[ 3FE E92E :D 2 492==6?86 7@C E9@D6 H:E9@FE 2 42C[ A6@A=6 H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[ 6=56C=J 4:E:K6?D 2?5 @E96CD H9@ 2C6 9@>63@F?5[ D2J 25G@42E6D 7@C A6@A=6 @? $}p!]k^Am
kAmp5G@42E6D 2AA=2F5 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 7@C 24E:?8 BF:4<=J E@ 3C:?8 255:E:@?2= DE2E6D 2?5 C6E2:=6CD @?E@ E96 A:=@E :? E96 A2?56>:4] qFE E96J D2J E96C6 2C6 DE:== 76H @AE:@?D 7@C A6@A=6 @? 7@@5 DE2>AD E@ @C56C 7C@>[ 6DA64:2==J H96? :E 4@>6D E@ D>2== 2?5 =@42= 8C@46CD] x==:?@:D $6?2E@CD #:492C5 sFC3:? 2?5 %2>>J sF4<H@CE9 :?EC@5F465 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5F4<H@CE9]D6?2E6]8@G^?6HD^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^5F4<H@CE9\5FC3:?\:?EC@5F46\3:==\E@\:>A=6>6?E\2?5\6IA2?5\@?=:?6\D?2A\AFC492D:?8\?2E:@?H:56Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm3:==k^2m :? yF=J E92E H@F=5 AC@G:56 S`__ >:==:@? :? 7F?5:?8 E@ 56G6=@A 2? @?=:?6 A@CE2= 7@C $}p! 4FDE@>6CD E@ FD6 E96:C 36?67:ED 2?5 4C62E6 2 AC@8C2> E@ 96=A D>2== C6E2:=6CD[ 5:C64E\E@\4@?DF>6C 72C>6CD 2?5 72C>6CDV >2C<6ED 86E D6EFA]k^Am
kAm$>2== 8C@46CD 7246 7:?2?4:2= 2?5 E649?@=@8:42= 9FC5=6D 86EE:?8 2AAC@G65 3J E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?E E@ 2446AE $}p! 36?67:ED @?=:?6[ D2J 25G@42E6D] vC@46CD 92G6 E@ 92G6 H63D:E6D D6E FA H96C6 @?=J $}p!\6=:8:3=6 7@@5D 2C6 5:DA=2J65 — ?@E 9@FD69@=5 6DD6?E:2=D =:<6 E@:=6E A2A6C[ H9:49 2C6 ?@E 4@G6C65 3J E96 AC@8C2> — 2?5 2 A2J>6?E AC@46DD:?8 DJDE6> E92E D64FC6=J 2446AED $}p!]k^Am
kAmQ%96 4@DE 2?5 E96 E649?:42= 5:77:4F=EJ @7 5@:?8 :E :D G6CJ 492==6?8:?8[Q D2:5 {6@?6 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@] QxEVD E@@ >F49 @7 2 3FC56? @? D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D]Qk^Am
kAmp DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?E D2:5 E96 286?4J :D QH@C<:?8 BF:4<=J E@ AC@G:56 $}p! A2CE:4:A2?ED E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ D9@A @?=:?6 7@C 7@@5[ E96 D2>6 H2J >2?J p>6C:42?D 5@[ H:E9 2 7@4FD @? 3C:?8:?8 @? ?6H 2?5 D>2==6C[ :?56A6?56?E 8C@46CJ DE@C6DQ :?E@ E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
k9bms6=:G6CJ :DDF6D 2?5 AC:G24J 4@?46C?Dk^9bm
kAmtG6? 2>@?8 A6@A=6 @? $}p! H9@ =:G6 :? 2C62D H96C6 p>2K@? @C (2=>2CE 56=:G6C[ E96C6 2C6 @3DE24=6D E@ @C56C:?8 @?=:?6 2?5 C646:G:?8 56=:G6C:6D]k^Am
kAmr9=@6 pC?@H[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 E96 u2CC28FE u@@5 r=F3[ 2 8C@FA @7 C6D:56?ED :? 2 AF3=:4 9@FD:?8 4@>>F?:EJ :? qC@@<=J?[ }6H *@C<[ :D H@C<:?8 E@ C6>@G6 9FC5=6D E@ @?=:?6 8C@46CJ D9@AA:?8 7@C $}p! C64:A:6?ED]k^Am
