United Airlines Employees Are Checking up on Senior Citizens in Quarantine

The coronavirus has grounded thousands of flights around the world, grounding thousands of crew members. Some of those crew members are using their downtime to give back to senior citizens.

About 300 United Airlines employees from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose will be making weekly wellness calls to check on seniors in the area during the coronavirus. In total, more than 1,000 callers will participate in the program, called the Social Bridging Project.

“Our shared purpose at United is connecting people and uniting the world, and during these unprecedented times that has never been more important,” Janet Lamkin, United Airlines’ California president, said in a statement, adding: “We are profoundly grateful to all of our compassionate employees who will be using their experience and training to bring some much-needed comfort to our state’s most vulnerable residents during these difficult times.”

It is designed to provide an opportunity for older Californians to socialize with others without leaving the house. It will also give them an opportunity to connect with people who can listen to their concerns and make sure that they have everything they need to wait out the coronavirus. Volunteers will be able to connect seniors with outside support like deliveries from local restaurants and a hotline for lonely or isolated residents to call for support.