First, huge thanks to everyone who has sent food, money, supplies, moral support and offers of help. So many have called or emailed to ask what we're doing and how we're doing.
We truly hope that you're doing well and staying safe!
Here's a quick recap.
We are adjusting our operations in response to CDC guidelines, we call it the "Six-Foot Shuffle":
- There is a new place to drop donations at the back of the building to minimize person to person contact. There is a bin for dry goods and a table for delicate things (glass jars, eggs, produce). Thanks for using the drops!
- We've had to make some major changes to protect our staff and those we are serving. Non-perishable groceries are now being packed outside in the parking lot to maintain social distance.
- Effective Monday, 3/23/2020, emergency pantry food services will only be available by appointment. This change will allow us to minimize person to person contact, provide service more efficiently and keep everyone safer.
Already this week, we've seen an increase in need and we anticipate that those numbers will continue to climb. In response, as well as providing our regular food pantry services, we've given emergency response food bags to multiple partners across the County including Loudoun County Public Schools, our Loudoun County human service agencies, senior living low-income apartment complexes, Area Agency on Aging, fellow nonprofit partner organizations and out of our front door.
The best way to help remains monetary contributions. We are able to stretch our food dollars far further than donors can.
If you would like to bring food donations directly to us, we are in need of canned fruit, breakfast foods, basic hygiene products, diapers, wipes, baby food, cleaning products and feminine hygiene products.
At this time we are not accepting new volunteers. We are limiting the number of people in our small space and cannot accept that help, as much as we'd like to.
We have witnessed such incredible kindness, caring, and goodwill toward our community and neighbors. It's giving us hope and energy during this time. Thank you so much!
