Mary's Place Update, Donations & Contributions

Dear friends and neighbors,

We are in uncharted territory, learning together how we can best keep our families and loved ones safe and healthy. We are so grateful for our community reaching out to help our women, families and children in shelter during this health crisis. We're better, and stronger together!

The health, safety, and well-being of everyone at Mary's Place is our number one priority. While we currently have no confirmed cases of COVID-19, over one-third of our families in shelter have at least one family member who is in a high-risk category for the virus. We are doing everything we possibly can to protect our guests, staff, and volunteers. Taking guidance from our partners at local hospitals, the Washington Department of Health, Public Health Seattle & King County, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and our Mary's Place health care team, we are actively taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus and be ready to respond quickly should someone exhibit symptoms. We continue to actively monitor and adjust our approach as the situation changes.

What we are doing

• requiring all staff, guests, volunteers, and other visitors to wash their hands thoroughly upon entry into a shelter, and regularly throughout their stay
• performing a daily health assessment at all family shelters, including a conversation, health questions, and a temperature check of all of our guests, staff, and volunteers
• increasing our cleaning schedules and protocols
• identifying isolation areas and protocols at each family shelter should someone exhibit symptoms
• canceling all non-essential in-person meetings or visits to shelters
• sharing information as it becomes available with our staff and guests

What we will do if someone has/reports symptoms

• If a guest presents with a temperature of 100.4 or above, and/or exhibits any other symptoms of the virus (coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue), we will:
• require the guest and family members wear a mask
• move the family to an area we have identified for isolation and care and call the COVID-19 King County call center for further instructions
• If a member of our staff, or a volunteer, presents with symptoms, they will be asked to return home and contact their physician or the King County call center.

What you can do to help

We will get through this together as a community! Here are some ways you can help: 

• donate items on our Amazon Charity List, like ear thermometers and covers, twin sheet sets and blankets, alcohol wipes, and other supplies. We have a shortage of many of these items today and will need more to accommodate health concerns, family needs, and a more frequent cleaning schedule. Many of these items are sold out on Amazon, if you find them elsewhere or have them at home to donate, you can drop off at one of these locations.
• make a financial contribution will help us cover the unexpected costs of the extra measures we're taking – adding hand washing stations, increasing staff hours, additional cleaning and medical supplies, etc.
• get a small group of family, friends, or colleagues together to prepare isolation kits for guests who may need to recover in a private space. Those kits could include bottled water, cough drops, hand sanitizer, individual Tylenol packets, tissue packets, snacks, coloring books, Pedialyte, puzzles, etc. Email info@marysplaceseattle.org for more information.
• volunteer to help with food service, assisting kids with remote learning and activities in Kids Club, or sorting donations at our Marketplace or warehouse.

We are so grateful for our community that shares love and brings hope to our women and families every day! Knowing that you're there means so much!

Thank you!

Your Mary's Place family