COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates
Dear Friends,
As an Essential Service Provider, The Albany Damien Center's programs and services REMAIN OPEN with the following adjustments to how we are meeting our members' and tenants’ needs:
Only tenants, pharmacy customers, and essential team members are currently allowed inside the building. Guests of tenants, members, and other visitors are not allowed to enter the building. All other team members are working from their homes.
New Intakes – we are continuing to accept new members to the Damien Center and are doing all new intakes by phone. If you or someone you know is in need of our services, please call us for a confidential and supportive intake.
The pharmacy is OPEN and can deliver to your doorstep! While Town Total Pharmacy remains open for pickups, please consider setting up free delivery to your doorstep. We still can put meds in pill boxes and call in refills. Call us if you would like to sign up for our pharmacy!
Our Congregate Meals (Breakfasts, Lunches, & Dinners) are operating in the “Grab & Go” format only. Breakfast 9:00 – 9:30, Lunch 12:00 – 12:30, Dinner 5:00 – 5:30 by coming to the back door of the building for pick up. We are delivering meals to our members and tenants who are quarantined or too ill to come in.
Nutrition Health Education and Food Vouchers continue to be dispersed. All Nutrition Classes are being scheduled by phone and food vouchers will be mailed or picked up outside the building.
Pantry Bags are being distributed twice per month, doubling up on meals. This means two bags are given every other week.
Employment Pathways continues to assist members by phone job readiness, navigating benefits, and temporary job placement. New members welcome! The TNGC employment program continues to outreach for opportunities for people seeking gainful employment.
Social Support and Access to Care continues to be available by phone and we continue to offer phone calls to chat as well as to check in and see what our members’ needs are during this pandemic.
PAWS program pet food pickup continues to happen outside of the building or by delivery for those who cannot make it to the Damien Center due to illness.
Our MPower! team is operating by telephone only. The 77 Central Avenue location remains closed. Our staff is available for calls only to assist with getting people the services they need.
Tenants at the Damien Center and in our scattered site housing continue to receive all services and we continue to offer delivery of items.
In-person meetings and activities and all Albany Damien Center events are cancelled. These include the AIDS Walk & Festival and the Annual Meeting reception both scheduled in May. We continue to use technology to host necessary meetings and trainings.
U=U Activities remain temporarily suspended. This will be revisited in April.
Our staff, volunteers, tenants, members, and supporters are one team and I am so humbled by those who have come together to ensure our members have what they need during this pandemic.
With businesses closing and more people finding themselves out of work, our community needs the Albany Damien Center now more than ever. Please consider a gift to the Albany Damien Center's COVID-19 Response Fund to ensure we continue to be able to provide for those who need us the most.
Wishing you all the best during this difficult time,
Perry Junjulas
Executive Director
As an Essential Service Provider, The Albany Damien Center's programs and services REMAIN OPEN with the following adjustments to how we are meeting our members' and tenants’ needs:
Only tenants, pharmacy customers, and essential team members are currently allowed inside the building. Guests of tenants, members, and other visitors are not allowed to enter the building. All other team members are working from their homes.
New Intakes – we are continuing to accept new members to the Damien Center and are doing all new intakes by phone. If you or someone you know is in need of our services, please call us for a confidential and supportive intake.
The pharmacy is OPEN and can deliver to your doorstep! While Town Total Pharmacy remains open for pickups, please consider setting up free delivery to your doorstep. We still can put meds in pill boxes and call in refills. Call us if you would like to sign up for our pharmacy!
Our Congregate Meals (Breakfasts, Lunches, & Dinners) are operating in the “Grab & Go” format only. Breakfast 9:00 – 9:30, Lunch 12:00 – 12:30, Dinner 5:00 – 5:30 by coming to the back door of the building for pick up. We are delivering meals to our members and tenants who are quarantined or too ill to come in.
Nutrition Health Education and Food Vouchers continue to be dispersed. All Nutrition Classes are being scheduled by phone and food vouchers will be mailed or picked up outside the building.
Pantry Bags are being distributed twice per month, doubling up on meals. This means two bags are given every other week.
Employment Pathways continues to assist members by phone job readiness, navigating benefits, and temporary job placement. New members welcome! The TNGC employment program continues to outreach for opportunities for people seeking gainful employment.
Social Support and Access to Care continues to be available by phone and we continue to offer phone calls to chat as well as to check in and see what our members’ needs are during this pandemic.
PAWS program pet food pickup continues to happen outside of the building or by delivery for those who cannot make it to the Damien Center due to illness.
Our MPower! team is operating by telephone only. The 77 Central Avenue location remains closed. Our staff is available for calls only to assist with getting people the services they need.
Tenants at the Damien Center and in our scattered site housing continue to receive all services and we continue to offer delivery of items.
In-person meetings and activities and all Albany Damien Center events are cancelled. These include the AIDS Walk & Festival and the Annual Meeting reception both scheduled in May. We continue to use technology to host necessary meetings and trainings.
U=U Activities remain temporarily suspended. This will be revisited in April.
Our staff, volunteers, tenants, members, and supporters are one team and I am so humbled by those who have come together to ensure our members have what they need during this pandemic.
With businesses closing and more people finding themselves out of work, our community needs the Albany Damien Center now more than ever. Please consider a gift to the Albany Damien Center's COVID-19 Response Fund to ensure we continue to be able to provide for those who need us the most.
Wishing you all the best during this difficult time,
Perry Junjulas
Executive Director