COVID-19 – NightShift Outreach in Surrey & Langley

Message for NightShift volunteers in Surrey and Langley, BC:

[ original post Mar 2020; updated Nov 2020 ]

With the global Covid-19 pandemic and resulting government-mandated social distancing, we are in unprecedented times around the world, in our country and communities, and right here at NightShift Street Ministries.

NightShift will continue to serve a hot meal to our community’s vulnerable citizens on the street, in Surrey (every night)  and in Langley (on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays), but with a strict new protocol designed to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Effective immediately, NightShift is implementing new emergency outreach measures. Our prayer circle, clothing trucks and person-to-person food services have been cancelled. Until further notice, our volunteers will serve meals in paper bags from the back outreach door on site at NightShift in Surrey and from the TOH truck in Langley.

Effective Immediately at both outreach locations in Surrey and Langley:

1. Badged volunteers only. Absolutely no guest volunteers. All vising one-time groups have been cancelled at this time.
2. Masks are encouraged to be worn by all volunteers at times when 6’ distancing can be challenging, especially those volunteers who serve take-out meals from Surrey’s back outreach door. Masks are provided in the kitchen area or on the truck for your use.
3. Please stay home if you are not feeling well, have compromised health or are in contact with someone who has compromised health.
4. No physical contact with our guests, or other volunteers.
5. Frequent and thorough hand-washing with warm soapy water, and hand sanitizer. Gloves are not necessary.
6. Every outreach meal will be served in a brown paper bag, containing one sandwich, one hot meal (soup, pasta, chili, stew, etc.) served in a disposable container with a lid, one dessert or granola bar, one bottle of water or other packaged drink (optional), one napkin and one spoon. All contents must be in one bag. Please see photos below for a visual.
7. No coffee, hot chocolate or other open drinks will be served until further notice. Nov 2020 update: hot drinks can now be served with lids.
8. No second servings.
9. Clothing distribution: please ask your Outreach Team Leader for instructions.

SURREY OUTREACH:

• Nightly volunteer team maximum: 6 people.
• Meals prepared as usual at NightShift or in a Fraser Health approved kitchen.
• No food truck or clothing trailer.
• Paper bag meals to be served from the back outreach door on site at NightShift.
• As guests pick up their meal, please advise them not to gather in large groups on the lot. Urge them to move on, and to put their garbage in a garbage can.
• No prayer circle in the outreach lot. Volunteers may pray inside the building, with no hand-holding or physical contact with other volunteers.
• Kitchen and equipment to be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water, then sanitized with a bleach solution, as usual.
• There will be NO Care Bus services (provided by volunteer nurses and counsellors), live music, Art Class or Movie Night until further notice.

LANGLEY OUTREACH:

• Volunteer serving teams of 3 people, serving from our usual spots in Langley.
• Meals prepared as usual in a Fraser Health approved kitchen.
• Paper bag meals to be served out of the Taste of Heaven food truck only. Paper bags and serving bowls, etc. will be available on the truck.
• Running water, soap, hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes available on the truck.
• As guests pick up their meal, please advise them not to gather in large groups on the lot. Urge them to move on, and to put their garbage in a garbage can.
• No outside prayer circle. Volunteers may pray inside the TOH food truck, with no hand-holding or physical contact with other volunteers.
• Truck to be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water, then sanitized with a bleach solution, as usual.

In these uncertain and quickly changing times, we understand many of our faithful volunteers will not feel comfortable serving, or will not be able to due to health conditions. If you cannot serve, or have any questions about our emergency outreach protocol, please email us.

If you would like to help NightShift in a more hands-off way during the COVID-19 crisis, we suggest the following ways:

Prayer:  We believe in the power of the Living God to calm fears, to see His presence and good purposes come to all situations, and to protect people, families, neighbourhoods and cities.

Food:  Bottled water or individual juice boxes, soft cookies and snack bars, loaves of sliced, soft bread.

Funds:  We know times are difficult for everybody. This new protocol is at an additional cost to our daily operations. We appreciate any donation amount to keep our outreach and building operational.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6,7

We are in this together.

MaryAnne Connor (Mac), Rev., RPC
Founder/President