Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Eastern Massachusetts is in the midst of its fourth or fifth ‘major’ snowfall since Christmas. The governor has asked all ‘non-essential’ workers to stay home; the TV crawl is filled with notices of closed schools and organizations, including no Meals on Wheels delivery.

I work from home, so in theory don’t ‘get’ snow days. Unless the power goes out, I can work and enjoy the beauty of snow falling. For others, a snowstorm causes anxiety and havoc.

What happens to people who can’t afford to not go to work? Who cares for their children on a snow day when schools and day care centers are closed? What happens to food pantries, meal programs, or free clinics when there is a major storm? Are the people who use these services ‘out of luck?’ Do they and their children go to bed hungry or sick?

I’m part of a church group that prepares and serves dinner six times a year at a local services agency. Lifebridge provides three daily meals, a free clinic, shelter beds, and short-term housing, as well as a variety of other services to people needing assistance. With a tiny staff, Lifebridge relies on volunteers to provide many of these services.

Until today, I never thought about how they manage in a major snowstorm. Are meals prepared regardless of the weather? Do some volunteers brave the weather to cook and serve the meal? Do the staff and the clients rummage through the refrigerators and cupboards and ‘rustle up’ a hot meal using what’s on hand? What do they do if the power is out?

Are you part of a congregation or organization that provides basic services to people in need? What do you do when there’s a snowstorm, hurricane, or other type of storm? What’s your ‘back up plan’ if the volunteers can’t get there because of the weather? What arrangements are made to provide these vital services to people in need?

Please share your practices and bad weather policies in the comment section or post in the Your Turn section of this site.