Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is carefully monitoring the quickly changing situation surrounding COVID-19. We are committed to providing emergency food to as many of our hungry neighbors as possible and feel compelled to exercise an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our team members, partners and the continued well being of those we serve. While we are currently experiencing unforeseen volunteer cancellations, we are working to develop plans that will enable us to continue providing needed services.
As schools and businesses close, more families than ever are turning to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and our partners for the meals they need. In order to meet the increase in demand, we’re launching an effort to provide nutritious, wholesome flash-frozen meals prepared by the Food Shuttle’s culinary program. These meals will feature such family- and kid-friendly favorites as meatloaf, spaghetti and meatballs, mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. The culinary team will prepare 500 meals a day, with production beginning March 16, 2020. They will be created in our commercial kitchen with the help of our Culinary Apprenticeship Program students and will be distributed free of charge through future Mobile Markets and at other drop off sites to be determined.
BackPack Buddies
The Food Shuttle’s signature program BackPack Buddies will continue as usual. We will continue to deliver the bags to the schools and work with the them to get the bags out to their children. This will allow us to maintain the anonymity of the recipients that has been a critical element of the program. Currently, we distribute over 3,000 BackPack Buddy bags each week. We have had several volunteer groups that have cancelled, either individually or due to company policies. We have had to ask our volunteers to increase their bags packed per hour to meet our packing quota each week to make up for the loss in volunteers.
We are actively working with schools to assess our ability to deliver the BackPack Buddies bags to the children even if the schools are closed. Various options are being considered and a final determination will be shared once these plans are in place.
School Pantries
At this time, we are unable to support School Pantries in schools located in closed districts. We are looking at alternatives to get food to families in these districts. We will continue to stock the Pantries in schools located in districts that remain open.
Grocery Bags for Seniors
Grocery Bags for Seniors, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s longest running program, will continue as normal. Due to the nature of the population that the program serves, we are taking extra precautions in preparation and delivery of the bags. Volunteers are wearing gloves and limiting exposure to the recipients at delivery. We are maintaining close communication with the site coordinators to ensure that we are up-to-date as far as recommendations for protecting the health and safety for the recipients. Again, we have experienced several cancellations from volunteers but have not had to make any adjustments to services at this time.
Mobile Markets
For Mobile Markets, we are looking at adjusting our procedures to minimize exposure and work within Governor Cooper’s guidelines. Plans being considered include pre-packaged boxes to be picked up and go, and/or drive-through markets, but as of today no such changes have been made. Mobile Market coordinators are asking their volunteer drivers to wear gloves and refrain from hugging or touching. Mobile Markets sites are responsible for coordinating their own volunteers, so it remains to be seen how their numbers will be affected.
Take Action
The Food Shuttle has had several cancellations of volunteers across all programs. Adjustments have been made in order to maintain consistency in all programming. We want to assure volunteers that every effort has been made to ensure their health and safety. We are currently looking at making changes to our volunteer sessions. We need volunteers to pack, deliver and drive for our various programs. We have established an On-Call volunteer list to share weekly needs as they develop. To volunteer, please visit our website.
If you are unable to volunteer, you can still support the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle by making a tax deductible donation today online or by mail at 1001 Blair Dr., Suite 120, Raleigh NC 27609. Donations from our generous supporters allow us to serve our community by funding the full compliment of programs and services we offer to all our neighbors. To learn more, please visit www.foodshuttle.org.
About Inter-Faith Food Shuttle: Inter-Faith Food pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. As a member of Feeding America, the Food Shuttle distributes nearly 6 million pounds of food per year, 35% of which is fresh produce. From BackPack Buddies and School Pantries, Community Health Education and Mobile Markets, Catering and Culinary Job Training, and Urban Gardening and a 14-acre Farm, we go directly to the point of need to empower people. We feed, teach and grow to create a healthy and hunger-free North Carolina.