When a shelter from home order might end is still up in the air in Illinois but a local DeWitt County non-profit is already thinking about what that will look like how they bring back their clients to a safe environment.

Encore Developmental Services leadership is concerned about their clients' safety during this time as many of them are among the most susceptible to the coronavirus because of compromised immune systems. Executive Director Stephanie Coonce indicates they are already taking measures to keep their clients safe when they return.

During the shelter from home, Encore has been unable to accept donations and Coonce is thankful to the community for not dumping donations at their doors and hopes anyone with donations will hold on to those as they still want them but will accept them as soon as they re-open and get their operations back to normal.

Well before the outbreak became significant locally, Coonce indicates they were taking precautions to protect their clients. While there was some pushback from the community in some places, she is thankful for the respect that was shown for their clients.

During the shelter from home, Encore Thrift Store has been able to continue to pay its employees and some have been able to continue to be a part of their clients' daily routines through other services in the community.