We’re all thinking a lot about safety and sanitation these days—what level of risk we’re each comfortable with, and what steps we can take to minimize risk for ourselves and others.

Food For Free has been thinking about safety protocols, too. And, we thought we’d share some of what we’re doing.

The Cambridge Department of Public Health worked with us to develop these protocols. After a month in use, and some supply challenges, we’ve adapted them to meet our changing environment, and we expect they will continue to evolve as the situation and our understanding of the coronavirus changes.

Volunteer Policies and Screening

• We only accept volunteers 18 years of age or older
• Volunteers must choose between two programs: To-go meal distribution at Cambridge schools OR COVID-Relief Grocery Distribution, so as to lessen the chance of a single exposed volunteer affecting programs
• We remind volunteers to be conscious of their health and to cancel their shift if they have any symptoms of illness
• When possible, we take the temperature of each volunteer prior to their shift. (Note: we are currently unable to do this, due to a delay in receiving thermometer ear-covers. We hope to resume soon)
• We ask each volunteer a series of screening questions:
  • Do you have a fever?
  • Do you have a cough?
  • Have you lost your sense of smell?
  • Have you to your knowledge been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has any symptoms consistent with COVID-19?

Food Packing

• We sanitize workspaces before, between, and after shifts
• Volunteers wash their hands at the start of each shift and put on gloves
• We limit the number of people—staff and volunteers—present in a room to 10
• We mark out 6-foot distances between food packing stations and ask volunteers to maintain a 6-foot distance between each other at all times
• We require all volunteers and staff on-site for packing to wear a mask on the Senior Center premises
• Volunteers sanitize their hands and put on clean gloves after coughing, sneezing, or touching their face, or any part of their body, phone, or other material other than the food to be packed

Food Deliveries

• We provide delivery drivers with a sanitation bag including several pairs of gloves, an alcohol wipe, and a paper towel for pushing buttons and opening doors
• As available, we also provide masks
• We ask delivery volunteers to use the paper towel to touch things, and when their gloves do touch things, to sanitize them and/or change them
• We ask delivery volunteers to maintain a 6 foot distance from themselves and building residents

We realize these policies aren’t perfect. Every interaction with other people puts each of us at some risk. Our selfless volunteers have chosen to take on this additional risk out of love for their community. We are grateful and humbled by their service.

We ask that—if you are considering volunteering—you make your own careful decision about the amount of risk you and your household are prepared to shoulder. Our community has many willing hands, and we don’t want anyone to volunteer who feels uncomfortable with this level of risk.