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, 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 coronavirus 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 curbside 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 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.

“In the United States, one in six people live in poverty, and more than 550,000 are counted as homeless. These populations severely lack access to proper care, hygiene, updated information and medical resources, which makes them more susceptible to the virus.

“We are working with local, state and federal government and health authorities, including participating in situation awareness calls with federal partners like FEMA, CDC, DHS and HHS. We are developing new hygiene and cleaning protocols to help keep safe our residents and others who depend on The Salvation Army’s programs and services to survive. In addition, all staff, volunteers and program participants have been sent hygiene and prevention information as recommended by the CDC.

“We also anticipate a significant increase in need of emergency assistance for low-wage employees facing layoffs due to COVID-19. The support we provide – rent/mortgage, utility and food assistance, among others – will become more urgent as the situation evolves.

“Meanwhile, our local divisions will continue to work in close partnership with area government and health experts to prepare and respond to meet specific community needs of 23 million individuals we serve each year and the more than 63,000 employees of our organization. We will continue to update this page as developments warrant.

“We need support from our communities to continue to meet the daily needs of these vulnerable populations. Your donations will continue to help us respond to the situation.”

New Bethany Ministries has no plans to close its doors, according to Executive Director Marc Rittle.

“We are an emergency food access organization, providing groceries and meals to nearly 9,000 people annually,” Rittle said. “New Bethany is taking measures to protect ourselves and the public.”

He said they are serving hot meals, but service is curbside. In the first week of the crisis, New Bethany served 260 lunches or between 50 to 60 lunches daily.

All grocery orders from the food pantry are also delivered curbside.

“In our first week of altered service, we handed groceries to 90 families,” Rittle said.

“To date, we are serving a population who already depend on our daily food access services. We have not seen too many new families or lunch guests. We expect that might change, depending on continued employment, access to benefits and overall availability of food in our community.

“New Bethany is operating with a reduced team of staff and volunteers. Two staff were previously out on medical leave and have not set foot on premises for well over a month. Other staff are asked to stay at home unless they are performing an essential site-based task.

“New Bethany’s office hours have been reduced. We are open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Restrictions are in place for how many people may be in any part of the organization at any time: no more than four in the pantry; no more than four in the kitchen, etc. This rule includes staff and volunteers alike.

“All regular volunteer groups have canceled. Nearly all of our regular volunteers are aging and we are encouraging any volunteer to be conservative in their decision to help out. We do not want any person putting themselves at risk.

“New volunteers have stepped up. Younger working-age people who have revised work schedules are now able to work. Staff and volunteers from other nonprofit organizations that have closed down are starting to call us.

“If you want to volunteer [with New Bethany Ministries], call Brandy Garofalo at 610-691-5602, ext. 210.

“New Bethany is in need of the following items: cleaning and disinfectant supplies (sprays, wipes, sanitizers), food of any kind (prepared, frozen, or non-perishable) and financial contributions.

“Three of New Bethany’s spring fundraisers have already been canceled or dramatically altered and the organization has started to accrue COVID-19 related expenses. To date, no staff has been laid off or received reduced pay for any reason and the organization has no plans to stop paying staff.”

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 it’s 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.

“In the last 24 hours, our team has created a prototype, received approvals from Infection Control and Prevention and Public Safety and Emergency Management and gathered supplies to construct mask covers.

“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.”