Covid-19: Together We Are Serving Our Community.

Common Heart is dedicating all our resources to continue to serve our community. We are focusing our service during this time of greater need on our food pantry programs. The immediate needs of the food insecure in our community has increased as the response to contain the Coronavirus continues to impact our daily lives. We are responding to that need. Hello friends, Last Saturday, folks from around the area brought food to the food and fund drive at Common Heart. Thanks for providing an essential need for our neighbors. This past week, 60 volunteers worked individually or in small groups. Over 150 people have donated food and funds. Together, since our last email, we made sure this that 180 families, our neighbors, received a week's worth of groceries. We are preparing to serve 100 more tomorrow! Together, we collected over 3,000 pounds of food for our community in a time of increased need. Together, we are showing strength through selfless service. Together, we are a small revolution of kindness. Thank you! Even in the midst of this crisis and in the midst of uncertainty, this community is pulling together, loving our neighbors. This week  Food Drop-off & Fund Drive on Saturday, March 28, 9 to noon, at Common Heart, 116 Business Park Dr, Indian Trail, NC. Drop off non-perishables including canned meats, fruits & vegetables, peanut butter & jelly, canned soups, pasta/rice and cereal. If you can't make it on Saturday, you can participate by donating online at Donate.CommonHeart.org. We are also needing healthy, not at risk individuals, to help by being a backup for several key volunteer roles weekday and Saturday mornings. To help out as a backup person to deliver groceries to a family or pick up grocery donations, please contact Volunteer@CommonHeart.org. Our goal is to keep all our pantry programs functioning throughout the crisis. You can find a list of our pantry programs at TEFAP.CommonHeart.org Thanks for your concern for our neighbors as we as a community continue to provide for the most vulnerable in our county. Keith Adams Common Heart Executive Director Please read more below about how to stop the spread of Coronavirus, our procedure enhancements and program updates. Program Updates Common Things Boutique & Thrift Shop is closed until further notice. Literacy 201 Tutor Training (April 4) is canceled. Adult Spelling Bee fundraising event (April 23) is postponed until early fall. Retro Run fundraising event (May 23) is canceled. Adult Literacy Volunteers will break from tutoring sessions and office hours until at least May 15. Free Tax Service is closed until further notice. Stay tuned for details. Our pantries remain open and operating as drive-thru pantries. Visit TEFAP.CommonHeart.org for times and locations. Download Additional CDC Information Procedure Enhancements To protect our volunteers, staff and the neighbors we serve, we are seeking to reduce the size of groups at our pantries. Requiring that volunteers who are sick or an at risk individual stay home. Requiring volunteer hand-washing prior to service and increased use of plastic gloves. Starting Saturday, our volunteers and staff will be screened for flu-like symptoms and temperature. We are limiting the number of volunteers and spacing out work areas. Please, no drop in volunteers. Schedule your time at by email at Volunteer@CommonHeart.org Volunteers are using gloves and maintaining safe distances from neighbors and other volunteers. Applications are being filled out by staff and volunteers. Our pantries are now drive-thru. We are prepacking non-perishables and fresh foods. Neighbors can not "shop" any more in our pantries. We have increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.