Donating is the fastest way to make a difference as we navigate the impact and ever changing landscape of this virus. If you would like to give your time, please see our post about Food Distribution Volunteers.
Catholic Community Services’ New Bethlehem Day Center and Eastside Shelter for Families are responding quickly to the COVID-19 crisis. The family shelter on the Eastside is hosted nightly by the local faith community in church facilities. New Bethlehem provides a place for families to spend their days and attend to basic needs such as laundry and hygiene. The family shelter and day center are collaborating together to expand hours of operation and to provide transportation in order to keep families indoors as much as possible.
Catholic Community Services is sheltering medically fragile families experiencing homelessness in hotels in order to prevent vulnerable people from contracting COVID-19. Sheltering vulnerable families in hotels allows for better social distancing at the main shelter. Hotels provide a safe place for families to “stay home” in accordance with current public health and state orders. Catered and delivered meals support nutrition and allow everyone to stay inside as much as possible. Reducing the need to leave the hotel minimizes possible exposure and spread of the virus in the community. As the pandemic evolves the number of clients needing to shelter in hotels will increase.
Monetary donations are needed to cover increased operations costs due to increased hours of operation, transportation costs and hotel and catering fees.
If you would like to donate directly to New Bethlehem Day Center, visit their donation page.
If you would like to donate directly to Eastside Emergency Family Shelter, visit their donation page.
