Dear Food Bank Volunteer,
As a stakeholder in the Food Bank's mission, we wanted to provide you with an update regarding the recently declared pandemic.
At the Food Bank, there is no higher priority than the safety of our volunteers, staff, and the community we serve.
Keeping a clean facility and following best practices for food safety are part of our culture. However, due to COVID-19, we are taking extra precautions, including increased cleaning and sanitizing of our facilities.
As this situation unfolds, the need for food assistance in our community persists. At this time, volunteer sessions are planned to run as scheduled. With a few exceptions, our network of 100+ partner agencies and programs remain open, but modifications have been made or will be made to limit the risk of infection.
The need for food in our community is already high and while we cannot predict what COVID-19's effect on our community will be, it is clear that those who already struggle with food insecurity will rely even more on our services, especially should schools and workplaces begin to close. Your ongoing support will be critical as we continue to serve those in need.
Though we rely on the support of our volunteers to help us meet the needs of the community, we also understand that the spread of the coronavirus is alarming and that some volunteers may wish to stay home. If this is the case, please contact us as soon as possible so we can prepare for your absence and assess our own operating needs. Also, if you feel ill- especially if you have flu-like symptoms, a cough, or fever- we ask that you stay home for the safety of staff, volunteers and the community we serve.
On behalf of the Food Bank and the people we serve, I thank you.
Sincerely,
