Camp Chambers founder Jimmy Chambers last week had a feeling that a government-level suggestion to wear face masks in public might be coming as the coronavirus continued its march through Shelby County.

He said to wife and program director, Ressie Chambers, “Let’s give away free face masks.” And in perfect superhero fashion, they have saved the day for many.

“We organized Camp Chambers back in 2014 to mentor and tutor youth who might be facing some challenges,” said Jimmy Chambers.

“I’ve been with Christ United Methodist Church for 30 years. They have a private school that is predominantly white, and I am the head basketball coach. So, it has not only been boys in Frayser who have come through our program, but also Christ Methodist students. All children need support at some time.”

So, how did he get into the mask giveaway business?

Well, it starts with the need.

After some deliberation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a recommendation recently for everyone to wear face masks when they go out in public. The Shelby County Health Department has endorsed that recommendation for all Shelby Countians.

Then there are the sobering numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of Tuesday (April 7) morning, according to the Shelby County Health Department, the number of virus-related deaths in Memphis-Shelby County was 18. The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the county had climbed to 845.

Statewide reported cases of COVID-19 were 3,802 by Monday afternoon, with 65 deaths.

While officials are recommending wearing facial masks, they are as difficult to find as hand sanitizer, toilet paper and rubber gloves. Homemade, do-it-yourself masks are recommended, leaving the N95 masks for medical professionals. The DIY option seems simple enough, except it’s just not an option for everyone.

“We just want to help,” Chambers said. “I knew people were having trouble finding protective items, including masks. And then, I thought about people who may be out of a job and can’t afford to pay for a mask. I asked my wife who we might get to make the masks for Camp Chambers.”

They posted the free-mask giveaway on their Facebook page, and it exploded with requests and pleas for masks.

“We have even mailed some to Jackson, Tennessee,” said Ressie Chambers. “We’ll even ship them out to those who need them.  Of course, this is not what we normally do. But then, these are not normal times, and however we can be a blessing, that’s what we want to do.”

The colorful and uniquely made masks come from Linda Renee Riley, Ressie Chambers’ hair dresser.

Camp Chambers started off ordering 100 from her, paying for that batch, and ordering another hundred. We’re down to our last few from that first hundred, but we expect to have additional masks to fill more orders this week.”

Camp Chambers doesn’t plan to stay in the mask giveaway business. Once the coronavirus has passed,  school-age children will once more be the main focus of the organization.

“Saving our youth, one life at a time” is the non-profit’s adage. This includes children with behavioral issues, young people who need gang awareness counseling and intervention, anti-bullying workshops, classes in personal responsibility, good citizenship, and any students in Frayser and beyond who just want to “hang out” with “The Chambers.”

“Of course, we’re not a camp at all,” said Jimmy Chambers. “Our services to youth are available all year ‘round. We got that name years ago when there was a child misbehaving, and a lady said, ‘Alright, I’m going to take you over there to Camp Chambers.’ And the name just kind of stuck.”

The couple rehabbed a blighted house at 2559 New Raleigh Road, and made it the organization’s headquarters.

While there is no cost for the masks, most recipients make donations to Camp Chambers.

“We appreciate all donations,” Jimmy Chambers. “They are just helping to get more masks on the faces of those who need them.  We’ll keep ordering more and giving them away as long as there is a need. We’ll see this thing to the end. Looks like the coronavirus may be in it for the long haul, and so are we.”

(To contact Camp Chambers, call: (901) 2446320, or email: campchambers@att.net. Visit the website at: www.campchambers.com.)

The “safer-at-home” order issued two weeks ago by Mayor Jim Strickland has been extended until April 21 amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made Monday (April 6) during a special coronavirus task force briefing held by the Mayor Jim Strickland and Shelby County Health Officer Dr. Bruce Randolph. On March 23, Strickland announced a two-week order to shelter in place.

During Monday’s joint briefing, which was streamed lived, Strickland focused primarily on the importance of social distancing and the task force’s efforts to work with one of the city’s most vulnerable populations – the homeless.

“We’re hoping for the best but preparing for the worst,” Strickland said before urging people to continue practicing social distancing, only leaving their home to go to work or for essential needs.

“The virus feeds on social interaction,” he pointed out. “We need to starve the virus.”

His plea comes as the latest numbers from the Shelby County Health Department were presented by Dr. Randolph.

As of Tuesday (April 7) morning, according to the Shelby County Health Department, the number of virus-related deaths in Memphis-Shelby County was 18. The total number of reported COVID-10 in the county had climbed to 845.

While Strickland acknowledged residents abiding by the social distancing guidelines, he also highlighted the number of complaints against businesses and individuals who haven’t.

According to the mayor, 140 non-essential businesses have been reported for not following the shelter-in-place order. He pointed out that once notified all business owners complied except one that has since been ordered by the city to close down.

Additionally, there have been 41 calls of crowd violations that Strickland said were sent to law enforcement to handle; and 16 churches in violation.

“I am very happy to report that most people are complying with the safer at home order, but we need all people,” he said before pivoting to the city’s efforts to work with the homeless population, which he called “top of mind.”

