UPDATE FROM PAT! Please see new food distributions procedures as of April 2nd!
We have adjusted our “Pick & Pack” operation and moved the bulk of it out of the food distribution area into the warehouse. The front side of the operation (receiving shopping lists, copying the list and turning it over to the “Facilitator”) remains unchanged. We have moved all of our Pick & Pack volunteers to the warehouse in an effort to allow more room (social distancing) between each volunteer who is picking & packing a client’s order. Volunteers, using a shopping cart, pick product directly off of the bulk food pallets and place it in shopping bags as they follow a predetermined path while maintaining a safe distance from other volunteers. When the volunteer is finished with the dry goods, they enter back into the food distribution area, pickup produce and then leave the cart at the dairy/meat table and return to the warehouse for their next order. Volunteers in the dairy/meat section finish the order and send the cart off to be delivered to the client who is waiting outside.
Many of these changes come at the suggestion of our volunteers. They are cognizant of the everchanging precautions and have a great understanding of the operations of the Pantry. To each and every one of them, we are grateful for your feedback.
The Pantry team will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments to our operations as necessary. We will work to keep all of you updated. Thank you for your patience