With coronavirus spreading, Modesto-area nonprofits losing volunteers as demand rises
While the worst has yet to come from the coronavirus, nonprofits that help Stanislaus County’s most vulnerable residents already are feeling the effects of the pandemic, which as of Wednesday had more than 190,000 cases globally and is grinding economies to a halt.
The Salvation Army and the United Samaritans Foundation both report they are short on volunteers and are feeling the strain of serving homeless people and the poor. The Modesto Gospel Mission reports it is fine now but worries donations will plummet if the economic downturn continues beyond the next few weeks.
All of them said they have taken steps to protect their staff, volunteers and clients from the coronavirus. For instance, the janitorial staff at The Salvation Army’s Berberian Center near downtown Modesto is wiping down and disinfecting the building every hour. The center houses a 170-bed emergency shelter and a 182-bed low-barrier shelter and has 36 beds between a transitional living program and jail alternative program.
Salvation Army Maj. Harold Laubach Jr. said one homeless person at the Berberian Center had flu-like symptoms a couple of days ago, went to a hospital where it was determined he did not have the virus, and now is doing better. Modesto Gospel Mission Executive Director Jason Conway said a couple of homeless people at the Mission have mild flu-like symptoms and have been segregated and are being monitored. The Berberian Center also isolates people who may be sick.
United Samaritans has had no illnesses.
United Samaritans Executive Director Linda Julien said her Turlock nonprofit is operating on minimal staffing and has had to close some of its operations — including its homeless supportive services window, where people could get a cup of coffee and take a shower and do their laundry — because it has lost about two-thirds of its volunteers.
These volunteers came from the ranks of retirees and Stanislaus State University students. The Turlock university has closed, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is advising people 65 and older to stay home. Volunteers make up the backbone of United Samaritans, with roughly four volunteers for each of the 21 paid employees.
301,000 lunches in Stanislaus County
“It’s huge,” Julien said. “We’ve lost (almost) all of our volunteers. We’ve had to close some of what we do, but we are keeping the food trucks going. ... We are doing everything we can to be safe and keep our distance, but we have to get the food out.
“We are the largest nonprofit in Stanislaus County that provides food, and it would be devastating if we could not keep it going for those who need food.”
The United Samaritans’ Daily Bread lunch trucks served more than 301,000 meals last year throughout much of the county, including Turlock, Ceres and Modesto. The four trucks stop in parks, neighborhoods, senior housing complexes and elsewhere to provide free lunches to poor people, homeless people and anyone else who lines up.
United Samaritans also is having a hard time finding food and disposable food containers and utensils for the meals it serves from its lunch trucks. Julien said donations from grocers and others are down by one-third to one-half. “We’ve had to stretch hard to keep up,” she said. “Grocery stores and others ... are having a real hard time getting deliveries.”
The Salvation Army’s Laubach said about half of the volunteers who prepare and serve dinner at the Berberian Center’s 170-bed emergency shelter have dropped out. They are from churches and are 65 and older, again the population that is being urged to stay home to avoid exposure to the coronavirus.
Laubach said the Army has been able to continue its operations by having its officers put in more hours, through overtime and temporary workers, but it needs more volunteers to help fulfill its mission. It’s also lost staff members who are taking vacation and sick time to be with their children because schools have closed.
Stanislaus County opened the 182-bed low-barrier shelter this year and contracts with The Salvation Army to operate it, including feeding its residents.
Modesto shelters won’t close
Laubach said based on talks with Modesto and Stanislaus County, the Berberian Center’s two shelters will not close because they provide a critical mission. “Imagine if 388 people (the two shelters plus the transitional and jail alternative programs) were on streets,” he said. “That’s not good.”
The Gospel Mission’s Conway said his organization also will keep its doors open. It operates a 100-bed men’s emergency shelter, offers about 60 emergency beds for women and children, and transitional living programs for about 70 men and women.
“We have not really been affected in our daily operations,” Conway said. “If this thing goes on for two more weeks and then everything is back to normal, we’ll be fine. But if it goes beyond that, that could be a different case. There is just so much uncertainty. The best thing we can do as a community is not be reactive but show compassion and follow the guidelines on the disease.”
Conway said the longer the virus and containment measures last the more likely the Gospel Mission will feel the effects. The Mission gets all of its $2.5 million annual budget from private donations and none from government funding. As more people lose their jobs and businesses close or reduce operations that means fewer donations and more demand for services.
The United Samaritans and Salvation Army also are concerned about long-term impacts.
United Samaritans’ Julien said her nonprofit could feel that soon. She said the Daily Bread trucks see an increase in demand over the summer when kids are out of school, but that may happen now because of the coronavirus-related school closures. However, she said, schools providing food to students during the closures will help. However, Julien said the lunch trucks already have seen an overall spike in demand this week.
“We are just starting to see the start of it,” she said.
Laubach said The Army canceled two fundraisers this month and is evaluating whether to go forward with its annual Kidz Day in early May. He said it’s one of the Modesto-area Army’s biggest fundraisers, bringing in about $107,000 last year. The Army also has temporarily shuttered its Red Shield Center, which provides recreation for children, in line with the school closures and to keep children from being exposed to the virus and bringing it home.
Laubach added a prolonged economic downturn will put more stress on the Army, such as on its food warehouse. He said the warehouse provides food for 52 nonprofits and faith-based organizations. He said it was 53 but one of the agencies dropped out last week because it relies on senior volunteers.
How to help
▪ The United Samaritans Foundation needs volunteers, food and financial donations. Volunteers can do something as simple as put together the emergency food boxes that go out twice a month. The needed food includes such staples as bread, rice, beans and canned goods. Those interested in helping, can call 209-668-4853 or visit unitedsamaritans.org.
▪ The Salvation Army also needs volunteers, including those who assemble food boxes, used clothing for men and women, and financial donations. Those interested in helping can call 209-522-3209. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 580480, Modesto, 95358.
▪ The Gospel Mission needs forehead thermometers, hand sanitizer and food, especially pancake mix, syrup, eggs and oatmeal, as well as financial donations. Goods and food can be dropped off at the Mission, 1400 Yosemite Blvd. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 1203, Modesto, 95353.
