To our loving, supportive community:
I know many of you have kept us in your thoughts and prayers and are keeping posted on what’s happening by following us on social media. Thank you for your support.
As the Governor made an important decision to ask the state of Delaware to stop going to any nonessential location, Friendship House has had to wrestle with very difficult decisions. There are little to no options left for those who are experiencing homelessness. Almost every physical door has been closed to them. And, what pains me more, there are no known contingency plans for this group of deeply vulnerable people. They are invisible to so many.
Our staff are deeply dedicated to the Friendship House mission and unanimously have all agreed to do whatever is asked. There are not enough kind words for me to say about my colleagues. That said, we have made the following difficult decisions, keeping the safety of staff, volunteers, and our guests as our priority:
We are asking no one come onsite to any location unless approved by Friendship House staff. We are still accepting dinner donations from those already signed up for meals at Epiphany House and Andrew’s Place. We will come to meet you when you arrive and take the items in your behalf. Please know, we do not want you to prepare or bring us a meal if it requires an additional challenge for you. Please contact Kristen Reisor at kristen.reisor@friendshiphousede.org for questions and concerns.
Our Clothing Bank is closed until it is safe to reopen. Please do not bring any donations or place any orders at this time.
We will keep very minimal hours at our Wilmington and Newark Empowerment centers, while we close our MOT (Middletown) center temporarily. There are no services we are able to provide except coffee, food when possible, and to be a community touchpoint. We hope to open in Wilmington again Sunday morning for coffee and breakfast to go.
Our administrative office is closed and our staff will work from home, checking email and phones message remotely for every location. Please know it could take more than 24 hours to return a message – your patience is deeply appreciated.
It is truly humbling to experience something being experienced worldwide. I wish knowing we were not in this alone made me feel better. However, knowing millions of people are significantly struggling makes my heart ache more. Please continue to keep our state, nation, and world in your prayers.
I am monitoring my email regularly. Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns: kim.eppehimer@friendshiphousede.org.
Your friend,
Kim Eppehimer
Executive Director
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