The Leader • Saturday, April 4, 2020 • Page 1B
Local businesses can’t miss this opportunity
M
y weekly column doesn’t usually appear on the business page, but given the times and the circumstances and the utter confusion of everything else in our lives, why not mix this up, too? Most weeks, this commentary is directed at our readers and important topics that impact our daily lives. Today, I want to write directly to the businesses in our community – the ones being crippled by COVID-19, stay-at-home orders, and the general malaise gripping this city, this nation and this world. No matter if you own a small business, work for one, or just care about one, the success of the men and women who run small businesses in our community is reliant on having a free and vibrant economy, of which we have neither. Jonathan For those who don’t know, it’s not McElvy hyperbole to say that Publisher our national, state and local economies all depend on the ability of small businesses to sell goods and services. It’s just as important that small businesses get support from the people who live near those businesses. Across the entire United States, 48 percent of all people work for a small business – categorized as any company that has fewer than 500 employees. More impressive, and more pertinent to many of us, is that 18 percent of all employed people in the United States work for a business with fewer than 20 employees. If those numbers don’t register, here’s all you need to know: Half of all employed people in this country work for a small business. It’s more than a touchy, feely, nice story to say that we should support small businesses; our entire economy depends on their See more details success. about applying As we’re all stuck in our for SBA loans homes, teaching our children with no clue how to Page 2B teach, ordering take-out as often as possible, and counting the slow seconds of our clocks, one of the great crises arising from this pandemic is the absolute destruction it has done to small businesses in our community. Earlier this week, there were national headlines that nearly 25 percent of all small businesses will close, based solely on the coronavirus. But that doesn’t have to happen, and the federal government has put a plan in place to extend the life of every business in our community. I have a hard time believing there is a small business out there that doesn’t know about the CARES Act, which was passed last week. But if by chance you do not know, here’s what the stimulus bill has done for small businesses. No matter if a business has been open for 10 years or 10 months, any small business can apply for a forgivable loan that equals 250 percent of one month’s average payroll. If a SMB has a $10,000 per month payroll, that means they can get $25,000 from a local bank. And while this is described as a loan, the federal government (and your local bank) will not make you pay back the loan if you use the money to pay salaries, rent or utilities. There are all kinds of questions being posed right now about how the loan works, and while there’s not enough room to explain the details – that’s what bankers are for – I do want to tell small businesses some of the highlights. First, you’ll need to have good records of your payroll from 2019, or at least the first quarter of 2020, if you’re a new business. For some businesses, that may be difficult, but that doesn’t mean to give up on the loan (more on that later). Second, you need to use your current bank to get these loans. Communicate with that bank today, if you haven’t already. Third, you won’t have to personally guarantee the loan, it won’t be used against your credit, and it won’t hurt you down the line, unless you cash out the money and move to the beach. As members of the U.S. Congress drafted and passed the CARES Act, they really had one purpose in mind: Keep small businesses alive right now and deal with the consequences later. In essence, this is not a stimulus bill, because people can’t go spend money in the economy, thus meaning they can’t stimulate the economy. Instead, this is a lifeline to businesses, designed to help us make it through the next two months. And once those two months are up, I’d wager a pretty penny that government comes back and pushes through another bill that actually starts to put money back in the economy. Our business has always been considered a media group, mainly because we publish newspapers and websites full of news. But one thing people may not know is that our business and our accounting staff work every single day with the small businesses in this community and all across Houston. Like other companies that have transformed what they do, our company has made a transition as well, bringing in a group of accountants who are able to help small businesses get their payroll numbers in order, get their applications completed, get their money, and then spend that money to guarantee the loan is forgiven by the federal government. See McElvy, P. 3B
Off track
Pandemic could derail bullet train project By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the progression of Texas Central’s bullet train project and could end up derailing it. Dallas-based Texas Central, which plans to build a high-speed railway between Dallas and Houston, laid off 28 employees last week, according to multiple reports. CEO Carlos Aguilar said in a March 27 news release that the company is being impacted by the economic downturn associated with the global outbreak of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused the new coronavirus strain. “Like other companies and organizations around the world, we are trying to make the best use of the funding we currently have, paying close attention to COVID-19 updates and putting plans in place to move our project forward as soon as the world is on the other side of this uncharted territory,” Aguilar said. The former Northwest Mall site near the intersection at U.S. 290 and Loop 610 is the planned Houston station for the bullet train project, which would take passengers between Texas’ two largest cities in a matter of about 90 minutes. Texas Central has said it hopes to break ground on its 240mile railway by the end of this year, and complete construction by 2026, but that timeline could be in jeopardy. The privately funded project, which plans to utilize Japanese railway technology, has investors all over the world and has enlisted an international team. Texas Central announced last September that it had signed a design-build contract with Italian engineering contractor Salini Impregilo and its U.S. subsidiary, Lane Construction Company, worth an estimated $14 billion. Texas Central’s system operator is Renfe, which is based in