The City of Memphis has partnered with local agencies in an effort to ensure homeless Memphians are able to shelter-in-place. So far, the task force has secured two hotels, providing 60 rooms for women and families. The task force is still working out accommodations for men.

Also, in the works are plans to offer mobile COVID-19 testing, specifically for the homeless. In addition to ensuring the safety of the vulnerable subgroup, that would help the task force create a better snapshot of the virus’ effects.

“We want to be sure to test the homeless population, so we can have a better picture of what we’re dealing with as it relates to the virus because that will affect our bottom number,” Dr. Randolph said.

While numbers are expected to surge, there have been differing opinions from local and national health experts on exactly when.

A recent model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations forecasted that the surge in cases and deaths will happen April 15 in Tennessee; but another model endorsed by some state leaders last week predicted a spike on April 19.

Additionally, the updated model suggests that the number of deaths caused by the virus will not exceed 600 in Tennessee. The previous model, on April 2 suggested that there would be more than 3,000 deaths statewide.

Strickland said while the local task force takes into consideration the projections of national health experts, they prefer to rely on those who are local, such as doctors at the Shelby County Health Department and others at the state level.

“We are anticipating a surge to occur within a couple of weeks or so,” Dr. Randolph said, according to projections that are being forecasted by the Shelby County Health Department with guidance from Vanderbilt University.

Strickland said the “best thing that the task force can do is get more testing” while enforcing the need for social distancing and ensuring that there are enough hospital beds in the event of a spike in cases that require hospitalization.

“What we do today, literally, will determine what the surge will be like when it hits in two to four weeks.” Strickland said.

“We must come together to stay apart.”

The deceased leave behind grieving family and friends, who gather for a last rite of passage: collective mourning and celebration. That was a month ago, before COVID-19 made a jarring – and often deadly – intrusion and before directives from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) became lifelines.

“With this coronavirus pandemic, nothing is the same as it was,” said Joe Ford of Joe Ford Funeral Home. “The state regulatory board strongly recommended that we adhere to guidelines passed down by the CDC.

“So, we can’t have loved ones and friends crowded into a church anymore. Only ten people are allowed in a church or chapel at one time.”

Ford and other Memphis-area funeral and cemetery professionals have been encouraged to tune their business operations to a message from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. All regulatory boards fall under this office, including the one directing policy for funeral directors, embalmers and burial services.

In part, the statement reads:

“As the rapid spreading of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues throughout our state and nation, we understand that leads to questions on how to continue with your funeral or cemetery businesses… We encourage funeral providers to follow best practices in the conduct of your professional services and follow the guidelines outlined by the CDC, Tennessee Department of Health, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

Limousine rides for family and close friends have been eliminated, said Ford. People are driving themselves to the venue. Only 10 family members are allowed in the church for funerals, now. Other family members and friends wait outside, social distancing as they listen to the service inside.

“The way we have been managing this small number is by rotating family members and friends in and out of the service,” said Ford. “We let family members decide who goes in first, and if, in fact, they would like to rotate various people in and out during the service. It’s just the way we have to do things now. This is our new normal.”

Inside the church, people are spaced at least six feet apart.

“Families lose a good deal of the intimacy and closeness of mourning their loved one together, but things are different right now,” Ford said. “We don’t know for how long, but this is just reality right now.”

Visitation – “the wake” – is not part of the new reality. Ford and other staff members wear masks to funeral services.

“We have been wearing white masks, but I ordered black ones from Amazon. This week, we will wear these. Black ones, I feel, look more formal and more professional.

“All of this is going to take some getting used to, but we’ll get through it. We just have to accept how things are and move on.”

The 10-person limit in a funeral service also is the new norm at M.J. Edwards, where Wendell Naylor is a funeral director.

“We are seeing some families livestream the service over YouTube Live, Facebook Live, or some other service on the Internet,” said Naylor.

“They will come in and set up a cell phone on a tripod, and people can go on their Facebook page or follow whatever instructions are given to be a part of the final services. The family posts the livestream prior to the service.”

Naylor said there will be no funerals open to the public for as long as the pandemic lasts. And as is the case at Joe Ford Funeral Home, limousines and visitations on the night before service are, for now, on hold.

Edgar Miller with N.J. Ford Funeral Home said that with the 10-person limitation it’s important to allow the family to decide as a unit how to handle the announcement of arrangements.

“Before this pandemic, we would post the time and date of funeral arrangements, but this is a different world we’re living in now,” said Miller. “We leave it up to the family to announce if they will livestream the funeral service, or how they will handle these new changes.

“There is no visitation, and no service will be open to the public. The family decides who will actually attend. But we continue to do what we can to create a memorable homegoing experience. Only 10 people allowed inside. That’s just what it is.”

Ford believes most changes are temporary, though no one knows for how long. He and his fellow funeral directors have one continuing-business path forward: evolve and adapt to the pandemic.

“I guess the closest thing I’ve seen to this COVID-19 is Hurricane Katrina (2005),” said Ford. “My son had just gone back to school and he lost all his belongings, every thing he had. I guess the event, itself, changed some things.

“With the virus, we may see more graveside services. We’re going to look into offering glass-top sealers so the deceased can still be viewed at the graveside. Things have changed, and we’ve got to find ways to give the family the best experience possible, even in these times.”