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The Iowa City Free Lunch Program Newsletter November 2020
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Check out our new website!
Many thanks to board member Stephen Pradarelli for putting it together:
http://iowacityfreelunch.org
Follow us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/iowacityfreelunch
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FLP COVID-19 Safety Update
FLP continues to serve meals during the pandemic, but for the safety of guests, volunteers, and staff, the lunch room is currently closed. Our traditional buffet-style service has been replaced with lunches to-go, which can be picked up through the side kitchen door. All staff and volunteers wear masks onsite and maintain 6 ft. of distance while serving guests.
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Holiday Gift Room
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It's that time of year again! The FLP Holiday Gift Room is an event that is greatly appreciated and anticipated each year by guests and volunteers alike.
This year, due to COVID-19, we are facing safety restrictions that prevent us from opening the gift room. However, we would still like to put together and distribute a Holiday Gift Bag to each guest when they pick up their meal on Dec. 25th. We hope to make 100 bags and are seeking donations of the items listed below. Please feel free to share this list with anyone or any organizations you think might like to be involved over the holidays!
- All donations need to be new. We will not be accepting used or gently-used clothing/outerwear this year.
- Donations need to be received by Friday, December 18th.
- Donations can be left at FLP from 11am-1pm in the labeled donation box by the back door. If drop-off at FLP is not convenient, please contact us at lorisdawson@gmail.com.
If you prefer to make a monetary donation for us to purchase items, please do so through our
website: http://iowacityfreelunch.org/support/ or mail a check to Free Lunch Program,
1105 S. Gilbert Ct. #100, Iowa City, IA 52240. Please label donations as "Holiday Gifts".
Items Needed:
Winter hats
Winter ski gloves (no stretch gloves - men's and women's sizes
Winter socks (thermal or wool) - men's and women's sizes
Hand and/or toe warmers
Chapstick/lipbalm
Tissues - travel size
Hand lotion - travel size
Wet wipes - travel or purse size
Masks
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New FLP Staff
You may have seen some new faces at FLP! A warm welcome to Lori Dawson, our new Administrative Co-Director (effective Jan. 1st), and Diane Platte, who will be job sharing the Kitchen Manager and Volunteer Co-Director position with Jama Lidral.
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Warming Shelter Opens
Iowa City will open a daytime warming shelter in the Robert A. Lee Rec. Center on Mon., Nov. 23rd. FLP will continue to serve
to-go meals, but will also coordinate with the City to provide packaged meals for guests at the Center, Shelter House main shelter, and Cross Park Place.
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Closed Thanksgiving Day
FLP will not be serving a meal on Thurs., Dec. 26th. However, guests are invited to receive a
to-go meal at
St. Mary's Annual
Thanksgiving Dinner
Thurs., Nov. 26th at
St. Mary's Parish Hall,
228 E. Jefferson Street, Iowa City
Noon - 1 pm
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Get Involved!
Want to give back to your community? Volunteer to serve and/or provide a meal for FLP. We are currently seeking groups to help over the holidays. To promote safety during the pandemic, we encourage household groups or small groups of friends within your safety bubble. Contact Jama at icfreelunchvolunteers@gmail.com
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 Giving Tuesday
"A Global Generosity Movement"
If you've considered being a part of Giving Tuesday on December 1st, please consider a donation to the Iowa City Free Lunch Program. Your gift will ensure that healthy meals continue to be served, six days a week, to anyone who is in need during this time of social and economic instability.
Donations can be made directly to FLP through our website.
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We are grateful for you and for your continued and generous support of the Iowa City Free Lunch Program!
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