and until further notice the Commodity Program will be operating with the following procedures in place:
Warehouse: (ACTIVE)
Public access to the RST Commodity Food Distribution warehouse will be severely limited. No more than six (6) program participants will be allowed access at any given time; two (2) in certifiers' offices, two (2) waiting to certify, one (1) in issuance office and one (1) waiting for issuance. Children will not be allowed in the warehouse until the alert is lifted. The public will have access through the northeast door only. The northwest door will be used as an exit only. Hand sanitizers are available throughout the warehouse and hand soap dispensers installed in the restrooms for program participant use. A hand washing station is available for those who wish to utilize it. Participants diagnosed with the flu or have flu-like symptoms are encouraged to send an Authorized Representative or other authorized individual to pick up their food. Home deliveries will continue but staff members will not enter residences. Participants will need to have someone there to receive their food delivery and sign the invoice. Phone orders-participants may call the warehouse and complete a shopping list, the list is entered into the inventory system and invoiced, then the order will be packed by program personnel and ready for pick up. Certifications/re-certifications may be completed by scheduling an appointment, faxing or scanning and emailing applications and supporting documents, and mailing by ground mail.
Tailgate:
Each participant will be requested to complete the Proposed RST Screening Tool for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Home deliveries will continue but staff will not enter residences. Door-step service will be provided with program staff noting the date and time of the delivery. You may direct any questions, concerns or comments to any staff member by calling (605) 845-4558 or email ruth.reifel@rst-nsn.gov.
STAFF DISASTER RELIEF INFORMATION
First and foremost, we have a responsibility to ourselves and our families so keeping ourselves safe at work is very important.
There will be no food demonstrations in the warehouse until the corona virus alert is lifted. If you use the kitchen to prepare or warm your lunch, clean and sanitize immediately after.
Proper hand-washing procedures and keeping the warehouse clean and sanitized is a priority and we are all required to clean and sanitize our work areas, floors and restrooms. All vehicles will carry sanitizing wipes and spray disinfectant (alcohol and spray bottles have been ordered). Certifiers will take extra precautions to keep their tailgating workspace as sanitary as possible. In the event that participants take offense to the extra measures, please inform them of the importance of keeping them, and yourselves, as safe as possible.
Warehouse. Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, at 8:00 am, the following will apply: The only entrance open to the public will be the northeast door, the northwest door will be used as an exit only. The entrance will need to be monitored and hand sanitizers accessible to participants entering the building. The utility sink will be used as a hand washing station for those who wish to utilize it. Very limited access to the public, meaning that at any given time, there should be no more than 6 program participants given access; 2 in the certifiers' offices, 2 waiting to certify, 1 in the issuance office and 1 waiting for issuance. ABSOLUTELY NO CHILDREN WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE WAREHOUSE UNTIL THE COVID19 ALERT IS LIFTED.
Tailgate. Sanitizing supplies, gloves and masks will be carried in all vehicles used for tailgate delivery. Certifiers will make sure there are extra sanitizing supplies available to clean their work spaces while certifying and issuing to program participants. If at all possible, limit the number of participants in the facility during certification and issuance. Tailgate home deliveries will continue but staff will not enter any residences, but provide door-step service. If you are not comfortable obtaining a signature, note delivery date and time on the invoice
Incoming delivery trucks. There is no way we can be assured of a driver's health, so masks and gloves will have to be used and thorough hand washing performed after unloading the trucks.
OUR DISASTER/PANDEMIC PLAN
Warehouse:
Public access to the RST Commodity Food Distribution warehouse will be severely limited. No more than six (6) program participants will be allowed access at any given time; two (2) in certifiers' offices, two (2) waiting to certify, one (1) in issuance office and one (1) waiting for issuance. Children will not be allowed in the warehouse until the alert is lifted. The public will have access through the northeast door only. The northwest door will be used as an exit only.throughout the warehouse and hand soap dispensers installed in the restrooms for program participant use. A hand washing station is available for those who wish to utilize it. Participants diagnosed with the flu or have flu-like symptoms are encouraged to send an Authorized Representative or other authorized individual to pick up their food. Home deliveries will continue but staff members will not enter residences. Participants will need to have someone there to receive their food delivery and sign the invoice. Phone orders-participants may call the warehouse and complete a shopping list, the list is entered into the inventory system and invoiced, then the order will be packed by program personnel and ready for pick up. Certifications/re-certifications may be completed by scheduling an appointment, faxing or scanning and emailing applications and supporting documents, and mailing by ground mail. Homeless shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs, correction facilities and elderly nutrition centers will be notified when extra fresh produce is available to keep traffic in the warehouse at a minimum.
Tailgate:
It will be the responsibility of the community administration to clean and sanitize the site prior to scheduled tailgate delivery. Each participant will be requested to complete the Proposed RST Screening Tool for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Personnel will carry facial tissue, hand, and surface sanitizers with them to each site. Masks and gloves may be used at their discretion. Home deliveries will continue but staff will not enter residences. Door-step service will be provided with program staff noting the date and time of the delivery.
DISASTER/PANDEMIC DECLARATION:
In the event of a presidentially declared disaster or pandemic, and in cooperation with the Tribal Administration, RST Emergency Preparedness Program and Community Administrators, the following steps will be taken:
With assistance from individual community administrations, determine the number of households and household members in each community affected by a quarantine Determine what, if any, resources each community has readily available to assist Submit an application for disaster relief to the Regional FNS-USDA Regional Office. Household issuance assistance is to be requested as congregate feeding will not be an option to avoid possible spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). If the application is approved, RST Commodity Food Distribution staff will coordinate with affected community administrators on best practices for safe application processes and delivery to individual households.
Certification personnel will closely monitor applications and keep in contact with the local
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) offices to verify whether or not Disaster SNAP benefits are approved for any applicants and/or their household members.
All PSA's (public service announcements) pertaining to emergency warehouse and tailgate procedures will be submitted to the RST IT department for publication and radio announcements, flyers will be posted at various sites throughout the reservation and emailed to Community Chairpersons for posting. The program Facebook page will also be utilized for notifications to our publication and radio announcements, flyers will be posted at various sites throughout the reservation and emailed to Community Chairpersons for posting. The program Facebook page will also be utilized for notifications to our participant