Aurora's Hesed House Announces First Case Of Coronavirus

AURORA, IL — Hesed House, the second largest homeless shelter in the state, announced Wednesday that it has its first case of the new coronavirus. The shelter has since suspended all volunteering and is working on a "skeleton crew," Executive Director Ryan Dowd said in a video update on the Hesed House website.

In a previous interview, Dowd told Patch Hesed House has been preparing for this scenario for weeks. In an update, Hesed House wrote, "We knew this was coming and are focused right now on making sure we do everything in our power to help lessen the spread of this virus with our guests."

Shelter Director Lives With Homeless During Coronavirus Crisis

In his update, Dowd stressed that the need to "help the most vulnerable" has only intensified. Residents can still drop off donations on the big white truck parked in front of Hesed House. View the Hesed House website to see what items are most urgently needed, as Dowd told Patch needs can change daily.

Click the link if you'd like to make a monetary donation to Hesed House.

Dowd, who has been staying at Hesed House since before the statewide coronavirus shutdown began, said in his video update, "Man, this is hard."

He added, "We're gonna get through this together and we're gonna care for the most vulnerable."