Contributed photo Pictured is the N700S, a high-speed train that Texas Central plans to utilize on its proposed railway between Houston and Dallas. The company says its project is being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spain. Italy, Spain and the U.S. have been the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19 in terms of the number of cases. There have been more than 823,000 cases across the globe, according to the World Health Organization, along with more than 40,000 deaths caused by the disease. “This is one of those moments where we have to acknowledge how small our world really is,” Aguilar said. “Our financial partners are in those countries, as well as here in the United States. Understanding the impact of COVID-19, and the challenges those countries and the U.S. are facing, is a new fact of life. We are already implementing work from home and other measures to deal with
the crisis, but still do not know what other impacts this will have.” There are other hurdles Texas Central must clear before seeing its high-speed rail project come to fruition. The company said last fall that it had secured about 30 percent of the land it would need to construct an elevated railway, and there are legal questions about Texas Central’s ability to utilize eminent domain. Texas Central also is awaiting approval from the federal government to move forward. The Federal Railroad Administration must issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement and devise a custom set of rules for the railway that would be used to ensure its safety and govern its system and operations. If and when the project gets to
the point of construction, Texas Central said that work will create 17,000 jobs. “Our immediate next step is to continue working with our partner organizations and federal and state agencies, led by the Federal Railroad Administration, to finalize our permits. The current schedule we have from the federal government anticipates that will happen by July 31,” Aguilar said. “From an execution standpoint, the project is shovel-ready. Once we receive our permit approval, our ability to begin construction will be contingent upon financial entities in the United States, Europe and Japan, all of which are dealing with urgent priorities generated by COVID-19, completing their due diligence process.”
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Do you need help protesting your property taxes? Louie Gill, president of the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the chamber’s Economic Forecast Luncheon in January.
Heights chamber deferring dues during pandemic From Staff Reports As area businesses struggle to cope with the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce is taking steps to relieve them of at least a few burdens. In a Tuesday email sent to members, the chamber informed businesses that they will defer immediate and past due payments for dues and sponsorship fees for a period of 45 days. There also will be no dropping of membership during that time, according to the email.
“We readily understand that you personally and your businesses are being confronted with less than desirable choices. Our goal regarding your membership is to help eliminate worries and concerns, whether they be keeping your business viable or paying your employees and vendors,” chamber president Louie Gill wrote in the email. “We trust that our effort will aid you as you confront many significant decisions now, and during the next 30-day quarantine period and beyond.” Anyone looking for more information can contact Gill via email at president@heightschamber.org.
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Page 2B • Saturday, April 4, 2020 • The Leader
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Paycheck Protection Program Details The U.S. Small Business Administration has released some guidelines about its Paycheck Protection Program. Other guidelines were scheduled to be released after press time. This is the most up-todate overview. Program Overview The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30. Who Can Apply This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organizations or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19. Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet the SBA’s size standards for those industries. Small businesses in the hospitality and food industry with more than one location could also be eligible at the store and location level if the store employs less than 500 workers. This means each store location could be eligible. How to Apply You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or
through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union  and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program. Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3.
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Loan Details and Forgiveness The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees. Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines or if salaries and wages decrease. This loan has a maturity of 2 years and an interest rate of .5%. If you wish to begin preparing your application, you can download a sample form (go to SBA.gov for the form) to see the information that will be requested from you.Â
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2020 CARES Act
Small Business Financial Relief
Small Business owners: Did you know...
