COVID-19
Updates & Frequently Asked Questions

As many global and local communities are impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19), Street Life Minitries (SLM) is committed to the health and safety of our street friends and volunteers serving in our communities. SLM is considered an emergency service and has been asked by San Mateo and Santa Clara County to please continue to serve food and hygiene kits.

As COVID-19 continues to evolve, Street Life Ministries is monitoring the changing situation, and complying with public health guidance.

 

Above all else, our prayers are with those affected by the virus, particularly those who are sick. All of us at Street wish these individuals a swift recovery, and we remain hopeful + prayerful for our healthcare workers and others who are caring for people around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is imperative that we take care of ourselves and friends on the street. Below you will find frequently asked questions related to Street Life Ministries meetings remaining resilient and operational in the community.

The FAQs are categorized by: General, Street Friends, Volunteers, and Ministry Partners.

General

When a city declares a state of emergency, it is often a proactive measure intended to free up resources to help the community respond quickly if needed. This proclamation helps the city further prepare our communities and our healthcare system, including mobilizing public health and financial assistance to help manage resources and get federal support in the case additional support becomes required.

Updated as of March 12 at 3pm

Contact David and Vicky at vicky@streetlifeministries.org with any questions.

If you have health-related questions, please contact your personal healthcare provider.

Thank you for your consideration to contribute your donation through Street Life Ministries, as a tax deductible donation.

In response to the COVID-19 situation, we have idetified these key donation items:

  • Hygiene Kit Items:
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Socks
  • Groceries
    • Bread
    • Condiments (i.e. myo, mustard, etc)
    • Frozen Lasagna
    • Frozen Vegetables
    • Bottled Water
    • Napkins
    • Utensils
  • Financial
    • Please visit the donation webpage for details.

In practicing social distancing, please contact David and Vicky at vicky@streetlifeministries.org to coordinate how best to hand-off any of the above items.

Yes. Our local governments recognize the important services we provide to our community. Street Life Ministries is considered emergency services and has been asked by San Mateo and Santa Clara County to please continue operating. Subsequently, Street staff (paid & volunteer) can leave their homes to conduct business critical operations.

Face masks are required at all sites.
See the most updated information from the San Mateo County Health Officer in their statements.
(Click the “Health Officer Statements” tab on the linked page.)

A “Face Covering” means a covering made of cloth, fabric, or other soft or permeable material, without holes, that covers only the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face. Examples of face coverings include a scarf or bandana; a neck gaiter, a homemade covering made from a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or towel, held on with rubber bands or otherwise; or a mask, which need not be medical-grade. A face covering is not a substitute for guidance about social distancing and handwashing.

County Public Health and CDC recommendations on wearing cloth face coverings are based on developing information that some people may be infectious prior to showing symptoms or maybe infectious and never develop symptoms. Face coverings will help those people from unknowingly infecting others while conducting essential activities.

A face covering is not required by the Order to be worn by a particular individual if the person can show either:

  • A medical professional has advised that wearing a face-covering may pose a risk to the person wearing the mask for health-related reasons.
  • Wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.

Face coverings are not required to be worn when at home, in your car alone, your office alone, or solely with members of your household or exercising outdoors, like walking, hiking, bicycling, or running.

One of the best ways to keep you and your family healthy is by properly washing your hands. Despite being taught to wash our hands as children, many of us don’t know the proper techniques for washing our hands correctly, or how often we should be performing this important task. We’ll walk you through the proper steps as laid out by the leading health organizations around the globe such as the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

See complete information with helpful videos.

When should you wash your hands?

The major health organizations have a general list of activities that they recommend washing your hands before, during and after.

Wash your hands before:

  • Preparing and eating food
  • Treating a cut or wound
  • Caring for someone who is ill

Wash your hands during:

  • Food preparation

Wash your hands after:

  • Food preparation
  • Treating a cut or wound
  • Using the restroom
  • Changing a diaper
  • Cleaning a child who has used the restroom
  • Coming in contact with animals, animal food, or animal waste (pets included)
  • After coming in contact with garbage
  • Blowing your nose
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Caring for someone who is ill

Learn More.

At this time, business critical operations include:

  • Administrative responsiblies by the Street staff and coordination with community organizations and local government personnel.
  • Distribution of to-go boxes of food and hygiene kits weekly on the following days/times:
    • Mondays, Palo Alto, 7:30pm
    • Mondays & Wednesdays, Redwood City, 7:30pm
    • Tuesdays & Thursdays, Menlo Park, 7:30pm

As shared on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:

Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Before preparing or eating food it is important to always wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds for general food safety. Throughout the day wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, or going to the bathroom.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated, or frozen temperatures.

Read more frequently asked questions on the CDC website.

As this point, the status of the following events is listed below:

Active:

  • To-Go Meals and Hygien Kit Distribution
    • Mondays, Palo Alto, 7:30pm
    • Mondays & Wednesdays, Redwood City, 7:30pm
    • Tuesdays & Thursdays, Menlo Park, 7:30pm

Canceled:

  • Bingo Movie Nights
  • Sunday Breakfasts

Please direct any and all media inquiries to Street Life Ministries staff by sharing the details on the website contact page.

Street Friends

Yes, only to-go boxes of food and hygiene kits will be distributed. Worship and other extended social connecting has been canceled at this time. The following days and locations will be serving meals:

  • Mondays, Palo Alto, 7:30pm
  • Mondays & Wednesdays, Redwood City, 7:30pm
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays, Menlo Park, 7:30pm

* If you have any symptoms, please stay away. See CDC website for symptom details.

As advised by the CDC, if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as a cough or difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Please see the details from the CDC about interim guidance for homeless shelters.

Volunteers

First, if you feel sick please stay home and consult with your healthcare provider.

Yes, please consider still volunteering to prepare and/or serve meals. SLM is taking extra steps for staff and volunteers to help with health safety by offering gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and practicing social distancing, as outlined by the CDC. Subsequently, Street staff (paid & volunteer) can leave their homes to conduct organization critical operations, such as distributing to-go meals. 

As advised by the CDC, the COVID-19 outbreak could last for a long time in your community. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, public health officials may recommend community actions designed to help keep people healthy, reduce exposures to COVID-19, and slow the spread of the disease. Visit the CDC website to review a “Get Your Home Ready” checklist, and learn more about cleaning/disinfecting, etc…

Short answer, yes! First, contact David and Vicky at vicky@streetlifeministries.org to see how best to volunteer. Please do not show-up unannounced at a site. Note, if you have any symptoms, please stay away. See CDC website for symptom details.

Understandably, volunteers are canceling and the goal is to keep the designated day/time staffed so that the distribution of to-go meals and hygiene kits is not interrupted for our street friends.

In the event you are not able to voluteer at your regular designated day/time, please contact David and Vicky at vicky@streetlifeministries.org in a timely manner.

Partners (aka vendors, organizations, etc.)

At this time, Street Life Ministries has some back stock of supplies and is still able to collect donations and/or purchase groceries for to-go meals and hygiene kits.

Understandably, there are some limitations with partners (i.e. vendors, organizations, etc.) and the goal is to minimize business-critical reductions in services and supplies required to remain operational for the community.

In the event you are not able to provide a partnering service, etc. at your regular capacity, please contact David and Vicky at vicky@streetlifeministries.org in a timely manner.