March 16, 2020
I am deeply humbled by how dramatically life has changed for all of us in the last few days. With the unfolding pandemic, I wanted to update you on how we are managing this unprecedented situation at Fistula Foundation.
Our main office in San Jose is located in Santa Clara County, California, one of the “hot spots” for the virus. Today the county took an extraordinary step and called for all residents to “shelter-in-place” and ordered closure of all non-essential businesses for three weeks. Fortunately, I moved all staff in our main office in San Jose to a work-from-home model last Thursday, March 12. True to our Silicon Valley roots, we are well equipped with the technology and ability to work as a team remotely. Our staff teams in Zambia and Kenya will continue their work as long as feasible.
Our goal is to continue critical funding to our partners in Africa and Asia, who provide life-transforming care to women, as long as conditions on the ground allow. We will continue to communicate with you, our loyal supporters, about how the situation here and with our partners evolves.
We are moved by the donations that have come in over the last week, even as news of the virus worsens. When the world is scared, generous and empathetic people like you have not forgotten the suffering of women with fistula.
You can still make donations smoothly on-line. If it is easier for you to mail in donations, we will process these gifts after the three week shut-down here in San Jose is over. We have also decided to temporarily suspend online sales of gifts, since processing those orders requires in-office staffing. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this causes.
If you need to reach us, staff are monitoring info@fistulafoundation.org or you can call us at 408.249.9596 Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm, Pacific Time. If you contact us after hours, please leave a message and we will reply to you as soon as possible.
We are moved by and grateful for the work of the doctors, nurses and other first responders here and around the world who have courageously stepped into harm’s way to confront this deadly pandemic. Thank you all for being part of our community. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and generosity as we navigate this crisis together.
All the best to you and your loved ones.
Kate Grant
CEO, Fistula Foundation
