FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - Addressing a line of people, all standing six feet apart in front of the Frederick Rescue Mission on April 14, Guy Mutchler explained the organization’s new food distribution procedures.
Under ordinary circumstances, families picking up food from the Rescue Mission would register by signing in before walking through the small warehouse on site to pick their own items. One glimpse at the masks, gloves and bandannas worn by those waiting to distribute the now prepackaged food boxes was enough to tell that “ordinary circumstances” no longer applied, so those picking up food during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic no longer have the option to pick their own items, Mutchler said.
“If anybody is upset by that, I’m sorry, but those are the rules we have to follow,” Mutchler said, before stepping back to allow the first two distributors in line to step up and place boxes of food on the two tables set up in front of the warehouse.
Another change in the Rescue Mission’s approach has been in who is handling the distribution of food, said Mutchler, who is the charitable organization’s director of food distribution and facilities.
“This place is usually 95 percent run by volunteers, (but) that’s gone away because we have no volunteers on campus at all, so we’re using residents,” Mutchler said, explaining that the group’s food distribution is now being handled exclusively by men in the Rescue Mission’s life recovery program. “… We now have to pack boxes; very labor intensive, we pack anywhere from 125 to 150, sometimes 175 boxes in one day within a very short period of time.”
For his part, 47-year-old Donald Mart, who has been in the Rescue Mission’s life recovery program for about eight months, said he was more than happy to lend a hand to make sure the Rescue Mission’s core responsibilities don’t falter during the viral outbreak.
“It feels good, you go out there and you can just see the looks on people’s faces, or the people who come early, you can just tell that they need the food and they’re excited that they’re about to get some food, so it makes you feel good,” Mart said as he helped pack boxes inside the distribution warehouse.
Jose Barrera, another recovery program participant, said he was also pleased to be a part of the Rescue Mission’s food distribution program during the pandemic. Barrera, who is 38, has been in the program for about six months and had some prior experience helping volunteers run the food warehouse before the volunteer programs were suspended under the pandemic.
“Oh, it’s awesome, bro. For me, you know, I feel so good to help them out, to help another person out,” Barrera said, a wide grin spreading across his face as he prepared to tie a blue bandanna over his nose and mouth. ”It was a good experience for me.”
While he admitted some people are upset about not being able to enter the warehouse and select food items on their own, for the most part the families who come through to pick up food are extremely grateful and understanding of the extreme circumstances, Barrera said.
In a given week, the Frederick Rescue Mission hands out an average of 400 food boxes, opening its doors to families in need on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Rescue Mission also hands out hot breakfasts to go from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily as well as lunches from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
“If you go to a grocery store, it doesn’t matter if the shelves are empty or full if you don’t have any money,” said Arnold Farlow, the executive director of the Frederick Rescue Mission. He then turned to the men handing out boxes. “They’re real heroes who are putting themselves at risk to try to help.”
Approximately 30 men were enrolled in the Rescue Mission’s seven-month recovery program at the time of the first restrictions, business closures and public health decrees under the pandemic, Farlow said. While most participants are recovering from some type of substance abuse or addiction, the program is also open to individuals who need a chance to recoup from other types of poor life choices and bad circumstances, like poverty and homelessness.
Under the state of emergency, the recovery shelter is kept closed to visitors and the men aren’t being allowed off campus in order to prevent the virus from spreading inside the center, Farlow said, explaining that the efforts to hand out food is a good way for recovery program participants to feel like they’re giving back to the community during a trying time.
As Barrera stepped back after loading another food box onto the tables in front of the warehouse, a vehicle backed up to the pick-up section and a woman began loading the food into the rear hatch. A young girl, buckled into one of the passenger’s seats, turned to watch and waved at Mutchler and Barrera.
“Thank you all so much,” the woman exclaimed as she finished loading the food and handed the girl a small box of sweets the Rescue Mission had managed to include in that day’s packages.
Mutchler, watching from more than six feet away, waved at the woman and the girl, the creases of his smile just perceptible around the edges of the surgical mask he wore.
”You’re very welcome,” Mutchler said. “And young lady, you enjoy the candy!”
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