How is VEAP responding to COVID-19?

At VEAP, we are committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our participants, volunteers, and staff while also continuing to provide food and other services to the families who rely on our programs.

VEAP’s indoor pantry shopping is currently only available on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Starting April 1, 2022, face mask usage will shift subject to community transmission levels of COVID-19. For visits any other day of the week, we utilize a food drive-through where visitors receive pre-packaged bags of fresh and shelf-stable food.

To comply with state health guidelines, VEAP:

• Suspended ride services to and from the pantry. Food delivery is available to seniors, participants with disabilities, as well as anyone who lives in our service area and is unable to find transportation.
• Periodically adjusts face mask policy in accordance with local transmission rates. See current mask policy here.

Who makes decisions around COVID-19 safety at VEAP?

VEAP’s COVID-19 Safety Team, a group of staff that represent each department, monitors safety issues that arise as well as works with and relies on the expertise of our public health department, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With the goal of maintaining services, VEAP leadership will be making decisions around our services in the event that our normal day-to-day operations are impacted by events beyond our control. We will keep you informed with the latest developments via email, social media, and on our website.

What COVID-19 safety requirements are there to volunteer?

Volunteers must be able to pass our COVID-19 self-screening questionnaire prior to coming in. You can find a copy of this tool in our resources page.

While on-site, VEAP asks all visitors and volunteers to abide by our current face covering policy, and respect changes should they arise.

We also ask that volunteers and staff thoroughly and frequently wash their hands while at VEAP and continue to follow other guidance provided by the CDC around disease containment. Read more about the CDC’s current recommendations.

Will I be notified if someone tests positive for COVID-19 at VEAP?

You will hear directly from the Volunteer Department if you have been identified as being within close-contact with a person who received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. All volunteers will receive a general update about COVID-19 cases in our monthly volunteer e-newsletter.

If someone on-site tests positive for COVID-19, Can VEAP tell me the name of the person infected or where they work in the building at VEAP?

In order to protect confidentiality and comply with federal HIPAA laws, we cannot reveal any specific details regarding volunteers or staff who test positive, including when or where that person was in our facility. If there is a potential exposure we will consult with our local public health official to determine whether or not any other employees, volunteers or visitors were exposed to the virus by the individual who tested positive.

What do I do if I’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or test positive?

We ask that volunteers and staff stay home if they are sick or find out that they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19 or find out you have been exposed after recently volunteering at VEAP, please stay home and contact the Volunteer Department by calling 952-955-8323 or email [email protected] so we can determine whether or not other volunteers or staff were impacted. If you are unsure whether or not you should come in to VEAP, please feel free to use our COVID-19 self-screening tool for guidance.