Hi everyone!

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is a concern for many people and it’s important for us to remain calm and to take reasonable precautions. The health and safety of our members and volunteers is important to us and since many of our members include vulnerable populations like the elderly and children, and since our operations involves many people touching the same items (donors, volunteers, shoppers), we’ve decided to close the Whittier Free Store and the Artisan Work Lab this Sunday, March 15th, 2020. We’d also normally be closed on March 22nd and 29th for our usual volunteer days off. So we’ll be closed from now through the end of this month. We will post announcements about our April schedule at the end of this month. We apologize for the inconvenience!

Many institutions and organizations like ours are following the recommendations of public health officials to implement social distancing as an effort to "flatten the curve" to curb the number of new cases of infection. This is important because if the number of new infections increases too rapidly, it can overwhelm the capacity of emergency room and health care facilities. 

As we all remain calm and try to be aware of the physical contact we're having with others, please also remember to apply empathy for those who are sick, empathy for those who have medical conditions that could compromise their immune response, and empathy for those who may experience greater racial discrimination because of the pandemic's origins. Social distancing doesn't have to mean community distancing and so we encourage everyone to look out for each other - family, friends, neighbors, and fellow community members.

Here is some information you may find helpful:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Here are steps, recommended by the CDC, that you can take to keep you and your family safe and healthy:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• Please note that CDC does NOT recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including the coronavirus.

Take care everyone and we hope to see you soon!

Team Catalyst