Family Service Rochester's COVID 19 Response

Family Service Rochester has diligently worked to adapt our services to the changing needs of the community during the COVID 19 Pandemic. Our service expansions have been in 3 main areas:

- Mental Health

- Non- Food Essentials for at Risk Families

- Food Response

Mental Health: As part of collaborative efforts in our community Family Service Rochester has offered the expertise and time of our trained therapists. Additionally, telehealth services are avaialbe to current and new clients - the first session is free.

Non- Food Essentials: In partnership with other local organizations Family Service Rochester has collected and distributed essentials such as: toilet paper, diapers, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, hygiene items and more. As the main processing site, FSR collects items and financial gifts to purchase most needed items. These items are distributed to identified at risk families throughout the community.

Food Response: 

Meals on Wheels - In addition to offering 2 meals each day to our current clients, meals are now also served to High-Risk Homeless housed separately from Civic Center Day Center County (2 meals per day). We are also serving meals to individuals who are quarantined until COVID 19 test results are known through Mayo and OMC patient referral system.

Preparing COVID-19 emergency packs - shelf stable meal packs are being distributed to each person recieving Meals on Wheels. Each pack contains seven meals of shelf stable meals.

Food Shelf proxy site. Channel One reached out to FSR to get their perishable food distributed rather than it spoiling. This is taking place almost every day of the week. Nearly all the food being distributed during COVID response comes through Channel One.

Meadow Park Initiative office – proividing food distribution in a low income area, population mostly Somali and Spanish-speaking.

People with Disabilities - Food resourced from Channel One is distributed at high rise buildings that house people with disabilities.

Grocery Shopping Service - the grocery shopping service that has been provided for older adults is now available to anyone who cannot leave their home to access groceries.

Food Box Distribution: To individuals and families who are identified by a case worker as high risk  - isolated or quarantied.

Gage East Apartments - deliver food weekly to permanent supportive housing site for homeless youth and families.

Senior Café - Congregate meals are offered on a "curbside pick up" basis for older adults.