The impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent quarantine, is being felt by everyone in some capacity. Some people are able to work from home and may suffer the occasional bout of boredom. Others, however, have lost their means to work and are unable to sustain food and shelter for themselves or their families. While the United States and other more developed nations might be better equipped to combat the effects of Covid-19, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations warns that the pandemic could cause a “crisis within a crisis… The health crisis will be compounded by a hunger crisis. And that, in a vicious feedback loop, will leave more people weaker and vulnerable to the virus.” For many, that vicious feedback loop includes the inability to pay housing related costs due to limited employment opportunities.
According to the Habitat for Humanity, “with more than 30 million Americans filing for unemployment, the situation is likely much worse. Families are facing additional economic hardship from lost wages or layoffs and are now confronted with impossible choices between trying to pay their rent or mortgage and life’s other essentials.”
To fight against the harmful impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities are organizing to protect its vulnerable populations. While face masks and social distancing measures address the spread of the virus itself, charities and community groups are mobilizing to handle the unintended consequences of those measures, such as hunger and housing.
In Virginia, several Roanoke and New River Valley non-profit organizations are restructuring their services and pooling their resources to serve the community needs during the pandemic.
Rescue Mission Ministries
Rescue Mission Ministries is a Christian organization based in Roanoke that provides food, shelter and addiction counseling to community members in need. According to Rescue Mission Ministries CEO, Lee Clark, the mission of the organization has remained mostly the same, while adjusting to the needs that the pandemic creates. “Daily adapting to change is the new normal here at the Rescue Mission,” Clark said.
The intake process for those being sheltered at Rescue Mission has become more comprehensive and medically minded, he said. Hand washing stations, medical screenings and stronger sanitization procedures have been added to the program. Perhaps one of the biggest changes for the Rescue Mission is the shift in its staffing. According to Clark, volunteers have played an integral role in the function of many of Rescue Mission’s services.
“Almost overnight, volunteers who want to support our work found themselves in the very difficult position of desperately wanting to help the Rescue Mission during this heightened crisis but being unable due to many being in a high risk category,” Clark said. Despite the shift, Clark said the Rescue Mission is evolving to meet volunteers and donors where they are through social media and video calls. The Rescue Mission also is working with local hospitals, emergency departments and the like to fill in the gaps of their own coverage. “There has been tremendous collaboration and support across many sectors in our community to ensure everyone is safe,” Clark said.
Millstone Kitchen
As its name suggests, Millstone Kitchen is an organization that is food based. However, Millstone Kitchen is more of a facilitator to business owners stepping into the food space.
“Our mission is to give food entrepreneurs the tools they need to successfully launch their business, including our commercial kitchen space, a network with local farms and businesses and support in navigating the regulatory process,” said, Laina Schneider, kitchen manager. However, according to Schneider, Millstone Kitchen has shifted its focus to using its resources to serve the community. In association with HazelBea Catering, Millstone Kitchen formed the food donation program Neighbors in Need.
“The program is responding to increased demand for food from local community organizations,” Schneider said. The program is donation based, with $10 covering the cost of one meal. Although the kitchen is closed for its normal operations (public use, tours, meetings, etc.), the Neighbors in Need program is able to use it to provide between 100 and 200 meals per week, according to Schneider.
“Our mission at Millstone Kitchen is directly related to cultivating community through food. In a time of uncertainty and fear we are glad that our mission can extend to address the needs of the food-insecure and support small local businesses and organizations,” Schneider said. Although volunteers are not able to lend support in the kitchen, Schneider said donations are “critical” to Neighbors in Need’s operation. Information about donating can be found at millstonekitchen.org/neighbors-in-need.
United Way of Roanoke Valley
United Way of Roanoke Valley has compounded its efforts in fighting against the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit organization is acting as a nexus point for several local organizations to funnel resources into the broader community. “We are grateful for the community leaders across our region for coming together as part of this team to thoughtfully guide these decisions and determine how to best maximize available resources to do the most good,” said Abby Hamilton, president and CEO of United Way of Roanoke Valley.
According to UW, to adjust to the continuing timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic, funds raised will be parceled out in phases over the extent of the crisis. Phase 1 saw $60,000 divided among eight nonprofits. UW also has set up the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. Under this program, all donations will be given to organizations assisting families in need. “We’ve had to focus on what we know is urgently needed and where gaps exist, but also know our community’s needs will continue changing in the challenging weeks to come,” Hamilton said.
Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread
While some people can still brave the grocery stores for food essentials, many others, such as the elderly and immune-compromised, are left to shelter in place with minimal resources to sustain themselves. Fortunately, Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread is continuing to meet those needs as they have for years. Daily Bread provides free, no questions asked meals both in a social dining room setting, and to “homebound” individuals through a Meals on Wheels program.
Although Daily Bread’s mission remains the same, they organization was forced to suspend or at least, alter certain services to meet the safety requirements of the state quarantine. According to Dora Butler, program manager at Daily Bread, they have adopted a “multi-tiered plan” to meet community needs while adhering to CDC guidelines. “This is the first time in the 28 years of serving the community that RFDB has not been able to serve prepared meals in a dining room setting,” Butler said.
The Daily Bread has sacrificed beloved programs, but Butler said the organization is still able to meet the most essential needs. “Providing Emergency Meal boxes meets the intent of our mission to reduce the impact of food insecurity but does not offer the social experience that is important to the health and well-being of the community.”
According to Butler, the Emergency Meal boxes that Daily Bread switched to are comprised of non-perishable items that make up roughly seven meals. In April, the Radford Sherriff’s and Police Departments, and Mullins Funeral Home have assisted in handing out nearly 150 Emergency Meal boxes. Butler said currently there main concern is the thinning funds they use for food. Two planned food drives have been canceled or postponed. Daily Bread is requesting food and monetary donations. “Innovative partnerships are being formed and people are reaching out to find ways they can help their neighbors in need,” Butler said.
Local Office on Aging
The people most at risk for deadly complications from the Coronavirus are individuals 65 or older, and those with underlying medical conditions. The Local Office on Aging is doing its part to protect this vulnerable population. The nonprofit is an organization that provides 28 services to seniors in an effort to help older people be “independent for as long as possible.”
“We are very much fulfilling our mission, there’s just a greater demand on services,” said LOA President and CEO, Ron Boyd. “The organization has shifted delivery efforts to ‘no contact’ as much as possible. Staff workload has increased. We have become innovative in our methods to secure personal protective equipment (PPE) and shelf stable food items.”
Boyd said LOA vastly has increased its safety protocols. Aside from sanitizing surfaces, hand washing and wearing PPE at all times, staff also check their temperatures twice a day.
Like many organizations meeting similar needs, LOA is requesting assistance from the community. LOA is in need of food and monetary donations.
“We along with our community are rising to the challenge and working together better than ever,” Boyd said.
Tags: Covid-19
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