Morristown’s Market Street Mission partially reopened this week after a COVID-19 outbreak there earlier this month.
Everything “went smoothly,” but “we are still being cautious,” Mission spokesperson Natalie Vermeulen said on Tuesday.
Community meals were served at the door on Monday, and the Mission’s thrift store on George Street reopened, Vermeulen said. The Mission’s overnight shelter will reopen on a limited basis on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, she said.
After a coronavirus case was confirmed at the Mission on Dec. 11, 2020, everyone there was tested and more cases were identified, according to Executive Director David Scott. The Mission announced the temporary suspension of services on Dec. 18, and quarantined about 30 men who reside at 9 Market St. for substance recovery programs.
The in-house cases were mild and all are recovering well, Vermeulen said.
While they remain quarantined, “many of the men in the program are up and moving…and have been able to take care of the needs in the building,” she said.
Outside clients who rely upon the Mission for meals were helped during the shutdown by nourish.NJ.
“When we first found out about the positive cases in the building, the Nourish soup kitchen stepped in while we were down and donated meals to the men in our program, for which we are deeply grateful,” Vermeulen said.
Out of caution, many Mission staff members continue working from home, she said, “but we are encouraged by our clients’ recuperation and by our ability to serve the community again.”
Established in Morristown in 1889 to help men overcome alcoholism, the Market Street Mission now also helps them recover from drugs, in addition to sheltering homeless men and feeding poor men, women and children.
