The coronavirus has forced the closing of local schools and businesses which has, in turn, forced the American Red Cross Lehigh Valley – Bucks Chapter to curtail planned blood drives according to Executive Director Peter Brown.

“We are looking at adding [blood] drives,” Brown said in an interview during which he called the blood supply a “big challenge.”

“The public should still go ahead and make appointments to give blood.”

Brown said potential blood donors can arrange appointments by going to the website, redcrossblood.org and entering their zip code.

He said the Red Cross remains focused on its ability to respond to disasters such as fires.

“We are still actively involved with municipal emergency services,” he said.

In response to the coronavirus threat, the Red Cross has implemented new screening measures designed to keep staff and clients safe.

Other social services organizations are also facing a new reality.

Alan Jennings, the executive director of Community Action Committee Lehigh Valley, was busy when contacted by The Press. He was delivering food to the home of a couple of 70-year-olds, both sick and infirm, who needed food. Volunteers are harder to find during this public health crisis, so Jennings had to “redeploy” his staff to fill food boxes and make deliveries.

Another of CACLV’s enterprises, the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown, is also facing a crisis, according to Jennings. He said caseworkers have been sent home in response to the corona virus emergency. The shelter is being staffed by the caretaker staff mainly to ensure security. Jennings said without caseworkers to coach the residents on how to get back on their feet, they will need more time, lengthening the already unacceptably long waiting time to get in.

“If you want to see despair,” Jennings said, “look in their [turned away shelter applicants] faces.”

“I don’t know how we are going to adjust,” Jennings said. “There are way too many variables. I’ve never seen the likes of this in 40 years of service.

“I’ve never been as challenged in taking on community problems as I am by this pandemic. There are far too many variables. Frankly, I’m scared.”

The Allentown Rescue Mission will be staying open, according to a statement released by its President Stuart “Skip” Smith.

“With the growing pandemic of the coronavirus in the Lehigh Valley the Allentown Rescue Mission is taking steps to make sure that our men are remaining safe and healthy. The Allentown Rescue Mission plans to stay open and continue accepting men during the pandemic. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and restore men who are homeless and the Allentown Rescue Mission is their last and only option.

“We are taking every precaution possible, including facility isolation areas, to minimize the spreading of COVID-19 among both clients and staff. Men with symptoms will go to the hospital for testing and potential admittance.

“Should the hospital send men home who have tested ‘positive,’ they will be allowed to return to the mission and stay in a newly created isolation area. We are their home.”

Smith appealed to the public: “We need and appreciate your help now more than ever. Please continue your financial support and we now accept physical donations via curb-side drop off so donors can maintain social isolation in their car. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.”

The local Allentown office of the Salvation Army did not return a call requesting a statement, but its website had a message addressing the coronavirus from the national headquarters.

“As the coronavirus COVID-19 has evolved into a pandemic, we are monitoring the situation daily. Safety is of utmost priority, so we have ramped up efforts to slow the spread of this virus among our employees, volunteers and the homeless and other vulnerable people we serve.”

Lehigh Valley Health Network is addressing the shortage of face masks by making covers to extend the life of the limited supply they already have.

With shortages of personal protective equipment across the nation due to the COVID-19 outbreak, LVHN is doing its part by taking an innovative approach to extend the use of N-95 respirator masks used by caregivers as protection against the virus.

LVHN employees are recycling surgical wraps, the common blue sanitary sheets that protect operating room instruments before they are used and making coverings for N-95 masks.

“There’s a sense of urgency as its been well documented that health care providers everywhere are running low on N-95 respirator masks,” Donald Hougendobler, LVHN’s director of environment and sustainability, said.

“Colleagues joined together at the School of Nursing building at Lehigh Valley Hospital on 17th Street to construct blue wrap mask coverings. They practiced social distancing by setting up small working stations throughout the room.”