Here’s what you can get:
250% of your monthly payroll
Did you know...
here’s what you have to pay back:
$0 (as long as you use the money for payroll, rent or utilities) If you own a small business, no matter if you have 2 or 200 employees, you probably know the U.S. Government passed the CARES Act in March to help your business survive. But too many businesses are going to let the cash go because the work is tedious.
The hard part for many small businesses is the application process. You need payroll records. Most applications average around 13 pages. There are business questions that will take time. None of that is a good reason to leave free money on the table.
Does Your Business Qualifiy? Find Out Today!
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The Leader • Saturday, April 4, 2020 • Page 3B
Keep pets entertained while staying at home Dear Tabby, We’re on week two (at least) of staying home due to the coronavirus. Our dog seems really happy to have us at home, but we’re afraid that he’ll get bored at some point. Any tips for keeping him occupied during this time spent at home? Sheltering In Place in Shepherd Park Plaza Dear Sheltering In Place, Such interesting times we’re living in, isn’t it? First of all, good for you for heeding the orders to stay home. Due to your compliance, you’re doing your part to stop the spread of this virus--kudos to you! Believe me, we all understand that feeling of impending boredom that comes from staying home for days on end. Luckily, our pets are probably living their best quarantine lives, happily content with having the whole family at home all day to lavish them with love and pizza crusts. However, keeping your dog entertained during this time isn’t too hard and coming up with activities to keep him busy is just as much of an activity for you and your family-so it’s a win-win for all! Here are a few things to add to your daily routine that will help to entertain the whole family during this time.
Bake dog treats It seems as though people around the world are turning to their ovens to help comfort and occupy this newfound free time. Why not research some homemade dog treats to make for your dog? There are tons of recipes on the internet-most of which probably call for ingredients that you already have on hand. This is also a fun activity to get the kids involved in, too! Daily dog walks I’m sure you’re already doing this, but getting outside is great for you and your dog (as long as you observe the 6-foot social distancing guidelines). Plan for at least one dog walk a day, and even if your pooch isn’t leash-trained yet, what better time to focus on walking on a leash several times a day? Sunshine, fresh air and exercise is balm for the soul for dogs and humans alike during this time.
Puzzle toys and treat dispensers Get some brain-scratching puzzle toys for your dog and let him work to “earn” a treat. This will keep him stimulated and happy during the doldrums of the day. You can also make your own dog puzzles using stuff found around your house. For instance, take a tennis ball and slice a slit in it. Fill it with dog treats and play a game of fetch, letting Fido work to extract a treat! Car rides Yes, we’re advised to stay home, but a car ride to get a change of scenery is definitely alright during this time. Take your dog in the car--even a
McElvy, from P. 1B
quick trip around the block is exciting to many dogs--and make sure to roll those windows down for maximum excitement! Keeping you and your family safe is of utmost importance during this crisis and keeping Fido entertained is a fun way to get the whole family involved in an activity. Who knows, we might all emerge from this situation with stronger bonds with our families and our four-legged friends! Best wishes for continued good health! Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week Meet Gru Gru is a 7-year-old beauty who will make sure your windowsill gets lots of use and your couch pillows stay warmed for your arrival-what better gal to spend a quarantine with? Gru is very respectful of your space and has her own unique way of asking for your time and sweet affection. She prides herself on being independent and sweetly asking for just what she needs. To learn more about Gru, visit www.friends4life.org.
DogTV Did you know that there is a dedicated television station just for doggie entertainment? DogTV offers programs scientifically developed to provide special content that was created to meet the specific attributes of a dog’s senses of vision and hearing and supports their natural behavior patterns. DogTV is free for 30 days right now and is offered free through certain cable providers. Check it out at www. dogtv.com.
If you are a small business, or if you work for a small business, or if you know someone who’s struggling to keep the doors open, and if you aren’t preparing to get some of this stimulus money, please reach out to me at the email address below. There’s not a small business in this country that isn’t eligible for free funding.
