March 16, 2020

As our city, country and world navigate an unprecedented health issue, Mobile Loaves & Fishes has taken several steps in response to the risks posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

As always, one of our primary goals as an organization is to ensure that neighbors who call MLF’s Community First! Village home are safe, supported and well cared for. Many of our formerly homeless friends who live in the Village are particularly vulnerable because of their age and compromised immune systems. Our Resident Care team is proactively communicating with all Community First! neighbors to provide them with details related to the virus and common health safety and disease prevention practices in alignment with CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance. In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Mobile Loaves & Fishes is maintaining essential operations and support services with modifications, while continuing to care for more than 180 of Austin’s most vulnerable neighbors.

Since we have such a large number of residents, volunteers, staff members and other guests regularly visiting Community First! Village, it has become necessary to take precautionary measures to help protect the health and well-being of everyone on site. These actions include:

  • Putting a hold on all volunteer opportunities at Community First! Village for the next several weeks—at a minimum through April 15. If you are scheduled to volunteer at the Village in the weeks ahead, you will be hearing from our Volunteer Team. You can also reach us directly at serve@mlf.org with any volunteer-related questions.
  • Canceling all events and large gatherings that happen on site at the Village, including our free Friday movie nights at the Community Cinema. If you have questions regarding events at Community First! Village, please feel free to email us at events@mlf.org.
  • Stopping all public tours and visitors to the Village until further notice.
  • Encouraging healthy social distancing with all interactions.
  • Stepping up janitorial efforts to increase the frequency of cleaning surfaces and other high traffic areas throughout the Village.

If you volunteer with a Mobile Loaves & Fishes food truck through one of our commissaries, we ask that you please connect directly with your MLF truck community volunteer coordinator regarding next steps. Our friends on the streets rely on our trucks every day, and we are deeply committed to continuing to serve them. At the same time, your health, safety and well-being are also of utmost importance to us. We are grateful for your service and support of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, and understand without hesitation any decisions you need to make during this uncertain time that may impact your participation as a food truck volunteer.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation while adhering to the guidance of health and governing agencies that may require us to further adjust parts of our operation as we serve goodness throughout the city. We are closely following the advice of Austin Public Health, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Everything we do is about relationships. While we would rather not have to make such decisions that affect your presence at Community First! Village or overall involvement with MLF, this is the responsible path forward as we act out of an abundance of caution along with the rest of the community. We remain passionately committed to serving and protecting our homeless brothers and sisters, and we are grateful for your prayers, understanding and support as we all navigate this trying time together.

God bless!