COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Local nonprofits have had to change the way they serve the community because of guidelines meant to slow down the coronavirus outbreak.
Twin City Mission has been a staple agency in Bryan College Station for more than 50 years. Serving a variety of people here in the community, the nonprofit has had to alter how it can interact with its clients due to COVID-19.
“The number of clients we’re seeing in person or face to face has decreased obviously because of the guidelines set forth by the health department," said Twin City Mission Director of Community Relations, Ron Crozier. "Our numbers at the local homeless shelter this morning is 45. And there’s 128 beds, so our numbers at Phoebe's Home, the domestic violence shelter, we only have one client there."
Twin City Mission has a community café where it feeds its clients three meals a day and also serves the community lunch and supper during the week. Numbers coming to the café are also decreasing.
“Now with the community cafe being closed, we’re able to provide a grab and go lunch only, so they can come by the cafe and pick up lunch and leave with it. We’ve seen those numbers drop down to maybe 20 a day in that area," said Crozier.
During these times of shelter in place, Twin City Mission is also serving victims of domestic violence a little differently.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of calls or nonresidential counseling, but we’ve seen a decrease in victims seeking shelter at Phoebe's. What we have seen is the increase in our non-treatment, people calling for assessment, people calling for direction, people calling for housing. So we’re able to serve those clients without them having to come to the shelter," said Crozier.
He added that the community needs to be vigilant to the needs of people who live in Bryan College Station.
“We all need to embrace the idea that this is the new normal now, we probably won’t go back to where we were, March 23, we’re probably looking forward to how we can adjust and adapt today and plan for tomorrow. And we shouldn’t try to bring yesterday with us," said Crozier.
Twin City Mission remains open and continues to offer its services to anyone in need.