There a lot of ways that your unit’s Scouting families can stay engaged in conducting a Good Turn Daily, while adhering to state and federal guidelines in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. With any of the opportunities listed below, please keep in mind the importance of individual safety, and the safety of our community. Acts of civic service can be coordinated by the unit, but should facilitated by families while we all do our best to adhere to social distancing practices.
HOW can I help during the covid-19 Activity suspension?
In working with The Food Group and other community partners, we would like to offer a few ways in which your unit can assist during this time of need, while still adhering to social distancing recommendations.
- Our main community partner, The Food Group, is accepting direct donations at their New Hope location. Items can be dropped off inside the front door at 8501 54th Ave N New Hope, MN 55428.
- Donation barrels can be requested through The Food Group. A 500lb minimum collection is required for barrel drives. More information can be found here on The Food Group’s website. With the closure of many chartered organizations, we recommend that units fully investigate this option prior to making a commitment.
- With social distancing in mind, many food shelves and networks are facilitating virtual food drives. The Food Group and other organizations can help in setting-up a donation page where financial contributions will help in covering the purchase and delivery of resources to area food shelves.
- Locate a food shelf near you by utilizing the Hunger Solutions website, and find out about the specific needs for your community food shelf or food network. Some sites have temporarily closed in adherence to recommendations at the state and federal level; we strongly encourage reaching out ahead of time before coordinating a local effort.
DONATE SUPPLIES OR MAKE MASKS TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
There is a growing shortage of masks to meet the ongoing needs of our health care system in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. During this critical time, you can mobilize your unit and families to help collect or make masks to donate to area hospitals and clinics. As a Scouting family we have a duty to help other people at all times, and our community has identified mask construction and donation as a critical need in the interest of public health.
What items are being requested for donation?
Many health care providers throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin have put out the call for donations of face masks and other supplies. Allina Health has provided a list of items that they are looking to secure, which includes:
- Factory-made N95 and ear loop masks.
- Hand-sewn ear loop masks.
- Nitrile exam gloves.
- PAPRs (Powered Air Purifying Respirators) and CAPRs (Controlled Air Purifying Respirators)
- PAPR hoods/ shrouds.
- Safety glasses and googles.
- Face shields.
- Shoe covers.
All donated items (except for hand-sewn masks) should be in their complete, original packaging.
how do i make hand-sewn masks?
The purpose of requesting the public to contribute hand-sewn masks is to help conserve existing stocks of personal protective equipment. Any materials produced at home are intended for the use of patients who do not have COVID-19, as well as visitors to area health care facilities. See the links below for documents, videos and other resources on how to make hand-sewn masks:
- Link to the Allina Health mask sewing how-to document.
- Link to Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota’s blog including mask sewing how-to documents and a how-to video.
Where do i donate collected or handmade materials?
Allina Health has published a list of sites that are collecting donations (see below). The Allina Health sites listed below are open for donations from 9AM to 1PM. Donations will be accepted by staff members, and those dropping-off materials are asked to stay in their vehicle. Signage will direct donors to the appropriate location for material drop-off.
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 800 E 28th St, Minneapolis, MN
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital – West Health, 2805 Campus Dr, Plymouth, MN
- Buffalo Hospital, 303 Catlin St, Buffalo, MN
- Cambridge Medical Center, 701 S Dellwood St, Cambridge, MN
- District One Hospital, 200 State Ave, Faribault, MN
- Mercy Hospital - Mercy Campus, Coon Rapids, Mercy Specialty Center, 11850 Blackfoot St NW,Coon Rapids, MN
- Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus, Fridley, 550 Osborne Rd, Fridley, MN
- New Ulm Medical Center, 1324 5th St N, New Ulm, MN
- Owatonna Hospital, 2250 NW 26th St, Owatonna, MN
- Regina Medical Center, 1175 Nininger Rd, Hastings, MN
- River Falls Area Hospital, Wisconsin, 1629 E Division St, River Falls, WI
- St. Francis Regional Medical Center, 1455 St. Francis Ave, Shakopee, MN
- United Hospital, 333 Smith Ave N, St. Paul, MN
- Courage Kenny Rehabilitation, Golden Valley, 3915 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN
If you live outside of the Allina Health care system or have a connection to another care system, we recommend that you check their website for information specific to their needs, as well as their donation policies and procedures.
CONSERVATION SERVICE PROJECTS A STEP AWAY FROM HOME
Even with social distancing recommendations and restrictions in place, there is still a way in which you can make a difference in caring for our shared environment. As a unit, we are asking that you adhere to all current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Minnesota Department of Health when working to set-up any outdoor service initiatives with your Scouts. Below are some ways that you can engage Scouts and families in making an impact right outside their front door.
