Have some extra time? Here’s how to help fellow Delawareans

April 7, 2020

Volunteers needed! Even though social – or physical – distancing is the new normal, if you are healthy it’s still possible to volunteer for the Food Bank of Delaware. Not only is it possible, it’s really easy to sign up for a shift or two. Visit www.fbd.volunteerhub.com to pick your shift; there are opportunities to help out at both the Newark and Milford branches.

Just to keep everyone safe and to follow Governor John Carney’s state of emergency, all volunteers are required to do a quick health screening before they leave for their shift.

The questions are:

• Does the individual have or report a body temperature at or above 99.5 degrees?
• Does the individual have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, severe sore throat or muscle aches?
• Have the individual been in close contact (e.g. within 6 feet for more than a few minutes) with a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection?

If volunteers answer “yes” to any of the questions, they will need to stay home.

What to expect when volunteering?

Volunteers will maintain a healthy 6 feet from each other and will be wearing gloves and masks (we ask that volunteers bring a mask from home) while packing emergency food boxes. “We take distancing very seriously,” said Aaron Stone, Volunteer Coordinator at the Food Bank’s Milford branch.

Don’t have a mask? Here is an easy tutorial using materials you should already have in your home!

The work we are doing at the Food Bank of Delaware is more important than ever. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in non-essential business closings. While friends and neighbors, particularly those in the hospitality and tourism industries, apply for unemployment and other assistance, they are in need of emergency food.

“Volunteers will be packing emergency food boxes; generally, anyone who receives food assistance will get one of those boxes,” said Stone.

Stone noted that volunteers are needed to pack more than 200 boxes each day, so there are morning, afternoon, evening and Saturday time slots available to complete the task.

At the Food Bank, volunteering is a family-friendly activity; children age 7 and up are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

Last year, the Food Bank saw 15,601 volunteer visits for a total of 40,162 donated hours. That meant that food-insecure Delawareans could eat.

Visit www.fbd.volunteerhub.org to select your time to help; registration is not only easy, it’s required. Walk-ins not accepted.