We are partnering with local chefs to feed essential healthcare workers in the Twin Cities. Chef Lachelle Cunningham prepared the meals we served to the Mental Health ICU staff at Hennepin County Medical Center in June and Chef Curt Rademacher prepared the meals we served to the Bridge For Youth in July. We will continue this program for the duration of the pandemic and we look forward to partnering with more chefs and feeding more essential employees. 
                                                                  Know The Risk

It can be hard to determine which activities to participate in as different states, and even different counties within each state, open up in various phases. There's no right answer; you just need to know the risks and how much risk you're willing to take. Professor Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Arizona, Dr. James P. Phillips, MD, the Chief of Disaster Medicine at GWU Emergency Medicine have developed a COVID-19 Risk Index to help you do this, based on four key factors:

1) Enclosed space 2) Duration of interaction 3) Crowds 4) Forceful exhalation

This is an incredible time in the life of the church as we battle two pandemics simultaneously; one viral and one racial. As we continue to shelter in place and worship virtually, our service and outreach ministries continue.  In response to both pandemics we are engaged in the following outreach programs: 
  1. St. Peter's is partnering with local Chef Lachelle Cunningham (you can find out more about her here)  to provide meals for essential employees in the twin cities.  St. Peter's is purchasing the food and Chef Cunningham is preparing the meals. Our first event was Friday June 5th where we fed the Mental Health ICU staff at Hennepin County Medical Center. This partnership will continue at least for the duration of the pandemic as we work with other hospitals and nursing homes to feed their employees. 
  2. St. Peter's is partnering with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (https://www.littlebrothersmn.org/) to assist in their volunteer efforts to ensure socially isolated older adults are not alone during the COVID-19 crisis. If you are interested in volunteering  to be a phone companion please contact the church office at (612) 825-9750 or stpetersame@msn.com
  3. St. Peter's is working with local community groups to curate a virtual space where youth and young adults receive leadership, advocacy, activist and policy training so the next generation of leaders will be equipped to dismantle systems of oppression and white supremacy.  Our first cohort began on Thursday May 28th. You can support this effort by donating money and/or anti-racism curriculum, or connecting us with people who are doing work in this space.   
  4. The Sankofa Village,  a ministry of St. Peter's AME Church provides an environment for people of all ages to look back at, reflect on, and learn from our history, traditions and values to take action on issues of race, class, and culture.  We accomplish this by:
    1. Developing opportunities for new neighborhood cooperatives and public partnerships  around food security and community gardening
    2. Through community engagement, mobilizing and connecting people around neighborhood development.
    3. Fostering diversity and inclusion through community building and collective engagement.
 Ways You Can Help
  1. Pray for our world, our leaders, and health professionals, as well as the most vulnerable among us
  2. ​Continue to support St. Peter's programs and ministries financially through 
    1. Givelify https://www.givelify.com/givenow/1.0/NjEyMA==/selection
    2. St. Peter's website -  https://www.thestpeters.org/donate.html or 
    3. Snail Mail to  401 E. 41st St. Minneapolis, MN 55409
  3. Share this information with other members of our church family and the larger community
  4. Volunteer your time in any of the programs/ministries outlined above
How To Stay Healthy & Informed
  1. Look for regular updates via our e-blast and church website www.thestpeters.org, and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rockofallen/
  2. 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
  3. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
  4. If you feel sick, please stay home. If you are unsure whether your immune system can handle contact with multiple people in a confined space, please stay home
  5. Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  7. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  8. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
  9. Call your fellow church members to see how they are doing, especially our sick and shut-in
  10. Call the church office if you have any questions.
Treatment
  • There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions
  • People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately
Testing for COVID-19 is available in Minnesota. Information can be found here:
https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/testing-locations/index.jsp
For more information, access the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/…/2019-…/about/prevention-treatment.html
Minnesota Department of Health
https://www.health.state.mn.us/disea…/coronavirus/index.html