The Plymouth Community Food Pantry is currently operating under Covid-19 guidelines as set by the CDC and the State of Connecticut. This page identifies the protocols we are following.
CLIENT PROTOCOLS
Curbside Pickup: To pick-up their order clients will:
- call to schedule an appointment for pick-up (10-minute intervals), at this time they will be asked if they have any special needs to be met and every effort to accommodate them will be made
- have a volunteer shop for them based on the size of their family
- wait in their car upon arrival at the Food Pantry until called by volunteer to the table set up in front of the Food Pantry door
- remain on the parking lot side of the plexiglass
- wear a face mask (if necessary, we will provide a mask) and sanitize their hands before signing any paperwork
- sign ‘A Promise to Keep the Plymouth Community Food Pantry Covid-Free’
- take their carriage of food, after all paperwork is completed, to their car and return the carriage to the pickup table
- not enter the building unless requested to do so and in such cases follow the protocols listed below for visitors
Client Shopping: Clients electing to shop for themselves will: SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID SURGE
- call to schedule an appointment to shop (10-minute intervals)
- wait in their car until called by a Food Pantry volunteer (only one shopper per family)
- have their temperature scanned, (anyone with a reading of 100.4° F or greater will be required to leave the building immediately, a volunteer would shop for them)
- answer a series of Covid-19 symptom-related questions (see Forms Tab) (anyone showing multiple symptoms will be required to leave the building immediately, a volunteer would shop for them)
- sign ‘A Promise to Keep the Plymouth Community Food Pantry Covid-Free’
- sanitize their hands
- wear a face mask while in the building (we will provide one if necessary)
- wear gloves until their carriage is returned (we will provide a pair if necessary)
- shop like we have done in the past, accompanied by a volunteer
- practice social distancing, a 6 ft. distance will always be maintained between people
- have their carriage placed on the scale by a volunteer, brought outside, and take their groceries to their car
- return the carriage to the doors of the pantry, but not reenter
Delivery: Clients who are housebound will:
STAFF PROTOCOLS
All staff will:
- monitor their health daily prior to arriving at the Food Pantry by completing the Apple COVID-19 Questionnaire https://www.apple.com/covid19/
- have their temperature scanned upon arrival to the Food Pantry; anyone with a reading of 100.4° F or greater will be required to leave the building immediately
- sign ‘A Promise to Keep the Plymouth Community Food Pantry Covid-Free’
- sign in, attesting that they have self-monitored for the day and currently are Covid-19 symptom free
- properly wear a face mask while in the building (should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, positioned to cover the nose, mouth, and chin with secure straps around ears)
- wash hands before putting face mask on or taking it off
- avoid touching mask
- wear gloves while in the building and change them frequently, MUST wear a new pair of gloves with each new shopper
- clean hands frequently
- practice social distancing (6 ft. apart each other)
- regularly disinfect the distribution table, carriages, and commonly touched surfaces within the Food Pantry premises
ESCORTING OF SHOPPERS
Volunteers will:
- escort shoppers by stationing themselves at either the front or rear of the shopping carriage while the shopper is stationed at the opposite end of the carriage
- maintain a 6 ft. distance between themselves and the shopper
- bag the fruits and vegetables of shopper’s choice
- bag refrigerated and frozen items of shopper’s choice
- place carriages on and off the scale
- escort shopper and carriage to exit
- collect the shopping carriage and sanitize it between uses
Facility
- Four Protective Areas, each shielded by plexiglass
- Sign in desk
- Fruit & vegetable table
- Weigh station
- Directors desk
- Restricted number of people in the Food Pantry, 50% (12) per Fire Marshal
- Shoppers will remain in their car until they are called by a volunteer
- The double doors will be used to enter and exit
- Signage and floor markers (6 ft. spacing) to promote social distancing and positive flow (one-way direction)
- Table outside the doors is where client’s temperature will be checked, and health related questions asked
- Hand Sanitizer Stations
- Carriages will be returned to the cement pad (volunteer will sanitize and bring them inside)
VISITORS
Visitors MUST:
- have temperature scanned (anyone with a reading of 100.4° F or greater will be required to leave the building immediately)
- answer series of Covid-19 symptom-related questions (anyone showing multiple symptoms will be required to leave the building immediately)
- sign ‘A Promise to Keep the Plymouth Community Food Pantry Covid-Free’
- wear a face mask while in the building (we will provide one if necessary)
- sanitize hands
The Director reserves the right to:
- Identify shoppers or visitors as high-risk and exclude them from entering the building
- Determine whether a client should have a volunteer shop for them and pick up their order curbside or have it delivered.
- Refuse entry into the building to any client or visitor who is not in compliance with the protocols as stated in this document.