March 13, 2020: SOS Meals on Wheels' Response to COVID-19

Dear Friends,

The health and safety of the SOS Meals on Wheels community--staff, volunteers and especially the seniors we serve-- is our top priority. We want you to know that we are closely monitoring the changing conditions surrounding the novel Coronavirus known as COVID-19 and that we will continue to do everything in our power to prevent any interruption in service to our clients. At this time, we are operating normally and delivering meals Monday through Friday.

WHAT SOS IS DOING:

  • We're staying up-to-date on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health and the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD)

  • Coaching staff and volunteers on appropriate measures to prevent illness and the transmission of germs, providing updated CDC info regularly

  • Distributing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for use during meal deliveries to keep volunteers and the 1,300+ seniors healthy

  • We have strengthened our already meticuouls food service handling requirements

  • Increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing all food handling surfaces and equipment. 

  • Placed an order for two weeks' worth of shelf-stable meals for each of our current clients

  • Initiated a partnership with Mom’s Meals, a company that will ship meals directly to our clients’ homes, in the event that we are unable to produce or deliver meals to our clients ourselves; these meals would be delivered in packs of 14, every other week.

  • And we are looking into providing “emergency packs” with hand sanitizer, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent for each of our clients as it’s becoming more and more difficult for people to find these items on their own

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

  • Volunteer! If you are healthy, please consider signing up to volunteer to prepare, pack, or deliver meals.

  • Send supplies -- We are accepting donations of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, incontinence supplies (like Depends) and shelf-stable pantry items like peanut butter, granola bars, cans of tuna, etc.

  • Donate! Your generous cash gift will help cover the extra items we are purchasing and help ensure that we can continue to provide this critical service to vulnerable homebound seniors across Central Alameda County and the City of Oakland

  • Stay healthy! Follow guidelines established by CDC and ACPHD.

In these challenging times we are reminded how interconnected we all are and how critical it is to look out for one another. The SOS community is strong and I believe we will get through this. By working together. Thank you all for your continued partnership.

Now go wash your hands.

Charlie Deterline, Executive Director

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