In response to COVID-19 concerns, as well as the safety and well-being of all who come to The Caring Place, we are announcing the following immediate changes in operations:
- All volunteers of the Caring Place will not report for their volunteer assignments until further notice.
- Both thrift stores, The Shops at The Caring Place located at 2000 Railroad Avenue and Second Helping at 3700 Williams Drive, are closed until further notice.
- Donations drive through at 2000 Railroad Avenue is closed until further notice. Item pick-ups are suspended. Please do not leave items for The Caring Place at this time.
- Programs & Services at 2001 Railroad Avenue is closed until further notice.
- Food Pantry services will continue in a modified format. The Food Pantry will operate out of the Donations drive through on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- The Daily Bread program is discontinued at this time.
- These procedures will be re-evaluated daily as needed.
Executive Director Ginna O’Connor shares, “
We believe as a community when a crisis arrives, we are all in it together. The coronavirus outbreak is no exception. As you have supported us for the last 35 years, we are here to support you, too. With that in mind, we at The Caring Place want to update you on some of the important actions we are taking in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to keep our volunteers, neighbors and staff safer. As you may know, The Caring Place is home to nearly 500 dedicated volunteers. Much of the work of The Caring Place is in their hands every single day. So, it is with a heart full of love and concern for our many wonderful volunteers and members of our community, that The Caring Place is making some hard choices, which include this partial closure, modified programs and the request that all volunteers do not come to The Caring Place at this time.”
The Caring Place will operate with its small team of staff to ensure volunteers that may be vulnerable are not increasing their risk by being at The Caring Place. For neighbors and staff who will be at The Caring Place during this partial closure, The Caring Place is taking many precautions and encourages you to help in order for everyone to remain healthy. Please heed the following:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds throughout the day, particularly before you come to The Caring Place and utilize hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands.
- The Caring Place staff is disinfecting surfaces regularly.
- Stay home if you are not well or live with someone who has the coronavirus or has flu-like symptoms. Do not return to The Caring Place until you and your family members are fever-free without medication for at least 48 hours.
How can you help The Caring Place?
It’s important that we feed our community at this time, however to avoid additional handling and exposure, we can’t accept any nonperishable items from our community. The Caring Place encourages you to give monetary gifts instead so that it can refill the Food Pantry as long as it can. Donate at
www.caringplacetx.org/donate or create a Facebook fundraiser benefiting The Caring Place. (Listed at Georgetown Community Service Center dba The Caring Place.)
- Hold on to those item donations.
While The Caring Place can’t accept item donations right now, once stores are operating again, it will be imperative that the stores are stocked with items to sell. The Caring Place thrift stores more than cover the organizations’ operating expenses, so that 100% of monetary gifts directly impact neighbors in need. Without the stores open, The Caring Place will lose valuable support.
Please use the AmazonSmile platform to do your online shopping and designate The Caring Place as your nonprofit. .5% of you purchases will benefit The Caring Place.
If you are shopping at Randalls for your necessities, please ensure that you have selected The Caring Place as your nonprofit. 1% of your purchases will benefit The Caring Place. The Caring Place’s account number is 13870. The Good Neighbor program form can be found online and should be returned to the Randalls courtesy booth.
This Press Release is an update from the Release that went out to media and online on Friday, March 13th. Due to a rapidly evolving situation, The Caring Place requests that the community follow it on Facebook
@thecaringplace
for the latest information or activity changes at the organization. You can also sign up for the organization’s electronic newsletter at
www.caringplacetx.org/newsletter
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ABOUT THE CARING PLACE
Since 1985, The Caring Place has provided for the basic human needs of all people in our community in a welcoming, respectful and caring way. Through two thrift shops, The Shops at The Caring Place and Second Helping, both in Georgetown, the organization is able to pay all operating expenses to serve a growing community. All monetary and food donations directly benefit neighbors needing assistance with food, utility, rent, transportation or medical assistance. The Caring Place is a community-based and community-supported organization. For more information on The Caring Place, visit
www.caringplacetx.org
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