Volunteer Shortage Amid Huge Need At Family Assistance Ministries

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA —Family Assistance Ministries, a local non-profit agency, is striving for a balance between the mission to serve and the safety of their volunteers and staff during the new coronavirus pandemic. Typically, the agency relies on more than 1,330 volunteers. With many needing to shelter due to the spread of COVID-19, the non-profit needs volunteers during a time of crisis.

Currently, Family Assistance Ministries operates the San Clemente-based resource center, emergency family shelter, transitional shelter, permanent supportive housing, resale shop, and three satellite support centers in San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, and Laguna Niguel.

Family Assistance Ministries will continue in its mission. To do so, they must make adaptations to their daily food, shelter, and personal support services to south Orange County families and individuals in need, they reported Monday.

"We are dedicated to responsibly serving our community," says the ministries' CEO Elizabeth Andrade. "The ministry is balancing the tension between our mission to serve our community and the reality of the threat to our organization."

The ministry has already begun to witness the impact of COVID-19 on clients' lives, according to Andrade.

"We have experienced an increase in requests for rental and utility assistance needs," she said. "We have started to hear the concern from our clients as their employers have reduced their hours
or closed for the next two weeks. Friday, we had seven new families requesting food assistance."
Seniors, health-compromised, food-insecure, and un-sheltered people make up the thousands of clients that the ministry serves, Andrade said.

To help minimize personal contact and safeguard its clients, volunteers and staff, the non-profit has instituted the following procedures:

• Client Hours. FAM's San Clemente office will adapt its regular office hours, now 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday, as long as possible.
• Drive-Up Food Services. Clients are asked to call our main line at 949-492-8477 to pre-order.
• Virtual Case Management. Pre-screening meetings will be conducted over the phone or via Skype/Facetime with clients in need of financial assistance.
• Senior Response Program.

"We want to ensure that seniors have the items they need during this time without leaving their homes," says Andrade. Arrangements are underway to serve senior clients.

Resale Shop.
FAM's Resale Shop will remain open Monday- Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for as long as possible. All necessary precautions are being made to ensure proper safety and cleaning measures are in place.

Volunteers Availability.
Volunteers in higher-risk categories are suspending their regular engagement with the ministries in all areas, including drivers, warehouse assistants, front desk
staff, and retail shops, and satellite distribution helpers. Help is needed to meet the needs of our community through additional volunteers.

Food Pick-Up Schedule.
The schedule of food pick-ups at participating grocery stores may be adjusted due to decreased food volume and fewer available pick-up drivers.

Marine Base Food Distribution.
Food supply distribution to the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is suspended for the time being.

Several upcoming FAM events have been postponed or canceled, including:

• Second Saturday food distribution
• Wine Soiree GALA underwriting event
• Swallows' Day Parade participation
• Annual Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt.

NOTE: Easter basket collection will continue. Distribution to clients will be held during the week before Easter.

In the coming weeks as national, state and local COVID-19 protocols and policies change,
Andrade promises the agency "will continue to communicate with clients, volunteers, staff and
partners regarding our updates to programs and precautionary steps."

Further information regarding FAM's services and operations is available at the agency's
website www.family-assistance.org