We want to give you an update about how the agency and our programs are faring amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Food Pantry
We are seeing an average of 110 families shopping at the Food Pantry each Tuesday and Thursday. Many of the new faces are shopping with us because the food pantry in their neighborhood has closed due to a lack of volunteers. Not so with our pantry. We are so grateful to all the new volunteers (and old) that show up each day to help us package and distribute food. Dare to Care has met the new demand by increasing the food delivery each week. They even assembled food boxes for the Conferences to deliver to friends in need. We are so grateful for our partnership with Dare to Care.
Open Hand Kitchen
Since April 1st, the staff at Brown-Forman’s Bourbon Street Café have been providing 400 sack meals per day to the Open Hand Kitchen and will continue to do so through the third week of May. Their generosity is overwhelming. Social distancing has shut down our dining hall, yet we’ve been able to provide a healthy meal to anyone that asks because of Brown-Forman.
Staff Safety
While many of our case managers are working from home, Ozanam Inn Men’s Shelter and St. Jude Women’s Recovery Center remain staffed. Thanks to board member Donna Russo, Hour of Need, the Schmitt Family, Epiphany Catholic Church, St. Bernadette Catholic Church, and others, we have a healthy supply of hand-sewn face masks available for staff. This will go along way to keep both clients and staff safer.
Family Success Center
While the Family Success may be closed to children, Program Manager Julio Anthony has worked to see that our families are getting the laptops and internet access needed for at-home learning. We miss having the kids here and can’t wait to see them again.
Thank You
In addition to your monthly support through The Good Samaritan, several generous donors have donated their $1,200/$2,400 Federal Stimulus Checks to us. We thank you for believing in our mission this way.
We could not have predicted a month ago what our message to you now would be. Because of your support, we can report that no one is missing a meal or going without shelter on our watch. For that, we thank you.
Rev James Hackett says
Why can’t we leave good clothes outside one of the stores? We could call before we get there and when we get there. Just limited times etc. People still need clothes even during this pandemic.
I have been hauling a big supply of clothes around in my car for 6 weeks. I am about ready to toss them which I hate to do.
Thanks!
Fr JIM hackett
David Sharpe says
Sorry about that but we had to do what we had to do. We are opening up for donations and you can find details here, https://www.svdplou.org/thrift-stores-reopening-schedule-set/. Thanks for your patience.