Since the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in our community and the announcement made by Governor Walz this week, many have asked whether The Open Door will remain open.
We will continue to provide food support for as long as it is safe to do so. Our priority is to continue providing the healthy food our community needs in the safest way possible. With 1 in 4 Minnesotans struggling to pay their monthly household expenses, the need for our services has never been more pressing.
Over the past 8 months we have modified nearly every aspect of our operations to ensure the safety of clients, volunteers and staff. We have taken great care to redesign our physical spaces to limit interpersonal interactions and allow clients, volunteers and staff to remain a safe distance from one another. We have enacted advanced cleaning protocols and adopted new processes across the organization. You can read our Preparedness Plan for more information on our new protocols and processes.
We will continue to adhere to the guidelines set forth by Governor Walz, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and we will operate as long as it is safe to do so. If The Open Door does find itself in need of suspending operations due to changes in regulations or due to safety concerns, we will communicate this closure to our clients, volunteers and community.
How you can support The Open Door through COVID-19:
Make a financial donation. Monetary gifts give us the flexibility and agility to respond appropriately, day by day, as the situation evolves. If you are able to give, monetary donations go a long way.
Donate NowDonate non-perishable food items. We also are in serious need of canned beans (kidney, pinto, chili), sugar, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, toilet paper and toothpaste. Please consider donating these nonperishable food items. Click here for more information on where to drop off donations.
Volunteer. If you are healthy please consider volunteering. As we move to more pre-packing of items for clients, the labor needs increase.
If we have willing volunteers, we will be able to provide meals to children once schools close. We do have a plan in place to use our Mobile Lunchbox Model to distribute meals 5 days a week in multiple low-income communities. We will need volunteers to go out in teams of two five days a week. Click here and check “Mobile Pantry Driver” as your area of interest. We will contact you with more information.
Be flexible. We have modified our distributions in every way possible to limit risk of exposure. We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and making changes as quickly as we can think of them. Know that whether volunteering or supporting us, things will change and probably often.
COVID-19 information resources:
- MN. Department of Health – COVID-19 Minnesota updates and recommendations
- World Health Organization (WHO) – COVID-19 advice for the public
- CDC Foundation – COVID-19 summary
- CDC Foundation – Keep yourself and family safe during COVID-19
- Dakota County Displaced Employee Assistance
- The Open Door Client FAQs
- The Open Door Volunteer FAQs