Adopt-a-drain
In order to protect our local waterways, it is important to keep storm drains clear of organic and other material. Algae growth is greatly impacted by the amount of material that is being swept down local drains and into area streams, lakes, and rivers. One way that you can help, is through adopting a storm drain on your street, and cleaning it at least twice a month. Your efforts can greatly assist in the protection of our wildlife habitats and water resources. The great news is that this project can be conducted by a single family while adhering to social distancing recommendations and restrictions.
To find out more information, or to locate unadopted drains near you or near families in your unit, check out the Adopt-a-Drain website.
Sidewalk Clean-up
Many are still getting their daily exercise each day by taking walks in and around their neighborhood without violating social distancing recommendations and restrictions. One way to do you part for our shared environment is to conduct a clean-up effort while you walk in and around your neighborhood. Remember to keep social distancing in mind, and be mindful of regular hygiene practices while disposing of collected waste and interacting with public infrastructure.
KEEP UP MORALE WITH MESSAGES OF SUPPORT
Sidewalk chalk
Show support for your neighbors and help your Cub Scout embrace their creativity (and work on their handwriting) by leaving chalk messages on the sidewalk. During this time, it is important that we keep our community spirit alive, even as we spend more time apart. Taking care to ensure that neighbors know that we are thinking of them is critical, especially for those who may not be able to venture out based on more specific isolation recommendations. Remember to be mindful of social distancing, and to adhere to any local ordinances on sidewalk art.
Virtual Thank you notes to caregivers and first responders
Scouts have always shown their thanks to first responders through cards and other methods of appreciation. Now more than ever, it is important to show our support for those serving our community. Given the nature of COVID-19, we ask that any cards or other methods of appreciation be uploaded to social media as opposed to hand delivered or mailed. Scouts can still write and draw, but we want to ensure the safety of recipients. One way to ensure delivery is to post any cards or drawings to the social media pages of your local municipality, law enforcement, emergency service, or health care system. A simple show of gratitude can go a long way.
Please adhere to the Social Media Guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America when posting.
HOW DO I REPORT SERVICE HOURS AND SHARE IDEAS?
During this unique time of Scouting from Home, we are gathering ideas and suggestions from each of you on how Scouting can still provide our community with a Good Turn each day. Your creativity and innovation not only support our communities and neighborhoods, but it also inspires others to take action. By reporting your service hours, you are also leaving a record of your unit’s work in the community—efforts that we may be able to promote to other Scouting units. Help us celebrate your service, and provide resources to others by recording your service hours digitally today by using our online form.
This year’s door-to-door Scouting for Food effort will be postponed in order to adhere to state and federal recommendations and precautions relating to social distancing in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Scouting for Food is our council’s largest service project to the community and provides over 130,000 pounds of food to local food shelves. Despite the postponement of our Spring efforts, there are still ways that you and your unit can participate. Read on for more information.
HOW can I help during the covid-19 Activity suspension?
In working with The Food Group and other community partners, we would like to offer a few ways in which your unit can assist during this time of need, while still adhering to social distancing recommendations.
- Our main community partner, The Food Group, is accepting direct donations at their New Hope location. Items can be dropped off inside the front door at 8501 54th Ave N New Hope, MN 55428.
- Donation barrels can be requested through The Food Group. A 500lb minimum collection is required for barrel drives. More information can be found here on The Food Group’s website. With the closure of many chartered organizations, we recommend that units fully investigate this option prior to making a commitment.
- With social distancing in mind, many food shelves and networks are facilitating virtual food drives. The Food Group and other organizations can help in setting-up a donation page where financial contributions will help in covering the purchase and delivery of resources to area food shelves.
- Locate a food shelf near you by utilizing the Hunger Solutions website, and find out about the specific needs for your community food shelf or food network. Some sites have temporarily closed in adherence to recommendations at the state and federal level; we strongly encourage reaching out ahead of time before coordinating a local effort.
WHEN AND How can I request DOOR HANGERS?
Door hangers will be available for distribution when conditions allow. Many legacy districts have requested door hangers and will work to distribute them at a future time. If you are unsure whether your legacy district is participating in Scouting for Food in 2020, or if you have traditionally secured your own unit’s doorhangers, then utilize the online form to request supplies for 2020.
WHEN will we be able to partipate in SCOUTING FOR FOOD?
With the suspension of in-person Scouting activities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are asking that units hold off participating in traditional door-to-door collection efforts. Our door hangers do not reference a date, so we are asking that those units with supplies hold onto their material for use at a later date once regular in-person programming resumes, and social distancing recommendations and restrictions are lifted.