MIFA's coronavirus response

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:

Arnetta Macklin

amacklin@mifa.org, (901) 529-4518

mifa.org/coronavirus

 

MIFA announces service changes in response to coronavirus

 

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (Tuesday, March 17, 2020)—MIFA’s mission is to support vulnerable seniors and families in crisis though high-impact programs. During the coronavirus pandemic, the 52-year-old social service nonprofit is working with partners such as the City of Memphis, the Aging Commission of the Mid-South, MLGW and HUD in an effort to continue to provide services to the extent possible, while observing current guidelines from the CDC and our local health department.

 

MIFA Meals on Wheels provides daily nutrition for approximately 1,200 local seniors in their homes and another 1,000 at congregate sites, including senior centers and other facilities across the county. These meals are essential for the homebound elderly, many of whom have access to just one meal a day. This week, MIFA is delivering an extra supply of frozen or shelf-stable meals to current clients in case of service disruption and may consider weekly rather than daily deliveries as this situation evolves. Currently, seniors at congregate sites will be able to pick up a meal at the site; communal dining has been suspended. 

 

In consideration of the safety of staff, volunteers and clients, MIFA is working with funders to arrange for once-weekly deliveries of five meals for home-delivered clients. If deliveries are reduced to once a week, additional phone safety checks will be implemented for those clients using staff and volunteers. While these plans are finalized, daily deliveries by staff and volunteers will continue. Any changes to the delivery schedule will be communicated to volunteers and meal recipients.

 

MIFA is taking every precaution with staff and volunteers to ensure best practices are followed, as established by the Shelby County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All staff and volunteers have been advised to stay home if they feel sick and to follow germ-control protocols. By end of business Wednesday, March 18, all staff possible will be working from home; the building will be closed to the public except for key staff and volunteers. Facilities staff will continue their increased efforts to sanitize the building throughout the day.

 

As of March 17, in order to minimize risk to clients and staff, walk-in requests for emergency assistance are no longer accepted. Applications for emergency financial assistance and emergency housing are available online at mifa.org/applyonline; however, food voucher assistance is suspended. 

 

Homeless families with children whose need for shelter is immediate should call the homeless hotline, which is available 24/7, at (901) 529-4545.

 

MIFA is closely monitoring the current situation as it evolves. Please check this site for updates: mifa.org/coronavirus. And please consider a donation to support this critical work: mifa.org/donatenow.

 

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About MIFA MIFA’s mission is supporting the independence of vulnerable seniors and families in crisis through high-impact programs. From its founding in 1968 as an act of faith by a diverse group of community and faith leaders to confront the issues of poverty, hunger and social division, to its vision of uniting the community through service, MIFA has continued to respond to the needs of our community by implementing programs committed to enhancing the quality of life for those it serves.