News Photo by Crystal Nelson Tammy Dean, Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency’s food program coordinator, and Warehouse Manager Norm Apsey pack a box for a commodities distribution in April at the agency’s warehouse in Ossineke.

ALPENA — Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency’s Food Coordinator Tammy Dean and her team of workers continue to meet the needs of residents in 11 northern Michigan counties who might otherwise go hungry.

While the governor’s stay-at-home orders meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus brought all non-essential work to a standstill, NEMCSA employees have come together to make sure those who are most in need of food continue to receive it.

Dean oversees two of the U.S. Department of Agriculture food programs — the monthly commodities program for seniors 60 and older, and a quarterly distribution for people of any age who meet government income guidelines.

“People depend on this food,” Dean said.

Dean, who has worked at NEMCSA for the last 11 years, oversees a caseload of 4,075 clients in the agency’s 11-county service area. The food program’s service area stretches from Cheboygan south to Standish and from West Branch east to Alpena.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Tammy Dean, Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency’s food program coordinator, packs a box for a commodities distribution in April at the agency’s warehouse in Ossineke.

Through the monthly and quarterly distributions, Dean said, she gets to know the clients. It’s seeing her clients and the feeling of giving back that drives her to come to work each day.

“We not only give people a box of food, but we may be the only people that person is going to see,” she said. “So, when we give this person a box of food and say, ‘Have a good day,’ they’re going to realize other people care — especially during this time.”

Dean said social distancing has forced the agency to distribute food as a drive-thru, which has been hard. She said the clients — especially those who are elderly — aren’t getting the face-to-face time they need.

Instead, clients are instructed to arrive with their trunks open, a box is placed in the trunk, and then the trunk is closed. Dean said the drive-thru allows people to get their food without having to physically get out of the car.

Social distancing requirements have also changed the program’s operations, as workers wear masks and try to maintain a six-foot space between each other as the boxes are being packed in the agency’s warehouse. Additionally, employees can no longer carpool when driving to food distribution locations. Only one person is allowed in a vehicle at a time.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Tammy Dean, Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency’s food program coordinator, works at her desk in April at the agency’s office in Ossineke.

The agency usually has a dedicated group of volunteers to help with the distributions, but Dean said officials are currently utilizing staff while the majority of volunteers stay at home. Yet, some “die-hard” volunteers continue to show up despite the stay-at-home order.

Dean said coronavirus has scared a lot of people because it spreads so fast. When the stay-at-home order is lifted, she believes there will be a new normal for everyone.

“I think we’re all going to be a little more conscious of what we do, whether it’s shaking somebody’s hand or giving them a hug,” she said. “You’re just going to be very conscious of that contact.”

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.