Immerse COVID-19 Updates
Update – October 22, 2020, 10:00 AM
When the pandemic began, and so much changed so quickly, an advisor encouraged us to name the assumptions we would operate from to navigate this crisis. There is one key assumption that we’ve locked into, and it guides us on a daily basis:
God’s heart for the fatherless has not changed.
– Founder & Executive Director Eric Gilmore
In March, as businesses and schools prepared for a few-weeks-long shut-down, we began to make plans for continuing to meet the needs of youth from crisis in this “short interim.” It did not take long for us to discover, however, that a greater endurance would be needed, and strategic adjustments would need to be made as COVID-19 began to shape our daily lives in unexpected ways. It was at this moment when we stepped into the key assumption shared by our Founder:
Even in the midst of COVID-19, God’s heart for the fatherless has not changed.
With this belief in mind, we began re-thinking our programs and youth supports, mapping out long-term solutions to meeting the needs of youth in a socially-distant world, without removing the relationships and connections we are founded on. After assessing our programs, we began making creative adjustments. We began offering increased online supports (including virtual coaching or online Life Skills training), as well as delivered supports (including delivered meals in lieu of community meals, delivered groceries from our COVID-19 Emergency Grocery Pantry, and other basic supports). We continued to offer on-site supports to the most vulnerable among those we serve, including homeless youth or youth without a safe place to stay. For these youth receiving on-site supports, we instituted frequent sanitization, mask-wearing, hand-washing, and social-distancing policies, as well as temperature checks and symptom screenings upon entry to our youth drop-in center.
Finally, to protect staff and to ensure that our team is available to youth, even in the event of a partial team exposure, we divided direct-care staff into two teams, with each team working on-site during different portions of the week. This “cohort” system helps us prevent our entire team from being exposed to COVID-19 simultaneously, allowing us to continue meeting the needs of youth, even while certain staff members are in quarantine.
In addition to program and support adjustments designed to protect the health of our youth and staff, we have also been blessed to step into program strengthening and expansion projects designed to deepen and increase our impact in the lives of youth from crisis and families caring for youth from crisis. Some of these projects include the buildout of our youth drop-in center space, Overcomer Central (The OC), the pilot of a program designed to provide community and specialized supports for families with foster or adopted teens age 14-18, and the possible purchase of land for a youth-focused Emergency Shelter. To learn more about some of these projects, click here.
As COVID-19 continues to reshape our daily lives, we are committed to the ongoing process of assessing and creatively adjusting of our programs and supports. We are are thankful for the support of our community, which has helped make the continued care of youth from crisis possible, even in in the midst of COVID-19.
More COVID-19 Updates can be found below.
March 18th, 10:00 AM
Immerse is committed to continuing our mission to see youth from crisis transformed into Overcomers during this time. As we work to meet new and current needs, we are also taking steps to be prepared to help vulnerable youth endure this time of uncertainty and crisis.
We’ll keep this post updated with ways you can provide support, along with any changes we’re making to our operations.
Financial Donations
Contributions provide the most flexibility for meeting unique needs. Please click here to make a financial gift via our website.
In-Kind Donations
Non-perishable foods, OTC medicines, and cleaning supplies are all needed at this time. For example, we are asking for the following items:
Pasta sauce & dry noodles
Peanut butter & jelly
Canned meats (chicken, tuna, etc.)
OTC Cough medicine and Tylenol (children and adult)
Thermometers
For additional needs, please see our most up-to-date list here.
These items can be purchased and shipped to Immerse via this Amazon List, or dropped off at The OC between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday. If you plan to do a drop off, please give Suzanna a heads up by calling or leaving a voicemail at 501-404-9890 x 718.
Update – March 27th, 1:00 PM
Pantry Donations
Thank you for your donations! We are still in need of food items, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies to support our Overcomers. See our most up-to-date list here.
Update – March 26th, 3:30 PM
Housing
The Immerse Team was hard at work today preparing homes for youth to meet the increased need for housing in the wake of the COVID-19 virus. Immerse Coaches sanitized and tidied each room, creating safe, inviting spaces for our Overcomers. If you would like to support Immerse in meeting the increased needs for housing, food items, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies in the wake of the COVID-19 virus, click here to donate. We appreciate your support!
Update – March 25th, 4:50 PM
Connecting
Our team continues to find creative ways to support and connect with our Overcomers in the wake of the COVID-19 virus, from streaming Life Skills Classes through Facebook Live or meeting with youth via FaceTime or Zoom, to packaging and delivering meals for a social distancing version of “The Gathering.” We will continue to press into finding new ways to connect with our Overcomers during this time.
OC Updates
We are currently screening all youth who visit our drop-in center, Overcomer’s Central. Youth have their temperature taken and are screened for symptoms of the COVID-19 virus before entering the main area of the OC. This screening process helps us protect our youth and our Immerse team, while still providing supports for our Overcomers.
Pantry Needs
We are so thankful for the support of those who have donated food, medications, hygiene products, and other items our Overcomers need to stay safe and healthy during this time. We are now building a grocery reserve to care for our youth, and to prevent them from needing to travel to the grocery store. Our “pantry” is currently only stocked with 25% of the items we will need to support and care for our youth and their children. Please reference the links above, or visit our Amazon Wish List here to donate and join us in caring for our Overcomers. Thank you!
Update – March 20th, 11:10 AM
Thank you for the donations!
Update – March 19th, 9:55 AM
Encounter Night is being significantly modified due to recommendations to avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more. In lieu of the normal night, our team will be taking meals to youth and using that time with connect with them, check on them, and spend time praying with them.
The meal has been provided by a super volunteer and Tabitha is developing a plan to make sure meals get delivered.
Volunteer Need
There is a need for an additional 3-4 drivers to deliver meals. If you’re interested in helping in this way, please email or call Suzanna at sduncan@immersearkansas.org or 501-404-9890 x 711.
Update – April 7th, 11:00 AM
New Hours
The Immerse team has been hard at work finding creative, safe ways to continue to support Overcomers in the wake of the COVID-19 virus. This week, the Immerse administrative team began working from home, and the Immerse program team began working half-time on-site at our drop-in center, Overcomer’s Central (the OC), and half-time at home. The OC is now open to youth from 12pm-2pm for “Grab & Go” meals, or by appointment with Immerse program coaches. Our program coaches are now bringing the OC to the youth, encouraging Overcomers to contact a coach, share their needs, and have the coach meet them where they are. For more details on how vulnerable youth can continue to access the supports they need, please reference the flyer below.
