Ruth & Naomi’s Mission (RAN) in downtown Chilliwack is changing its evening sit-down meals to a take-out model in response to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
The move was announced on RAN’s Facebook page Thursday evening, and will start on Monday, March 16.
“Guests will be given their meal in a ‘take-out’ container each evening and will not congregate in the dining hall,” read the post.
RAN’s Pathways Shelter, which runs out of the dining hall every night has already been re-located to the Portal on Yale Road. Meals will now be prepared and packaged at RAN and brought over to the Portal for guests.
“These changes are being made in an attempt to reduce the potential spread of the virus and also to enable us to monitor our guests more effectively for symptoms. It is important to note that there have been no known Covid-19 cases amongst our guests. We are taking precautionary measures only.”
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For those who volunteer at RAN, they are asked to make cash donations instead of coming in to prepare in the RAN kitchen.
“Our staff and a select number of volunteers will then prepare, package and distribute the meals each evening,” the post stated.
Those volunteers and groups are asked to go to www.ranmission.ca to make that donation and also let volunteer co-ordinator Selena (ssmith@ranmission.ca) know that they have done that.
RAN will be looking for a select number of volunteers who will come back multiple times each week over the next few weeks, in order to limit the flow of people in and out of the kitchen.
“These are temporary measures only and we are look forward to returning to our regular services soon.”
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