We know that right now is a trying and scary time. Our local area nonprofits are continuing to provide incredible resources and services to our neighbors in need. Here are a few updates from partner agencies and other area resources:
- ACTION, Inc. has implemented an online application process to continue to serve its communities. ACTION, Inc. has very limited funding available for emergency assistance for rent and utility assistance in its various counties, so financial support is welcome.
- American Red Cross is in need of blood donations from healthy individuals, as they have a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood with the Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
- Athens Community Council on Aging is continuing and expanding their Meals on Wheels program and are now offering commodity deliveries. They are in need of financial support, toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Additionally if you are home with your kids and need an activity, a great one is to write notes of encouragement or create a piece of art for the seniors who are home bound. These letters can be delivered to ACCA during normal business hours.
- Athens Neighborhood Health Center is still open and receiving patients.
- Boys and Girls Club of Athens is closed but are working on creating virtual activities for its kids next week.
- Family Counseling Service is still meeting with current patients via TeleDoc but are not accepting new patients at this time. Their office is closed for the next two weeks and will reassess after that time.
- Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is ramping up their food distribution in coordination with their partners to meet demands, and are continuing their Food 2 Kids weekend feeding program. At the moment, they need financial contributions and food donations (donations can be dropped off at 861 Newton Bridge Road, Athens, Ga. and 46 Plaza Way in Clayton, Ga). Additionally, they are looking for a temporary worker for the next few weeks in the Athens warehouse. High school seniors (17 years and up) or college students who can do physical labor in the warehouse are encouraged to email sherry@foodbanknega.org.
- Harmony House is continuing to provide all emergency Forensic Interviews and Sexual Assault Examinations. Both offices will have limited staff on site during business hours for crisis calls and the 24-hour crisis line will be remotely staffed after normal hours. Trauma Focused Therapy is being provided using a Telemental Health platform.
- Madison-Morgan County Caring Place is continuing food distribution as normal, but Individuals receiving distributions will pick up their own boxes.
- Oglethorpe County Senior Center is providing To-Go lunches at 11:30 to their seniors that can drive and they will deliver hot meals to those folks for whom they normally provide transportation. They are continuing Home Delivery Meal service and dialysis appointments. Unfortunately, the center itself will be closed to non-essential services and will reopen on March 31.
- Project Safe is still accepting new clients and its hotline is fully operational. They are limiting community group meetings but are offering virtual meetings for current group members. For those in domestic violence situations, Project Safe is still an available resource.
- Salvation Army is still taking in clients with quarantine protocols in place. The dining hall is for open for residents only but grab-and-go is available outside the dining hall. They are requesting any donations of cleaning supplies.
- The Cottage is still operating its 24/7 Crisis Hotline to serve community members. They are working on providing virtual support groups and tele-mental health services hopefully becoming available in the next two weeks.
Many school districts are providing meals for students. Click on each county listed below to learn more:
Our 211 program is always available. Call 211, text your zip code to 898-211 or visit navigateresources.net/uwng to be connected to local area organizations and resources. Our database is being updated daily with new information, emergency resources and changes in programming. Get Connected. Get Help.
For those who might need medical assistance for COVID-19 symptoms or have family members in area hospitals, please see details about the virus and protocol for visiting from area healthcare systems, linked here:
We plan to provide you with updates each week about partner agency programs, resources and volunteer opportunities. Thank you for your support of United Way of Northeast Georgia and continuing to keep our communities healthy and safe by abiding by health care and cleaning recommendations, and by social distancing. We are all in this together. To fight this, we must LIVE UNITED.
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