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Theatre Suburbia’s moving fund has been extended to April 30 in order to give more people time to donate. Theatre Suburbia, like all community theatres, said it is suffering devastating losses, especially now that the stayat-home mandate has been extended through April 30. The timing for Theatre Suburbia is particularly inopportune, considering it recently had to move into a new theatre space because it lost the lease at its previ-
Ways to donate: 1) Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/donate/518506222168439/ 2) Website: www.TheatreSuburbia. org and click on the “DONATE” button shown on the upper left hand corner of each page. 3) Mail a check to: Theatre Suburbia, P.O. Box #920518, Houston, TX 77292 Theatre Suburbia thanks its friends, new and old, and all of its patrons for their
Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of the Interior is hereby commencing a forfeiture proceeding against the following items of wildlife or wildlife products, which were seized at the Cargo Facility (Intercontinental Airport Houston) on the date indicated because they were involved in one or more violations of any of the following laws: Convention on International Trade in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), 16 USC 1538, and Lacey Act, 16 USC 3372. Any person with an ownership or financial interest in said items who desires to claim them must file a claim with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 19241 David Memorial Drive, Suite 175, Shenandoah, Texas, 77385. Such claim must be received by the above office by May 24, 2020. The claim will be transmitted to the U.S. Attorney for institution of a forfeiture action in U.S. District Court. If a proper claim is not received by the above office by such date, the items will be declared forfeited to the United States and disposed of according to law. Any person who has an interest in the items may also file with the above office a petition for remission of forfeiture in accordance with Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, and Section 12.24, which petition must be received in such office before disposition of the items. Storage costs may also be assessed. FILE NO. SEIZURE 2020200850 2/18/2020
kindness and generosity. It is Northwest Houston’s longest-running, all-volunteer playhouse. Theatre Suburbia’s new space is located at 5201 Mitchelldale St., Suite A3. To see a brief video of the work in progress, go to https://www.facebook.com/theatresuburbia/videos/244316463278656/ For more ways to help, please call the theatre at 713-682-3525, email info@theatresuburbia.org or visit www.theatresuburbia.org.
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Page 4B • Saturday, April 4, 2020 • The Leader
Kids’ Meals continues because of need By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Contributed photo Travis Elementary students wave to teachers who paraded through the Woodland Heights last week.
Travis teachers put on parade for students By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
It had been two weeks since the teachers and staff at Travis Elementary School saw their students, many of whom have been stuck at home as the Houston area copes with the COVID-19 pandemic. They were reunited, albeit it from afar, last week. Travis kindergarten teacher Kate Strempel said she and about 50 other teachers, staff and administrators, including principal Tom Day, participated in a parade through the Woodland Heights neighborhood on the afternoon of March 27. The teachers formed a line of cars that zigzagged their way between Studewood and Beauchamp streets, starting on Merrill Street to the north and ending on Euclid Street to the south. “Everyone in the neighborhood participated, and it was magic. It was a solid 40 minutes of magic,” Strempel said. “Moms were crying and kids were just jumping up and down. It was incredible.” Strempel said the participating teachers made personalized signs they displayed from their vehicles, along with blaring
Contributed photo A Travis Elementary student put up a banner supporting teachers.
music and honking their horns during the parade. Students and their families waved and watched the parade from their front porches, front yards or driveways. Some Travis students who don’t live in the Woodland Heights also attended, watching from curbs instead of their classmates’ yards so they could adhere to social distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet away from each other. Woodland Heights resident Renee Pisklak, who has three children who go to Travis, said they smiled more during the parade than they had all week. “They loved it,” she said. “It was really special.” Strempel said she got the idea two days beforehand from a
teacher friend in Pearland and first reached out to Day to see if it could be done at Travis, a Houston ISD campus at 3311 Beauchamp St. Once she got the approval, Strempel said she and fellow kindergarten teachers Jessica Beechinor and Sarah Butler began spreading the word to other staffers as well as Travis families. Strempel said Andy Sharp, the father of one of her students, is a Texas State Trooper who led the parade in his patrol car. “A lot of teachers were crying behind their sunglasses,” Strempel said. “It was really what all of our hearts needed right now.”
