We’re would like to thank all the volunteers who have committed their time to supporting us since the start of the pandemic, including those supporting us from their homes. It would not be possible to continue doing our work without your help. Thank you for stepping in and stepping up!
There have been many changes to our volunteer program over the last few weeks. Many of these were difficult decisions to make, but they are necessary steps in order to care for our community of volunteers and clients. We want to remind you all that even though we are not able to welcome many of you in our space at this time, we are keeping you all in our hearts!
Here are the latest changes to the volunteer program during the pandemic:
Updated prevention practices
As mentioned in our previous update, we have put in place a number of new physical distancing and hygiene practices in our office and on our delivery routes. When you arrive to do a delivery route, please reread the posters and pamphlets in our space in order to ensure that you are familiar with the most up-to-date measures. In short, we ask you to conduct yourself as though you may be a carrier of the virus while in the Roulant space, out on deliveries and in your personal life in order to protect both yourself and the community.
If you or someone you live with is currently working in public health, we ask you not to volunteer with us at this time.
Bring your own mask!
The Quebec government has announced that masks should be worn during all activities where it is difficult to keep a distance of 2 metres between each person. When doing deliveries with the Roulant, we ask that you please bring a homemade mask, a scarf or bandana and that you wash it between uses. It should be worn prior to entering the building and kept until leaving the building at the end of your delivery shift. Please wash your hands before and after putting on your mask, and before and after removing it. If you are unable to wash your hands during your delivery shift, please keep your mask on for your entire delivery shift and avoid touching your face.
Masks can give a false sense of safety, so it is important to use masks properly while volunteering. For information about how to properly wear your mask or how to make your own (even without a sewing machine!), here is a link to the government website.
No volunteers in the kitchen
At the moment, our kitchen team is composed entirely of staff members and we are unable to accept volunteers in the kitchen at this time. This will help us to respect physical distancing guidelines in order to protect our clients.
Our kitchen has always been a gathering place for many members of our community and limiting access to the kitchen was a difficult decision for us to make. Please know that we miss you all tremendously and are so excited to welcome you all back in our space after the pandemic.
Saturday schedule
The volunteer schedule on Saturdays will be the same as every other day of the week, with delivery shifts beginning at 2:45pm.
Delivery volunteers going solo
We are now sending volunteers alone on delivery routes. The number of meals per route will slowly increase over the coming weeks in order to allow us to increase the number of clients we can accommodate during the pandemic.
Drivers, however, can do their delivery route with a passenger who lives in the same household.
One driver in the Roulant at a time
For drivers coming in pairs, we ask that only one person come into our office to pick up the delivery bag. This helps us to respect physical distancing measures. The person who enters our office at the beginning and end of the delivery shift should be the same person who brings meals up to clients’ doors during the route.
Keep track of your schedule and symptoms
As we are now sending each volunteer along, we ask that you please keep track of your schedule, arrive on time for your shift (2:45 pm), and call us in advance if you will be late. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, please call us as soon as possible to cancel all of your volunteer shifts. We will find someone else to take your place. We are trying to keep track of any cases of COVID-19 in our community, so please contact us if you or anyone with whom you have been in contact shows symptoms of the virus. You can always leave us a message on our answering machine if you call outside business hours.
Thank you!
We want to stay connected with you all, despite the new changes and physical distancing measures. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and again, thanks for keeping the Roulant rolling!
Take care of yourselves,
Ellen, Chelsea & Melanie