For area residents looking for assistance with grocery delivery, help is now available.

The City of Minot, through Minot Public Library and in cooperation with other organizations, is coordinating volunteers to ensure people who are unable to leave their homes or don’t feel safe doing so still can access groceries.

Janet Anderson, Minot Public Library director, said the first step was to put out a call for volunteers.

“We had a great response,” she said of the 30 volunteers who responded. That enabled efforts to move forward in setting up a service.

People needing grocery delivery can go to minotnd.org/grocerydelivery to find links to participating groceries at Cash Wise and Walmart in Minot. They are asked to schedule their deliveries at least two days out to allow time to arrange for volunteers, who will pick up the groceries and bring them to homes.

The delivery service is aimed at helping elderly residents or residents in COVID-19 quarantine as well as other individuals who feel they would be at risk from the virus, Anderson said. However, she said, there may be others who need help, such as single mothers who may not have child care available to enable them to grocery shop.

The delivery service is available in Minot, Minot Air Force Base, Burlington, Des Lacs, Surrey, Sawyer, Velva, Lansford and Glenburn.

Anderson said people outside those areas who wish to inquire about a delivery or who have other questions can email 2020grocerydelivery@gmail.com.

The service, which went into operation Friday, still is taking volunteers to complete deliveries. People can sign up through the Souris Valley United Way’s volunteer coordination website at volunteerminot.com.