BBB: Coronavirus price gouging is up; consumers should report inflated prices By Jordan Rzad For The Leader
Price gouging is up over the past week as communities across North America react to the outbreak of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus strain. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has seen an increase in complaints from consumers about price gouging for critical items such as bottled water, hand sanitizer, face masks and food supplies as “social distancing” restrictions go to effect in many locations. Consumers are urged to report price gouging at BBB.org/ AdTruth. The nonprofit organization says it will follow up with companies that have inflated prices in the wake of the crisis and will work with attorneys general and other appropriate agencies to address particularly egregious cases. Although the legal definition of price gouging varies by jurisdiction, raising prices to an unreasonable extent beyond a business’ own increased costs is a violation of the BBB Standards for Trust, which encourages businesses to build trust through honesty, transparency and integrity. The BBB suggests business owners and managers use its Standards for Trust as best practices for operating under the current restrictions (BBB.org/Standards-for-Trust). The BBB adapted it standards for marketplace trust to the coronavirus pandemic: • Build Trust — Refrain from taking unfair advantage of a public emergency such as the coronavirus situation. As much as possible, keep prices at a reasonable level. Consider your daily operations as business-as-usual but with the adjustments required to help prevent the virus from spreading. • Advertise Honestly — Do not fuel fears. More than anything, you need to act as a calming and reassuring partner to your customers. Continue with standard ethical advertising practices but add a reference that you’re following public health protocols to stem the transmission of the virus. • Tell the Truth — The virus may impact deliverables. Be honest with your customers regarding timelines and product availability. Set realistic expectations if your delivery or service is impacted by illness
or precautions. Set clear expectations with your customers. They will respect that you are thinking about them and taking this seriously. • Be Transparent/Honor Promises — If you are unable to fulfill commitments, communicate immediately with your customers, rather than disappointing them and having to rationalize the reasons after the fact. Work with your customers to find solutions. • Be Responsive/Embody Integrity — Demonstrate purpose and support for your community. Businesses can play a vital role in maintaining strong communities, even in challenging times. Advice for consumers wishing to contribute to charities
To help contributors make their own wise giving decisions to charities addressing the coronavirus outbreak, BBB Wise Giving Alliance suggests that donors keep the following tips in mind: • It is best to consider experienced relief organizations. New charities may have the best of intentions but may face great challenges in fulfilling promises in another country. • Verify the trustworthiness of soliciting relief organizations by visiting Give.org to access free reports that specify if the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. • See if the charity has existing connections to be able to deliver aid to impacted areas. Without well-established connections, it may be difficult to provide assistance quickly and effectively. • Some charities may be raising money to pass along to other relief organizations. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and give directly to charities that either have a presence in the region or an established connection. • See if the charity’s appeal clearly describes the intended use of funds. Watch out for vague solicitations that promise assistance to those in need but don’t explain how it will be carried out. • Understand crowdfunding. While there are resources like Give.org to help vet charities, it can be difficult to vet individuals. If you decide to contribute to an individual via crowdfunding, it is safest to give to
people you personally know. Also, if a charity is raising money using a crowdfunding posting, see the advice noted above. Be particularly cautious of hazy requests that are not clear about the nature of support that will be provided. Also review the site’s instructions to find out about any fees, how quickly funds will be disbursed and other matters of potential importance. Scam Alert: “Mandatory” COVID-19 test texts are a scam The coronavirus outbreak has been big business for scammers. First it was fake masks, then fake government grants, and now it’s a fake COVID-19 test. In the past few days, BBB Scam Tracker (BBB. org/ScamTracker) has gotten numerous reports of phony text messages claiming to be from a government agency. How the scam works: You get a text message that looks like it comes from the U.S. government. Current reports say that scammers are impersonating the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but they are unlikely to stop there. The message tells you that you must take a “mandatory online COVID-19 test” and has a link to a website. But there is no online test for coronavirus! Tips to spot a COVID-19 text message scam: • Government agencies do not typically communicate through text messages. • Ignore instructions to text “STOP” or “NO” to prevent future texts. This is a common ploy by scammers to confirm they have a real, active phone number. • If you think your text message is real, be sure it’s directing to a web address like “agency.gov” or “agency. ca,” not “agency.otherwebsite. com.” • Check for look-alikes. Be sure to do your research and see if a government agency or organization actually exists. Find contact info on your own and call them to be sure the person you’ve heard from is legitimate. For more information, see BBB.org/Coronavirus.
