Corona Virus Update

Dear friends and supporters of Philoxenia Charities of Rochester, Minnesota. Thank you for your continued love and concern during these uncertain and trying times. We can truly feel the strength of your support from afar. Your phone calls, emails, and financial support mean the world to us as we navigate an upside-down world. We are immensely grateful for all you do to support Philoxenia Charities in the good times and at times such as these. We trust there are brighter days ahead and that we will look back on this period as a time when we could count on our friends when we needed extra help to care for those who are ill.

Philoxenia Charities and housing will reopen one of our homes on June 1, 2020 to serve Mayo Clinic patients and their families. Many measures have been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of those we serve, our staff and volunteers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Guest screening questions will be asked prior to arrival, and strict policies and procedures have been implemented at the house, intended to keep you, the other guests, caregivers and our staff safe.
• Visitors are not allowed within the houses.
• In those houses that have communal areas, we are assigning one family to the house.
• Rooms will remain unoccupied for four days in between guest stays in order to ensure no possibility of COVID-19 transmission as per research published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

We had to make difficult and uncomfortable decisions in recent days, but continue to let our mission guide our thinking and actions. Our priority now and moving forward continues to be the health and well-being of the families we serve. We also recognize and embrace our responsibility as global citizens to support public health efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 through the practice of social distancing and continuing our practices of standard precautions. Our hope is that we will all weather this storm and we will be able to accommodate all guests. Until then, stay well.

With deepest gratitude,

Tia Maragos, Administrative Director