As anticipated, we are required to implement tighter measures around access to the Foodbank and Foodbank programs. For now, the current operating hours will remain the same for the clients. Concerning our volunteers, however, we would like to see a decrease in the number of volunteers and hours over the next few months to ensure your safety. For any volunteer who has:
- Pre-existing health conditions
- Weakened immune system
- Existing heart/lung conditions
- Travelled in the last two weeks
- Cold/flu-like symptoms,
We ask that you refrain from volunteering at the Foodbank for the foreseeable future. We are currently reviewing volunteer schedules and will revise as needed. This may take the form of staggering volunteer hours throughout the day or physical separation between volunteers throughout the facility. Concerning food distribution to our clients, we regrettably will not be permitting general access to our shelves for the time being. Bags of food will be prepared beforehand and distributed to Help Yourself Shelf clients outside of the front door entrance. Hamper clients will be asked to make their food selections over the phone and wait in their vehicles for the hamper to be brought to them. The Hamper preparation teams have been reduced to three volunteers per shift in order to ensure the two-metre social distancing protocol is followed. The April and May ‘Many Hands Soup’ sessions have been cancelled. Protocols already set in place re: wearing of gloves, hourly sanitizing of work surfaces, will continue. Our team has embraced the new mantra of: Level Head, Clean Hands and Open Heart. It’s who we are and who we know you are, too. If you have questions, or wish to discuss your concerns directly, please call me at 587-585-1753 or email, [email protected].
Kind regards,
Pamela and The Okotoks Foodbank Team