SARANAC LAKE — Men from the First United Methodist Church in Saranac Lake are offering a grocery delivery service for seniors and those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

They will take orders by phone on Mondays and deliver every Tuesday from Tops Friendly Market in Saranac Lake between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Those who wish to use the services will receive in-store prices and free delivery.

Once an order is placed, it is emailed to Store Manager Shawn Hayes. From there, Hayes and his employees will fill out the order and have it ready to be picked up and paid for.

One of the Methodist church’s men will go to the customer’s home and pick up shopping bags and a signed blank check made out to Tops. They will then go receive the order, pay for it and deliver it back to the doorstep of the customer.

The volunteer will not enter the home, will wear a mask and will wipe down all the items before delivery.

It is preferred that the order be placed on a Monday and picked up on a Tuesday; however, Travis McElyea of First United Methodist said, “If there is a customer that needs it other than Tuesday, they have a volunteer to do the shopping.”

With the service still being in its early stage, the men have not yet set any distance boundaries.

“If there is somebody in need and they live in Paul Smiths, that’s not going to be a problem,” McElyea said.

“We want people’s quality of life to be better; that’s what Jesus was all about,” said the Rev. Eric Olsen, pastor of Saranac Lake’s Methodist and Lutheran churches. “It’s a Christian thing to do to help your neighbor in a time of need.”

These services are sanctioned by the Saranac Lake Police Department. To register, call 518-891-3473.