Volunteers needed to maintain Food Finders' operation hours
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Food Finders Food Bank is reaching out to the public for much-needed volunteers.
Food Finders contacted the Journal & Courier with the hopes of imploring the public to consider signing up to volunteer, especially for its Tuesdays through Thursdays second shifts from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Fridays shifts from 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The release states that for the second week in a row, one to two volunteers have signed up for these shifts when at least seven people are required to properly operate them.
"If this trend continues, we may be forced to temporarily reduce the Fresh Market hours," the release states. "Of course, we are doing everything we can to prevent that from happening. The second shift is particularly important as it allows our neighbors who work to access the pantry in the late afternoon and evenings. It is also a slower time of day at the pantry, so volunteers working that shift are around less people."
With the recent spikes in COVID-19 numbers, fewer people are going out into their neighborhoods to volunteer, and that reduction has been affecting Food Finders.
"If you are healthy, able and willing, we need your help to continue to provide service to our neighbors facing hunger," the release states. "We understand this is a challenging time, we are all working to find the best ways to keep ourselves and our family safe."
The release states some of the precautionary measures taken to provide continuous service to the Lafayette community:
Limiting the number of customers inside the Fresh Market at any time
Masks required for all
Plenty of room to social distance
Sanitizing carts, checkout and bagging areas
We will resume nightly fogging at the Fresh Market
We will provide KN95 masks to Fresh Market volunteers
"Again, we are so thankful for each of you and your desire to help us ensure that everyone has the food they need," the release states.
Visit www.food-finders.org to sign up to volunteer, donate or to read more about the organization's programs.
Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mtroup@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Volunteers needed to maintain Food Finders' operation hours
