We will update this page as the situation evolves.
Updated: 11/23/20
Is The Open Door remaning open and can I still volunteer?
Since the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in our community and the announcement made by Governor Walz on 11/18, many have asked whether
The Open Door will remain open, and whether or not we will continue to allow volunteers to work alongside our staff during this surge.
We will continue to provide food support for as long as it is safe to do so, and we will continue to provide a safe environment for volunteers to support our community. 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.
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.
Please only volunteer if you feel comfortable doing so, your health and well being needs to be your number one priority. If you are in a High-Risk Category as defined by the CDC, please feel free to withhold from volunteering until the virus has passed.
What if I’m sick?
If you are sick, or anyone in your household is sick, please stay home and seek medical attention. Again, yours and your families health needs to be your number one priority.
What extra precautions are you taking?
We are managing risk for volunteers by disinfecting often and changing some procedures to reduce the sharing of germs. You will see signage posted throughout our locations with information on how to best prevent spreading the virus. A more robust cleaning schedule has been implemented. We ask that you help us keep surfaces disinfected, and wear gloves while volunteering. We are also minimizing interpersonal interactions between everyone at our locations. Please read our Preparedness Plan for more information on our new protocols and processes.
Where do you need the most help?
If you are interested in helping, we need food distribution assistance and warehouse assistance. 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
Volunteer NowWhat can I tell a client if they’re frustrated with the modifications to our operations?
Please feel free to direct them to any staff member on site and let them know that we are making our best effort to make sure we are not actively spreading the disease while keeping operations going.
What steps can I take to ensure everyone’s health and safety?
As we head into the winter season, we continue to need your help to remain safe and stay open:
- If you feel sick, please stay home
- Be patient with changes, and requests from one another 😊
- Follow all posted instructions and protocols at our locations.
- Wear a mask at all times and remain at least 6 feet apart from others while visiting The Open Door.
- Follow the CDC and MN Dept. of Health’s recommendations.