Harbor Hope Center didn’t deliver food to the Key Peninsula—then COVID-19 hit. 

“Now we deliver food twice a week,” said Daniel Johnson, the executive director of the non-profit helping those experiencing homelessness, hunger and drug and alcohol-related problems. “Our volunteers [deliver] to dozens of homes on the Peninsula. Many people became food insecure because of COVID.”

While the organization’s push to help remains the same, COVID-19 challenges that mission weekly. 

“Instead of just saying ‘This is the way we do it,’ we say, ‘This is the overall need,’” Johnson said. “We’ll get together every week and we’ll figure out a way to do it right. So, nimble is a survival technique.” 

From survival techniques to helping others survive. 

COVID-19 amplified existing problems for some living on Key Peninsula.

“We have a lot of students who are couch surfing,” Johnson said. “We have parents and families going through crisis. Life is tough for them. It’s tough in good times.” 

That loneliness was made even worse as people stayed apart in order to stay safe. 

“But really what COVID did is, it isolated people even more,” Johnson said. 

People on the Peninsula noticed the isolation and the need, so they stepped in to help their neighbors. Harbor Hope Center manages to stay nimble, Johnson says, through great support. 

“I think we’ve seen the best behavior out of people,” Johnson said. “We tend to focus on the bad stuff.” 

Disagreements exist. But small political differences have been put aside for the good of keeping people healthy. 

“It’s really a remarkable community,” Johnson said. “It sounds  cliché to say that but there’s really a lot of people in the community  determined to see that there are no neighbors with unmet needs.” 

Talking and listening to ease a storm. 

Johnson says he talks with people daily about the need to get vaccinated. The time for arguing is over, he says. It’s time to listen, and help people stay healthy. 

“We all want to help each other,” Johnson said. “And the tendency is to think ‘I’m right and you’re wrong’ about anything in life. And it’s a non-starter. Arguments are a non-starter.”

Johnson knows Harbor Hope Center’s work helping people living with food insecurity and homelessness won’t end when the pandemic does. But the more people that get vaccinated and the sooner the pandemic ends, the easier the work becomes. 

“I’m committing us to join the fight of honestly communicating in the Peninsula to help people get healthy and to help us get over the hump,” Johnson said. “I think we’ll get over it, but I think we have to work together.” 

Find your dose.

Find your vaccination today at tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture. Everyone 12 and older is eligible. You can register online or just drop in at any clinic and get vaccinated without an appointment.

If you need a ride to an appointment or can’t easily leave your home, we can help! Call us at (253) 649-1412, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

Your role to stop the spread of COVID-19 remains critical.

• Wear your mask. 
• If you’re sick, stay home.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Get tested if you experience symptoms or were exposed.