UPDATE: 10/05/20
We are open for all meals! Blanchet House continues to follow all health department recommendations of properly wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and monitoring our health for COVID-related symptoms.
9/24/20
To our community,
Due to COVID-19 exposure in our residence, we will be closed for the rest of this week and likely next week. We feel terrible that we cannot provide meals to our guests who are suffering right now but this is a necessary action for the safety of our volunteers, staff, residents, and meal guests. We will continue to provide life-saving housing to the men staying with us at Blanchet House and Blanchet Farm. It’s critical that we safeguard their health during this time.
We are carefully monitoring the situation and, at this moment, cannot provide an estimated time of reopening. The most important thing is to make sure that reopening in the future happens in a safe environment. As you know, this is new to all of us, so we’re all in this together and adapting together.
During this time, we will not be able to accept donations of food, clothing, or care kits. We will let you know when we can resume accepting these generous donations. If you have signed up to make sack lunches, we welcome you to bring those to our facility as we might need to use these meals for our residents. We will collect these sack lunches from you in a contact-less manner. If you decide to cancel, please email us at info@blanchethouse.org.
Unfortunately, there is no telling when things will be “back to normal” in any sense. We feel for our meal guests and look forward to serving them again when the closure has been lifted. We are working with partners like Union Gospel Mission and Portland Rescue Mission to ensure they will have access to food and water until we reopen.
Until then, connect with us virtually online via our website and social media channels. That’s where we’ll first update you with any news on reopening. We’re so grateful to you, your ongoing support, and that you’re doing your part to help Blanchet House continue its work to alleviate suffering.
Sincerely,
Executive Director
Blanchet House
Blanchet House continues to meet the needs of the city’s most vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 pandemic
Blanchet House volunteers and staff have developed an innovative takeaway meal service that ensures everyone in need of a meal can receive one safely and quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We still prepare and serve hot meals three times a day, six days a week. However, serving to-go style during COVID-19 presents a whole host of challenges. It’s a miracle of hard work, ingenuity, and selfless commitment by volunteers to serve those suffering that we are able to meet the increased need for our services. We are now serving up to 2,000 meals a day, a record number for us.
Health & Safety Protocols
We are taking every precaution possible to continue are essential services while keeping everyone safe and healthy. All volunteers and staff members must wear masks and gloves to protect themselves and others. We wipe all surfaces with disinfectants. Anyone exhibiting symptoms of illness must stay home or in their room if living in the residence. A mental health and drug counselor speaks to people in our meal lines to answer questions about the pandemic and encourage guests to stay six feet apart.
Protocols include activities to:
- prevent and reduce transmission among volunteers, staff, residents, and guests,
- and maintain a healthy work environment following CDC guidelines.
We can use your help to continue our essential services during this difficult time.
Help us to prepare and serve meals onsite. Volunteer Safety Protocols
The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic increased our budget dramatically. There is now the added expense of buying to-go containers, paying overtime costs, hiring temporary staff, and purchasing more food for the growing line of guests. Every dollar helps alleviate suffering and funds our programs. Give here.
Make Care Kits, Sack Lunches, or Donate Clothing
You can help support our efforts from home.