COVID-19 Advisory

Keeping our communities safe

(Last Updated 9/10/2020 at 6:00 p.m.)
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana cares about the health, safety and well-being of the individuals we serve, our staff and those in our communities. Because of this, we are putting some safety measures in place within all our locations as we prepare for the impact of COVID-19.

VOLUNTEERS
Based on guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local and state health professionals, until further notice we are suspending all volunteer opportunities at all of our locations.

VISITORS
As for visitors, please contact the individual program to learn of their specific visitor policy during this critical time. Here is a complete list of our program directory. 

THRIFT STORES 
Starting Thursday, July 16th, ALL Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana thrift stores are requiring face coverings. If you plan on shopping in our stores, you will be required to wear a face covering. Thank you for helping us keep our staff and our community safe.

To help protect higher-risk members of our community, our thrift stores will open one hour early for those who are 65+ years, have physical impairments or immune compromised. *Thrift stores will not open an hour early on Tuesday Sale day.*

Normal business hours:
Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• For a complete list of shopping safety guidelines, click here.
  
• We’re still accepting donations at our store and drop box locations.
• Scheduled Columbus donation pick-ups have resumed.
  • All donations must be placed outside and visible by 8:00 a.m.
  • VOA Workers will not enter homes.
  • No heavy items. All donation items must be light enough to be lifted by one VOA worker.

AUTO DONATION & AUCTIONS
UPDATE: Auto auction will resume Saturday, May 16th. The following guidelines are in place to keep customers and staff safe. 

• We have added additional preview days to provide safe social distancing.
• Only bidders and buyers are allowed on the back lot.
• All attendees MUST wear a mask or face covering.
• We are still taking auto donations. At this time we are not accepting walk-ins, but please call 1-614-870-7500 or 1-800-862-6030 to speak to a representative.

For more information about our auto auction, click here.

AURORA FOOD PANTRY
We are a choice food pantry that serves Aurora, Mantua, Reminderville, Solon, Streetsboro, and Twinsburg residents. Click here for more information.

Clients may receive food once per month. Documentations required to register are a photo ID (driver’s license/state ID) and a current proof of address (utility bill, etc.).

Pantry is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Please call (330)348-0830 if you have any questions.

PROGRAMS & FACILITIES
At this time, we are limiting the number of visitors to all our programs and facilities. Each program and facility has its own visiting policy, so we ask that you call before visiting any of our locations. Here is a complete phone directory of all our programs.

Within all our programs and facilities, we are cleaning and disinfecting all common areas and increasing the frequency of cleaning common touch points including door knobs, handrails, bathroom surfaces and fixtures, computer keyboards, phones, etc. In addition, we will continue to monitor staff and residents' health, particularly with respect to flu-like symptoms. We are confident these safety measures will keep those we serve safe and healthy.

OUR STAFF
To decrease the exposure and spread of COVID-19, we are advising all staff to stay home if they are sick. In addition, we have enacted a work from home policy for administrative, non-direct client care and non-retail employees:

• All non-essential business travel is suspended.
• Limit face-to-face interactions and all meetings should be held virtually whenever possible.

We feel confident that taking these measures will protect everyone including our staff, our community, and the more than 2,000 vulnerable individuals and families we serve every day.

For those we care about, it is only the beginning of a new set of difficulties they will face in their lives. While this presents a new set of challenges for us at Volunteers of America, we stand ready to embrace our mission and tackle this new world. Together, we can do this.

For the latest updates and news on COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov/covid19