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
Updated as of March 12 at 3pm
General
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- COVID-19 Screening Tool
- COVID-19 Google Search Summary
Local
If you have health-related questions, please contact your personal healthcare provider.
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@ to coordinate how best to hand-off any of the above items.
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.
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
- 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
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.
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
Street Friends
- 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.
Volunteers
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.
In the event you are not able to voluteer at your regular designated day/time, please contact David and Vicky at vicky@ in a timely manner.
Partners (aka vendors, organizations, etc.)
In the event you are not able to provide a partnering service, etc. at your regular capacity, please contact David and Vicky at vicky@ in a timely manner.