During these uncertain times, we want to keep the health and well-being of our employees, shoppers, volunteers and the individuals they help as our highest priority. We are closely following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the Los Angeles County Public Health Department and creating policies to inhibit the spread of COVID-19.
St. Vincent de Paul’s mission has always been to serve the homeless and those in need. We are still offering relief services, and our thrift stores will remain open for the foreseeable future, but we have made necessary changes to our facilities to prioritize health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak. These changes allow our programs to continue helping those in need, especially now that the pandemic has affected sources of income. These changes also aim to ensure the safety of our volunteers and employees who provide these necessary recourses.
Such changes include:
- Having our elderly and/or immunocompromised employees and volunteers stay home, or if elderly volunteers would like to continue their service to those in need, they will do so over the phone
- Canceling all gatherings and having employees who are able to work remotely continue their duties from home
- Encouraging volunteers who provide home visits and are NOT high-risk for COVID-19 to drop off food and supplies at the doorstep of those in need instead of meeting them inside
- Cleaning and sanitizing heavily used items and areas at our stores, shelter and all our facilities as well as providing disposable gloves and hand sanitizers for our employees
Our homeless shelter, homelessness prevention programs, thrift stores and children’s summer camp have assisted over 100,000 people in need last year alone. We will continue to feed, house, clothe and heal our homeless neighbors and the most vulnerable in our communities, but we always welcome support. Please consider donating to continue our efforts, especially now, during the COVID-19 outbreak.
