PERRY COUNTY FOOD BANK
COVID-19 PROCEDURES

March 25, 2020

We are doing our part to help to slow Covid-19

The Perry County Food Bank is open during our normal hours of service.
Monday and Wednesday - 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM and1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Friday - 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM

We are not accepting private food donations from food drives or individuals at this time.

We are all aware of the crisis being faced in our Country regarding the COVID-19 virus. At this time, there are not any diagnosed cases of the virus in Perry County that we are of. However that can change at any point. We are trying to distribute food as safely as possible.

Helping to protect you and our Community:

“Deep cleaning” of the Food Bank is being performed.
All volunteers and staff are required to wear gloves at all times.
Every 2 hours, the “touch surfaces” within the Food Bank are being sanitized.
We are practicing “social distancing”. Staying 6 feet away from others whenever we can.
We are limiting the amount of people (staff and volunteers) in the building at one time.
We are only accepting food donations from our larger corporate partners, retailers and Central PA Food Bank. We are not accepting private food donations from food drives or individuals.
We are packing food boxes outdoors to limit exposure when possible.
We are continuing curbside service only until further notice. Boxed food, frozen meats, milk, produce and eggs (all as available to us) will be brought to your car on a cart. We ask that you stay in your vehicle until your cart of food is brought out. Please, if you are physically able, we ask that you load your car yourself.

If you are not yet a client and find yourself/your family in need of food, please contact us. We may be able to help! You can call 717-582-9978.

Packing distribution boxes.

COVID Packing

Monthly Distribution:

All Distribution sites will be open, per normal schedules:

            Blain – Friday 3/20/20     3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
            Duncannon – Saturday 3/21/20    9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
            Ickesburg- Saturday 3/21/20 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
            Liverpool – Saturday 3/21/20    8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
            Marysville – Saturday 3/21/20   8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
            Millerstown – Saturday 3/21/20   5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
            New Bloomfield – Saturday 3/21/20 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
            Newport- Saturday 3/21/20 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

The COVID-19 coronavirus crisis is changing the way we distribute food at all locations.

For the monthly distribution, we will be providing a curbside service only. Of course, this is for your personal protection as well as ours.

When you arrive at your pre-designated distribution site, please stay in your car. You will be greeted by a volunteer and provided a copy of this notice.

Food will be distributed from the regular entrance door of the building, with exception of Millerstown. The Millerstown Moose has closed due to this crisis. However, we will be distributing the boxes from our big white truck which will be located in the parking lot of the Moose. The boxes of food will be placed next to your vehicle and you will need to load them if you are able. If not someone will assist you. We are trying to keep distance as to minimize the chance of spreading or contracting the virus. We don’t want to be sick and surely don’t want you to be either!

You will need to agree to allow a Food Bank volunteer/staff to sign OUR name to your file indicating you are receiving food. Please be sure to read the statements below:

New Clients only, must agree with this statement to receive food:
I understand the household income limitations and hereby certify that my household size and income make me eligible for participation in the program. I also certify that, as of today, my household lives in the area served by Pennsylvania in The Emergency Food Assistance Program. This certification form is being completed in connection with the receipt of Federal assistance.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT MAY RESULT IN MY HAVING TO PAY FOR THE VALUE OF THE FOOD IMPROPERLY ISSUED TO ME AND MAY SUBJECT ME TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

ALL Clients must agree with this statement, to receive food:
Do you agree to give the PCFB staff permission to sign for your SFPP (State Food Purchase Program Food) Self-Declaration and TEFAP form for you to shop? You will be asked to answer yes or no.

We will do our best to expedite the process. Please be patient and understanding as we are working with limited staff.

Please be sure to monitor FaceBook for updates and changes. We anticipate further changes in the future. We will communicate those changes as soon as they are determined.

Please be sure to share this information on FaceBook and by any means possible. Should you know of someone in need of food, please have them contact us.

Thank you,

Mary Ann , Julie, Sheila and Valerie

NEW CHANGES

Effective Wednesday March 18, 2020

The Food Bank will be open.

