The coronavirus has caused the closing of local schools and businesses, which has forced the American Red Cross Lehigh Valley to cancel planned blood drives, according to Peter Brown, executive director.

“We are looking at adding (blood) drives,” Brown said. “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. The Red Cross has implemented new screening measures designed to keep staff and clients safe.

Alan Jennings, executive director of Community Action Committee Lehigh Valley, has been busy delivering food to the homes of a few sick and infirmed residents. Volunteers are harder to find during this public health crisis, so Jennings had to redeploy his staff to fill food boxes and make deliveries.

The Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown is facing a crisis, according to Jennings. He said caseworkers have been sent home, and the shelter is being staffed by the caretaker staff, mainly to ensure security.

“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 local Allentown office of the Salvation Army had a message on its website addressing the coronavirus from the national headquarters.

“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,” the message said.

It went on to say the local Salvation Army divisions will continue to work with area government and health experts.

“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,” the message stated.

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

“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,” Smith said.

He reported the mission is adding isolation areas to minimize the spread of the virus, and men with symptoms will go to the hospital for testing.

“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,” he stated.

“We need and appreciate your help now more than ever,” he said. “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.”

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. New Bethany is taking measures to protect ourselves and the public,” he said.

Rittle said they are serving hot meals curbside. In the first week of the crisis, New Bethany served 260 lunches - 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.”

He reported New Bethany is operating on a reduced staff and reduced hours. The new hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

When it comes to volunteers, he said all the regular volunteer groups have canceled. He urges volunteers to be conservative in their decision to help out.

“We do not want any person putting themselves at risk,” he said. “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.”

Anyone interested in volunteering should call Brandy Garofalo at 610-691-5602, ext. 210.

Rittle noted the organization is in need of cleaning and disinfectant supplies including sprays, wipes and sanitizers; food of any kind including prepared, frozen or nonperishable; 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,” he said.

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, LVHN is doing its part by taking an innovative approach to extend the use of N-95 respirator masks.

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

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

He reported small groups gathered at the school of nursing building at Lehigh Valley Hospital on 17th Street to construct the mask coverings.