Must have your own transportation. Join us and help fill the gap to ensure food security for seniors and those with medical/physical disabilities who are not involved in Meals on Wheels and other similar programs. Your role is critical! Volunteers will pick up meal boxes from a central distribution point and deliver them to a senior’s doorstep following safe, distanced distribution protocols. Each driver will deliver to 5-10 households in the same zip code.
With our first-priority being to keep all volunteers and their families safe during this National Emergency, we understand that those who are not suffering from the virus or who may have already recovered from the virus may want to lend a hand and help others. Below is a list of general guidelines that every volunteer needs to follow and specific guidelines for Volunteer Delivery Drivers. Following these precautionary measures make it so you can help others and so we can all get through this crisis together.
Our primary goals include:
- Protecting Volunteers
- Protecting Residents and Families
- Protecting Clients and Service Agencies
General Safety Guidelines for Volunteers:
- DO NOT attempt to volunteer for any activity if in the last 14 days you have:
- Experienced symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 (high temperature, shortness of breath, dry cough, etc.)
- Traveled to any foreign country, or have been in a domestic airport or cruise ship
- Been around anyone who has tested positive for the virus
- Been to an event where more than 50 people were in attendance.
- DO NOT show up to volunteer for any activity without confirming that volunteer support is helpful and expected before arrival.
- BEFORE arriving for a volunteer shift, call ahead to the service agency and ask if any additional safety precautions should be taken before, during, and after the shift. You may be asked to supplement inventory and bring your own safety supplies (gloves, masks, etc.) due to limited supplies.
- ALLOW extra time for additional screening from volunteer organizations or agencies to make sure you are cleared to volunteer for the task.
- DO practice good hand hygiene. Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and rinse with hot water and avoid touching nose, eyes, mouth or face.
- DO greet others with a wave or other means to avoid physically shaking hands.
- DO practice universal infection control precautions. Clean and wash your hands as often as possibly before, during, and after volunteering.
- DO clean any used spaces thoroughly before and after, including table-top surfaces and doorknobs or handles.
- DO use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if needed for the task. If possible, to help with limited inventory, you can bring your own gloves and masks from home.
- DO maintain 6-10 feet of separation from others while conducting the task.
- ASK about any risk that may be associated with the task and DO NOT take part if you are uncomfortable with the level of risk.
Volunteer Delivery Drivers During COVID-19 Outbreak in New Orleans
It’s important to remember that as a volunteer delivery driver you will be in contact with some of our most “at-risk” citizens, including the elderly and immunocompromised. Social distancing must be kept in mind as you’ll encounter many people throughout your volunteer shift. Knowing the pickup policy of the food distributor you’re volunteering with as well as maintaining a 6-10 ft distance from clients receiving meals is crucial and must be taken seriously. The safety measures outlined below help to keep our “at-risk” individuals protected, as well our volunteers.
Specific Guidelines for Volunteer Delivery Drivers:
- DO wash hands with soap & water for at least 20 seconds, as recommended by the CDC, before beginning each delivery and frequently throughout the entirety of your volunteer shift.
- DO clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the vehicle being used to make deliveries, which include:
- Exterior/Interior door handles
- Steering wheel
- Center console
- Keys
- Any other part of the vehicle touched
- Go to EPA website (https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-registered-cleaning-products) to find EPA recommended cleaning products for COVID-19
- DO wear gloves at ALL times and safety masks (when available) throughout the whole delivery process, including:
- Picking up food from a supplier,
- Throughout the entirety of car ride,
- And dropping off food to the client.
- Discard gloves after shift. Do not save them.
- DO deliver food using the “no contact” delivery method:
- Knock on the door, or call home phone if available. Wait for response from client and communicate to them you will let them know when it’s safe to open the door.
- Leave the meal at the doorstep.
- Step back and keep a distance of 6-12 feet.
- Let client know you are at a safe distance for them to open door.
- Set eyes on the client with visual confirmation that they’re okay.
- Say You’re Welcome and Have a Nice Day!
Location & Notes: Booker T. Washington High School is located at 1201 S. Roman St just off Earhart Blvd. The parking / loading zone is located on Erato Street at the back of campus. Please bring any re-usable work gloves or a mask if you have access to these items to help with limited inventory available.
Contact Robert Geshay at local@handsonneworleans.org with any questions.
