Golden Harvest Food Bank Responds To Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis

Executive Director Amy Breitmann packs bagged lunches for distribution at The Master’s Table Soup Kitchen on Sunday, July 19

On July 18, Golden Harvest became aware that a staff member at The Master’s Table Soup Kitchen tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our staff, volunteers and guests, The Master’s Table physical facility will be closed until further notice but meals will continue to be provided.

Golden Harvest will continue working with our partnership network to ensure that meals are provided every day. Meals will continue to be served at 11 a.m Monday – Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

From Tuesday, July 21 to Friday, July 24, Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with The Salvation Army of Augusta to provide lunch at The Master’s Table. Guests will be served curbside out of The Salvation Army’s trucks by Salvation Army staff and volunteers.

From Friday, July 24- Sunday, August 9, the Food Bank is partnering with local restaurants and businesses to continue to provide curbside meals.

Our first priority is always the health and safety of our Master’s Table staff, guests and volunteers. A professional sanitation company cleaned and sanitized The Master’s Table on July 19. All staff at The Master’s Table have been tested for COVID-19 and are quarantining for 14 days to monitor for symptoms of the virus. Other individuals who may have been in close contact with this staff member have been informed. This is the only confirmed case at the Food Bank.

Golden Harvest Food Bank staff distributes lunches at The Master’s Table on Sunday, July 19

Golden Harvest has been and will continue to follow guidelines established by the CDC to protect our staff, volunteers, partner agencies and neighbors from exposure to COVID-19. Our offices and warehouses will remain open and operational, and we will continue our proactive health safety measures which include sanitizing common work areas, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.

Our thoughts are with our  Master’s Table staff members, their families and with all of Golden Harvest’s front line responders who are continuing to provide access to food for our neighbors at this critical time.