COVID-19 RESPONSE

As we respond to COVID-19 and its impact on our community, we rest assured that God is in control and works all things for the good of those who love Him. With our hope entirely in Christ in the middle of this panicked situation, we want to remain vigilant to love our neighbor well by protecting the health of those around us. Below is more information about how Hope House is responding to COVID-19 in regards to our weekly ministries, upcoming events, and more.

Overall Operations
At this time, Hope House will remain open and available to provide assistance in the coming weeks. Our Community Store will be open during normal hours from Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM and Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and we will continue to accept item donations during store hours. We will continue to schedule advocacy appointments Tuesday through Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM to provide crisis assistance to those in need. Our two weekly Faith & Finances classes will continue to meet until graduation in early April, unless it is deemed necessary to cancel or postpone the class for the health of our participants and volunteers. Our next Jobs for Life class, which was scheduled to begin April 7, will be postponed to a later date to be determined. Our Ready to Work Shuttle and New Leaf Service, Maintenance & Repair will continue to operate as normal.

We are taking necessary precautions to keep our office and Community Store clean, including regular cleaning with bleach and antibacterial spray throughout the day, making soap and hand sanitizer readily available, posting CDC posters with COVID-19 symptoms and prevention, screening to prevent anyone with symptoms from being in common areas with other community members, and encouraging good hygiene and hand washing.

Financial Stewardship
We understand that many businesses and families are financially burdened by the ripple effects of COVID-19 and monetary donations to Hope House may decrease during this time. However, Hope House is the exact kind of organization that people turn to in times of need, and we want to do everything we can to continue providing assistance. To be financially responsible during this economic uncertainty, we have instituted a plan to limit spending outside of immediately necessary purchases so we can respond to community needs as they arise.  

Volunteers
If you are in a position where you need to take the necessary steps to limit your interactions with the public, we want to you exercise caution and respond as you see fit for your health. We do not want anyone to take unnecessary risk. Ultimately, we heavily rely on our volunteers and need your help, but if you are sick or have a compromised immune system, please stay home. We ask that you consider others and the importance of your long term health and the long term impact we want you to have at Hope House. If you are a regular volunteer with us and have decided to stay home, please call us so we can make provisions to cover your position in your absence.

Cooking for Hope
Currently, Cooking for Hope is still scheduled for Thursday, May 7, at Highland Stables. We are closely monitoring the situation and will consider postponing the event if necessary.

Relief Efforts for Schools
With schools closing in response to COVID-19, food insecurity is a major concern for students who rely on the two meals they receive at school during weekdays. We have been in contact with Bowling Green Independent and Warren County Schools to determine how Hope House can help get meals to students in the coming weeks. We are prepared to rearrange daily operations at Hope House to allow our staff and volunteers to meet this important need. If the school districts request our help, we will send an update with potential volunteer opportunities related to this effort.

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for updates about any potential changes to this plan.