WEDNESDAY NIGHT COMMUNITY MEALS

Information Regarding the Opening of United Methodist Church Community Meal

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Currently the Community Meal at First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls is planning to resume all services starting Wednesday, September 16. This ministry has become an important part of our community and we look forward to serving you again this fall. Times for the meal will remain the same:

With the need for new procedures to keep everyone safe, we could use some extra volunteers to help make things run smoothly. If you are interested in helping, we have many areas you can volunteer.

Below are the steps we plan to take to ensure a safe experience for all involved. Please be patient as we navigate uncharted territory. We look forward to seeing you.

Food Prep

Food prep will be at 8 am in the kitchen and Friendship Hall on Wednesday. All volunteers will have communicated with Lyn Evans before Wednesday that they will or will not be helping.

Food Prep workers will be asked to not come to food prep if you are feeling ill or have any of the following symptoms in the last 5 days:

• Fever of at least 100.4 F or chills
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Cough or sore throat
• Muscle or body aches
• Felt fatigued or more tired than usual
• Runny nose or congestion
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• New loss of smell or taste
• Headache

Food prep workers will be asked to social distance as much as possible; masks will be required when more than one person is in a room where social distancing of 6 feet is not possible.

There will not be more than 10 workers in the kitchen at one time; if more than 10 workers are needed during a shift, extra workers must be in Friendship Hall. Work stations will be set up in Friendship Hall to provide for social distancing for tasks that do not require the oven or prep counter.

Gloves will be required when prepping food that will not be cooked to a temperature of 140F.

Carry out service

All persons will be asked to enter the east doors only at 5:00 pm. No early entry will be permitted and north doors will remain locked.

“X”s will be placed on the floor 6 feet apart, allowing only a small number of persons inside at one time.

Persons will go down the stairs from the Garden Room into Friendship Hall to pick up meals and will exit the building through the south west door in Friendship Hall, unless elevator service is needed, creating a one-way traffic flow.

Four (4) meals per person is still applicable.

No children under the age of 16 without an adult present.

All service team will be required to wear masks during carryout service.

Carry out service will last until 5:30 pm, with the option available through dining room service for those who don’t feel comfortable dining in.

Delivery Service

All delivery meals will be delivered as drop and go.

Delivery drivers will be asked to park in the south parking lot and enter the building through the east door, pick up meals, and exit through the southwest door in Friendship hall

Delivery drivers will need to knock on doors and place meals by the door or hang on door knob. Drivers keep a distance from the door and wait to make sure the recipient receives the meal.

All delivery recipients will be contacted in advance and told what to expect.

Dining Room Service   IS ON HOLD AS OF 11/6

Dining room patrons will be asked to wait until 5:30 pm to enter the building. Patrons will use the east entrance and use “X”s to keep social distancing in place. All patrons will be asked to wear a mask while waiting to get their meal.

Dining room will be set with no more than six (6) at a table with 6-ft. between tables. Because there will be less seating, there might be some wait time before you can be seated. We will serve the meal until 7 pm which should allow ample time to serve all who want a meal.

All service team members in the kitchen and dining room will be required to wear masks and wash hands often. Gloves will be required to all service team members who are directly serving food (or touching a plate, cup, etc.).

 

In the event that someone on our team does test positive for Covid-19, we will be transparent in communication with the rest of the team, the Church, and the community members. That person or persons will be asked not to return to the meal for a period of 2 weeks (2 Wednesdays from the day they test positive). Proper sanitizing and cleaning will occur each week before and after every meal, so closing down due to a positive case will not be necessary. All volunteers will be asked to be honest and transparent with the rest of the team or to Lyn Evans at a minimum.

 

Please know that we want everyone to feel comfortable and be able to access a meal. If there are questions or concerns about being a volunteer, obtaining a meal or attending the meal please to not hesitate to contact Lyn Evans at cookiemama43@gmail.com or 641-373-4780. As we have all experienced over the last few months, things can change very quickly. This plan is created to adjust with whatever comes our way.

If you do not feel well or have any symptoms, please do not come to the meal to volunteer or to eat! Please wash your hands often and wear a mask when social distancing is not an option.