Responding to
COVID-19

“If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress. "

Barack Obama
KITCHENALITY is reopening this morning. But before you race on down to your favorite kitchen and entertaining resale store, there are a few important changes to be aware of.

First, our hours are reduced. The store will be open Monday through Friday, from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

Second, we're limiting the number of customers who can be in the store at one time to no more than five.

Third, a volunteer will be screening customers before they are allowed into the store, asking if they've been adhering to appropriate risk-mitigating and social distancing protocols. Face masks and gloves will be required. (If you don't have your own, we'll provide them.) Folks who have recently arrived in Santa Fe from out of state may be asked to wait 14 days before they can visit the store.

Fourth, there will be no public access to the restrooms in the building.

These are rules we've committed to follow as a business participating in Santa Fe Safe . Santa Fe Safe is an initiative of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce intended to help businesses keep their customers and employees as safe as possible. (See the article below for more information.)

We're delighted to reopen the store and we will be watching the news and the data, particularly in light of recent increases in infection rates, to determine if keeping the store open will continue to be possible. We'll let you know if things change.
Many of us already know that last week was a week of mixed news . The seven day average number of new COVID-19 cases in Santa Fe County increased to 3.6 as of Saturday, up from 2.1 two weeks ago. Statewide, New Mexico had 11,619 confirmed and probable cases. Arizona, Florida and Texas are leading the states in the number of new cases. In response to the statewide increases, Governor Lujan Grisham announced a delay in additional Phase 2 re-openings. While businesses that have already been allowed to re-open can continue, any decisions on increasing the limit on mass gatherings and other re-openings have been delayed until at least July 1.

But even with the mixed news, I believe we still have cause to remain optimistic. As this article from the National Geographic points out, "Humans can beat COVID-19 because viruses are simplistic. They can’t move anywhere without assistance. Leave them outside in the open air for very long, and many will disintegrate. All they know is how to multiply."

That's why I keep coming back to one simple idea: it's our choices and our behavior that will bring infection rates down. While much of the public messaging and information about COVID-19 has been inconsistent and confusing, all we need to do is follow the science. The choices each of us makes will have a tremendous impact on the health and safety of our family, friends and community.

It's really that simple.

To each Kitchen Angels volunteer and the entire Kitchen Angels family, thank you.

In gratitude,
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Thank you for your vigilance. We want you to stay safe, healthy and informed.
Kitchen Angels is pleased to have joined Santa Fe Safe , a private initiative, supported by the Chamber of Commerce, to help make local businesses COVID-safe for customers and employees alike. As we re-open KITCHENALITY , we will be using all of the tools at our disposal to ensure a safe and friendly shopping experience for our volunteers and customers. Look for the Santa Fe Safe logo around town.

Click here for more information about the initiative as well as a regularly updated list of participating businesses.
For Your Information . . .

As we learn more about how the novel coronavirus spreads, topics we never thought we'd be reading about and discussing are showing up in the public dialogue.

Take, for example, toilet plume. A  new stud y suggests potentially infectious particles continue to be airborne for about a minute after each flush, and toilets can continue to generate an infectious plume several flushes after the original contaminated flush.

Now that restaurants are re-opening and people are spending more time away from home, the safety of public restrooms is a concern for many people. This article offers some helpful information on how to best navigate a trip to a shared bathroom. Suggestions include choosing larger bathrooms with multiple stalls as they typically have better air circulation, and don't linger to chat.
If you want to return to volunteering . . .

. . . please first ask yourself if you are willing to adhere to our required social distancing protocols throughout all parts of your day, and not just while at Kitchen Angels.

In particular: 
  1. Am I able to work a full shift wearing a face mask?
  2. Can I hear well enough from six-feet away if the other person is speaking through a face mask?
  3. Am I willing to work a different shift than the one I previously worked?
  4. Can I commit to showing up to my shift on-time and without canceling at the last minute?
  5. Can I adapt to a new environment and new routine?
  6. Can I reliably communicate with the Volunteer Coordinator?
  7. Do I feel safe being back in the public sphere?

If you answer "NO" to any of these questions, you're not ready to return.