Due to the rapidly changing crisis regarding the Covid-19-coronavirus, the Food Bank must change its operating procedures again. Effective Wednesday, clients will no longer be able to shop for themselves.

We will be providing a curbside service only. Of course, this is for your personal protection as well as ours.

In lieu of “shopping”, we will be providing a pre-boxed assortment of food, frozen meat/misc frozen items, milk and eggs (as available). You will not be able to select any items or make special requests.

When you arrive at the Food Bank you will be met at the entrance of the parking lot by a traffic director and asked to follow the orange cones to form a single line. STAY IN YOUR VECHICLE. If you are a new client, please let the traffic director know and he will ask you to park in one of the spaces in the middle and someone will assist you with the paperwork.

Food will be distributed from the entrance door of the Food Bank. The boxes and bags of food will be placed next to your vehicle and you will need to load them into your car.

You will need to agree to allow a Food Bank volunteer/staff to sign OUR name to your file indicating you are receiving food. Please be sure to read the statements below:

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Effective Sunday March 15, 2020 Until May 31, 2020

Because of the COVID-19/coronavirus and the rapidly changing nature of the situation, new procedures have been put in place at the Food Bank to protect you and our staff/volunteers.

We understand the need for supplemental food for your family may have increased since the schools have closed in all of Pennsylvania and store shelves seem to be emptying out. We equally understand that our Nations population that is most at risk is our seniors and health compromised individuals.

The Perry County Food Bank has received guidance from The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank on how to limit your potential exposure to COVID-19 as well as our staff/volunteers. We have also received approved regulations from the USDA to make necessary changes. This will affect your shopping experience in New Bloomfield.

We understand the new procedures will be very different than you are currently used to. Again, please keep in mind we are trying to minimize exposure for everyone and still be able to provide the services that are very much needed in our County.

Client procedure:

When you arrive at the Food Bank, you will be met at the entrance to the parking lot by a staff member of the Food Bank. Please don’t enter the parking lot until the staff member places a numbered index card under your wiper blade. This will signify the order in which you will be served. At this time you will also be given a copy of this notification as well.
Park your vehicle and DO NOT exit your vehicle. Please read the notice you were given when you entered the parking lot. If you need assistance in reading it, we can read it to you.
Please do not bring your own shopping bags. They will not be permitted in the store at this time however you will receive an extra point as if you brought your own bag.
Only one shopper will be allowed to shop at a time. You will be called in from your vehicle by a staff member, but only the shopper will be allowed in the building unless there is a medical necessity. We understand children are out of school, but they won’t be able to enter. In that case, we will shop for you and will deliver food to your car. If you are a senior, or anyone uncomfortable entering the building, we can certainly shop for you as well.
There will be a notice in RED stating that you are authorizing us to sign our name to your file indicating you were here to shop for the month. We have been advised to eliminate the cross use of pens and touching of paper etc.
When you enter the building, please refrain from touching anything or anyone. The Health Department recommends staying a minimum of 6 feet apart.
You will have a shopping helper (staff person) with you to shop. Please, do not touch the foods. The shopper will place the items you selected in the cart for you. We ask that you expedite your shopping since there will only be one shopper at a time.
As soon as you are finished shopping, you will exit the store and back to your vehicle. Your items will be bagged and brought to you.
We will allow you to phone us, temporarily, or to send a note for a proxy to shop for your food.

I understand this may seem extreme to some, but these are the guidelines we are going to follow to try to minimize the spread of the virus.

This is the statement you will need to agree to in order to allow us to sign for you to shop:

Do you agree to give the PCFB staff permission to sign for your SFPP (State Food Purchase Program Food) Self-Declaration and TEFAP form for you to shop? You will be asked to answer yes or no.

Please be patient while waiting, we will process everyone as quickly as possible! Keep in mind this process may take a bit longer than normal.

Thank you for your understanding during this heightened time of concern.

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