kAmpC?@H D2:5 4@>>@? 762CD :?4=F56 =24< @7 52E2 AC:G24J 2?5 E967E] $@>6 A6@A=6 H@CCJ E92E E96:C $}p! 5@==2CD 4@F=5 36 DE@=6?[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|6>36CD @7 E96 8C@FA 92G6 366? ECJ:?8 E@ E6249 C6D:56?ED 9@H E@ D9@A @?=:?6 2?5 4C62E6 6>2:= 244@F?ED[ 3FE E96C6 :D @7E6? =:>:E65 (:u: :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 76H 2C62D E@ 5C@A @77 7@@5 :7 D@>6@?6 :D ?@E 9@>6] QxEVD C62==J 92C5[Q D96 D2:5] QxE 32D:42==J E2<6D 2 >:C24=6 E@ 86E E96 EC2?D24E:@? E@ 8@ E9C@F89Q H96? H@C<:?8 H:E9 D@>6@?6 H9@ 92D?VE D9@AA65 @?=:?6 367@C6]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 @E96C 4@?46C?D] %96 r6?E6C 7@C s:8:E2= s6>@4C24J[ 2 5:8:E2= AC:G24J 25G@424J 8C@FA[ H2C?65 :? 2 yF=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]56>@4C2E:4>65:2]@C8^2CE:4=6^5@6D\3FJ:?8\8C@46C:6D\@?=:?6\AFE\D?2A\A2CE:4:A2?ED\C:D<Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6A@CEk^2m E92E E96 @?=:?6 A:=@E >2J 6IA@D6 $}p! 4FDE@>6CD E@ Q:?4C62D65 52E2 4@==64E:@? 2?5 DFCG6:==2?46[ 2 7=@@5 @7 :?ECFD:G6 2?5 >2?:AF=2E:G6 @?=:?6 >2C<6E:?8 E649?:BF6D[ 2?5 A6CG2D:G6 AC@>@E:@? @7 F?962=E9J 7@@5]Qk^Am
kAmQ%96 @?=:?6 AC@8C2> :D 7C2F89E H:E9 AC@3=6>D[Q D2:5 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C y677C6J r96DE6C] Q%96 6IA2?D:@? >62?D >@C6 52E2 :D 36:?8 82E96C65 2?5 E92E $}p! A2CE:4:A2?ED 42? 36 6IA@D65 E@ AC652E@CJ AC24E:46D]Qk^Am
kAm%96 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C &$sp[ 9@H6G6C[ D2:5 E96 286?4J 92D C6BF:C6>6?ED E92E QAC@E64E E96 AC:G2E6 :?7@C>2E:@? @7 $}p! A2CE:4:A2?EDQ 2?5 E92E :E QAC@9:3:ED C6E2:=6CD 7C@> D6==:?8 @C D92C:?8 2?J A6CD@?2= 52E2 @7 $}p! A2CE:4:A2?ED]Qk^Am
kAm%96 r6?E6C 7@C $4:6?46 :? E96 !F3=:4 x?E6C6DE[ 2 ?@?\AC@7:E 4@?DF>6C 25G@424J 8C@FA[ 42==65 @? E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 s6A2CE>6?E :? 2 y2?F2CJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4DA:?6E]@C8^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^2EE249>6?E^$4C@==02?50$9@A0C6A@CE]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6A@CEk^2m E@ D6E A@=:4:6D 2?5 8F:52?46 @? 9@H @?=:?6 C6E2:=6CD 42? >2C<6E E@ $}p! 4FDE@>6CD] %96 8C@FA 2=D@ FC865 &$sp E@ 6?DFC6 C6E2:=6CD E92E 2446AE $}p! E@ FD6 AC:46 AC@>@E:@?D E@ :?46?E:G:K6 962=E9J AFC492D6D 2?5 AC@>:?6?E=J 762EFC6 E9@D6 @AE:@?D @? E96:C 9@>6[ D62C49[ 4964<@FE A286D 2?5 :? 6>2:=D]k^Am
kAm%96 &$sp DA@<6DA6CD@? 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 5:C64E=J E@ E96 8C@FAVD C64@>>6?52E:@?D 7@C @?=:?6 @C56C:?8[ 3FE A@:?E65 E@ 6I:DE:?8 65F42E:@? AC@8C2>D E96 286?4J 92D A=246 E92E AC@>@E6 962=E9J 62E:?8 2?5 2 8C2?E AC@8C2> E92E AC@G:56D :?46?E:G6D 7@C $}p! A2CE:4:A2?ED E@ AFC492D6 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.