In era of coronavirus, SYMin puts a dent in clients' needs!

The coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic is here, and so are we, although we've modified our outreach to accommodate the shelter-in-place restrictions.

We've split into two teams:
1) Our Home Team, staff working the phones from home to locate resources for clients in an environment that changes almost daily.

2) Our Drop-by Team, staff posting themselves at the Drop-in Center to receive clients outside our gates -- with a smile, with a meal, usually hot, and with supplies. They also receive in-kind donations.
Most of our clients who were doing well have been laid off and have no means to support themselves. Some are housed, others are living outside. We have served 150 people in the past approximately 30 days. We have lost track of 150 clients whom we served the previous six months.

We are seeking them and praying to hear from them soon. We want to know they are well and safe. We want to know how to pray for them. We want to be there for them.

Terry, above, and Billy, below left at gate, kept proper social distance in distributing items to clients as part of the newly formed Drop-By team working out of the Drop-In Center under terms of the temporary stay-at-home order. Some items, bottom right, are available through self-service outside our Drop-in Center to give clients some choices while still keeping social distance

Guadalupe Street, usually bustling with autos and sidewalk traffic as UT students march to and from classes, was eerily quiet after the imposition of stay-at-home orders from the city of Austin. That's SYMin mascot Rosie Cole patrolling the suddenly wide-open spaces.