The outbreak of COVID-19 in Mississippi has impacted our organization tremendously.
While Volunteer Saturdays were initially canceled, they have returned with safety precautions added. Group size is limited to twenty volunteers. Masks are required and temperatures are checked.
While initially closed to follow state and local ordinances, our regular fundraiser Neat Used Things for Sale retail locations and Plaza Bingo, have reopened with the addition of safety precaution including the requirement of masks, temperature checks and the practice of social distancing.
Our fundraising races Kick Up the Dust and Balloon Chase have been canceled, our Christmas themed race 12 K’s for the Holidays has become virtual, and our golf ball drop will be rescheduled closer to Christmas.
Despite these changes due to the Covid-19, Good Samaritan (especially its food assistance program and case management) NEVER closed down. Not a single day! We knew early on that the pandemic would bring an increased need of food as well as potential food shortages. With this in mind, Good Samaritan Center teamed up with other organizations and businesses like
Extra Table, KLLM transport, Merchant’s, Sysco, Central Planning and Development to create HUB for the Hungry, a collaboration that salvages food from food brokers, restaurants, and farmers to give to food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the state. In seven months, the collaboration has saved over a half million pounds of good food from being thrown away.
How Have Social Services Changed?
In addition to our fundraisers being impacted, we have also restructured how we provide services.
Our clothing program, while initially closed, has been reopened with new days and times as well as safety precautions of masks, hand-washing, temperature checks, and social distancing.
We see clients for clothes on Monday and Thursdays from 10 am-3:30 pm.
We are now committed to assisting any Hinds or Jones County residents with dependents 18 & Under that show a need with a week’s worth of groceries each month, during this pandemic, even if your family already receives SNAP benefits.
We are still able to take SNAP applications for those who are eligible at both Good Sam locations. Please let us know if we can assist you with an application.
We have implemented a “Grab & Go” policy at our Soup Kitchen in Laurel, where we have our families keep a safe distance from each other while waiting for their to-go containers. We are also limiting the amount of clients allowed in our facilities at any given time and ensuring that we all keep social distancing when interacting with people both inside and outside of the organization.
Please see the following for our updated service hours:
Please do not be alarmed when you come in and see our workers or volunteers wearing face masks, face shield and gloves. Please do not be upset if you are asked to wait outside or in your vehicle or that your temperature is checked. These measures are for everyone’s safety.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call us!
Laurel Social Services: (601) 426-3963
Jackson Social Services: (601) 355-6276
