In May 2020, ZVMS helped the Minnesota Medical Association Foundation to raise over $6,700 for organizations serving people experiencing homelessness in Olmsted County during COVID-19. ZVMS identified the nonprofit organizations in our region to receive the funds for their collaborative spirit in assisting a particularly vulnerable population.
The Warming Center and Day Center was a multi-sectoral community collaborative COVID-19 effort to serve people experiencing homelessness. The City of Rochester and Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) rented the Mayo Civic Center to provide 24-hour shelter, in the form of a Warming Center from 8 pm to 8 am and a Day Center from 8 am to 8 pm. Catholic Charities, which operated the Warming Center in winter months, extended and shifted their operations to the Civic Center to allow for the necessary physical distancing. The Day Center opened temporarily to provide services in one location. Rochester Public Library and other City staff on reassignment operated the Day Center. The Salvation Army, Channel One Food Bank, and local churches and businesses helped provide meals. The Landing MN assisted with clothing and other essentials. Meanwhile, HRA staff and local social workers worked onsite with Center residents to address long term health and housing needs.
And, because we did not know what unexpected circumstances might affect our vulnerable community members, we directed a portion of the funds to the COVID-19 Together Fund, housed at the Rochester Area Foundation.