Jordan Rzad is the Senior Director of Internet Marketing at the Houston BBB. He can be reached at jrzad@bbbhou.org
Kids’ Meals, headquartered on Garden Oaks Boulevard, normally delivers about 3,000 free meals per day to children under the age of 6 as well as to their school-aged siblings. On Monday, they did 7,000. “Every day is a new day,” said Cynthia Stielow, Kids’ Meals director of development and communications. “We are learning as we go. This is uncharted territory as of right now.” Stielow said already-struggling families have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids’ Meals serves 43 zip codes in the Houston area. “The families we are already supporting are the exact families who have lost their jobs,” Stielow said. “Those in housekeeping and hospitality have been temporarily laid off.” With the closure of Houston ISD’s food distribution sites last week after possible COVID-19 exposure at a location in Southwest Houston, there is even more of a demand for delivered food. Stielow said up to 48 percent of clients don’t have transportation and cannot visit the City of Houston’s 50 food distribution sites. “Others said they waited in line and used up their gas money,” Stielow said. For many families, the nearest food source is a dollar store or gas station. “They buy what is going to stretch,” Stielow said. The 125 percent increase in applications for help are stretching the resources of an organization that has gotten good over the years of making the most of what it has. But COVID-19 is a unique challenge. To meet the need for lunches, Kids’ Meals is dipping into the reserves that it normally utilizes only when a volunteer group cancels. Pepperidge Farm is one of its partners, but Kids’ Meals can’t get bread for its sandwiches because bread is seldom available on supermarket shelves
Contributed photo Kids’ Meals has gone from delivering 3,000 free meals each day to 7,000 meals.
at this time. A donation of 6,000 hamburger buns from the pocket of a local McDonald’s franchise owner is allowing Kids’ Meals to make sandwiches this week. Bright spots are partners H-E-B, which is delivering lunch packs to Kids’ Meals this week, and the Houston Food Bank, where Kids’ Meals now gets 50 percent of its food. Brian Greene, president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, said the bank and its partners provide essential services throughout the year and also during times of emergency. “The population that we serve, almost by definition, does not have reserves of food in the event of service disruptions or closures,” Greene said. “As the COVID-19 situation has developed, demand for food assistance has significantly increased, for us and for the agencies out on the frontlines. We are working hard to keep a steady flow of food coming into and distributing out of the warehouse, with the support of donations from the generous community and companies.” In addition to the lunch deliveries, Kids’ Meals also brings grocery bags with whatever is most available – everything from carrots, onions, potatoes, beets and bananas to bags of rice, beans and pasta. With the work, Stielow said there is a big focus on safety, both with the food preparation and delivery. Ample
hand sanitizer and gloves are on hand. “We are cleaning ferociously,” Stielow said. Where there were once 50 people in a room making meals, there are now only a handful who work much longer shifts. Kids’ Meals is still seeking volunteer drivers who carry a letter stating they are essential employees. If they want to wear a mask, one is provided. Stielow said they are currently working on better methods of delivery with minimal to no contact. As for staff, they are on an A and B rotation to cut down on who is in the office, so if there is a COVID-19 infection in-house, it would theoretically only impact half the staff. “We’ve never had all these people work remotely, (and) we’re also taking care of our own kids,” Stielow said. For those who want to help, Stielow said money donations are the optimal choice because it allows Kids’ Meals to leverage its buying power. For $2, it can make and deliver a meal to a child, so $25 goes a long way. With the announcement on Tuesday that Texas schools will be closed until at least May 4, Kids’ Meals, already at capacity, will continue to feed Houston’s schoolchildren. Stielow acknowledges the risks but also the overwhelming need. “There’s 100 percent chance these kids are going to be hungry,” Stielow said. “We’re mentally preparing that this is going to be going on until August.”