COVID-19 Updates

• Applications Open: Emergency Rental Assistance Program

• City of Chicago Coronavirus Response Center

• Coronavirus in Illinois Updates (Chicago Tribune)

• State of Illinois Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

 

COVID Vaccine

Go Fish NFP is committed to the health and safety of our communities. We encourage you to learn more about the approved COVID-19 vaccines and their effectiveness in preventing the contraction and severity of the virus. We’ve provided credible information on the COVID-19 vaccines as well as links to websites where you and your family members can register to get the vaccine when it is available to you based on your age, health status, or type of employment.

• A recording of the Protect Chicago Plus Town Hall can be found on the City’s Protect Chicago website.

• The Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) vaccine communications toolkit, which contains a fact sheet, posters, flyers, and social media squares to help with any messaging on the vaccine.

• For all information regarding the COVID vaccine, please visit the City’s vaccine website at chicago.gov/covidvax.

• Click here for the CDC’s latest updates.

• Vaccine Sites (Appointments Required)

  • Belmont Cragin

  • Gage Park

  • Little Village

  • North Lawndale

Community Resources

• City of Addison COVID-19 Updates and Resources

• City of Chicago COVID-19 Resources

• Chicago COVID-19 Mutual Aid Volunteer Sign-Up

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information (DuPage County Health Department)

• Coronavirus Information (Illinois Department of Human Services)

• COVID-19 Community Resource Guides for Immigrant Families (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights)

• COVID-19 Community Resources (Rush University Medical Center)

• COVID-19 Resources (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University)

• COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Communities

• Crisis Pantry and Online Resources for LGBTQ Populations (Brave Space Alliance)

• DuPage County Community Resource Information System

• DuPage County Essential COVID-19 Resource Guide (YWCA Metropolitan Chicago)

• Find food assistance, help to pay bills, and other free or reduced-cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic here.

• IDHS Hotlines (Illinois Department of Human Services)

• Online SNAP and IDHS Benefit Assistance (Illinois Department of Human Services)

• Ways to Assist & Receive Help During COVID-19 (SocialWorks)

• Click here for additional information on unemployment benefits, summer employment for youth, food pantries, public benefits assistance, and more.

 

Employment & Small Business

• Bartender Emergency Assistance Program (USBG National Charity Foundation)

• Capital Good Fund is providing Crisis Relief Loans of $300 to $1,500 for childcare providers. Click here to learn more and click here to apply.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources (U.S. Small Business Administration)

• COVID-19 and Unemployment Benefits FAQ (Illinois Department of Employment Security)

• Low-Interest Emergency Loans for Small Businesses and Non-Profits (Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund)

• Nonprofit Special Hardship (ComEd)

• Remote Jobs Hiring Database

• Resources for Emergency Childcare Providers (Erikson Institute)

• Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, if you are an employee and you were quarantined or seeking care for COVID-19, you may receive two weeks paid sick leave at full pay and two-thirds pay to care for a family member or child. If you are an employee and were required to be quarantined, took care of a family member who was required to be quarantined, or had to care for your child due to school or daycare closures you may be able to take 12 weeks job-protected leave under FMLA. Learn more here.

• Small Business Support Programs During COVID-19 (SafeHome.org)

• Small Business Assistance Program (ComEd)

• Click here for additional financial empowerment resources and frequently asked questions.

 

Food

• COVID-19 Updates and Resources and Mobile Pantry Calendar (Northern Illinois Food Bank)

• CPS locations are becoming Food Distribution Centers starting March 17th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Families will be given up to 3 days of food per child at any time. Those who need food delivered should call 773-533-KIDS or email familyservices@cps.edu.

• HCS Family Services in DuPage County

• Local Food Pantries:

  • Beyond Hunger (Austin)

  • Evangelical Emmanuel Church (Belmont-Cragin)

  • Marillac House (East Garfield Park)

  • European American Association & La Casa Norte (Humboldt Park)

  • UI Health Food Pantry (Pilsen)

  • Little Village New Life Community Church (South Lawndale)

  • TSA Chicago Temple (Near West Side)

  • Harmony Community Church (North Lawndale)

  • New Mt. Pilgrim Church (West Garfield Park)

  • Santa Maria Adolorata (West Town)

• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, in partnership with the University of Chicago and the Chicago Food Depository, will be offering FREE meal pickups every Sunday, beginning April 19th from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at YWCA Laura Parks & Mildred Francis Center, 6600 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. We will continue distributing meals while supplies last. Drive-up services available to ensure proper social distancing and all volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves. Please email our Director of Inspired Engagement, Brian Starr, at brian.starr@ywcachicago.org with any additional questions or concerns.

 

Health and Wellness

• Breath Support for Changing Times (Five Keys Yoga)

• Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook (The Wellness Society)

• Free Home Work-INs (Planet Fitness)

• Free Mindfulness Classes for Kids (Mindful Schools)

• Free Yoga and Meditation Videos (CorePower Yoga on Demand)

• Help is Here: Talk to Someone (Illinois Department of Human Services)

• The Illinois Call4Calm hotline is a great resource if you or a loved one are struggling with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and need emotional support. Text TALK (or HABLAR) to 552020 to get a return call from a mental health professional. Text UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD, or SHELTER to 552020 for information and resources. This service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Online Platforms for Contraceptive and STI Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Kaiser Family Foundation)

• Pharmacy Chains Waive Delivery Fees (Illinois Department on Aging)

• Substance Abuse Prevention (AddictionCenter)

• Violence Prevention and Support Resources (IDPH)

 

Housing, Utilities, and Internet Access

• Comcast is offering free internet services through Internet Essentials for the next 60 days for those who qualify. Learn more about Comcast’s policies and initiatives in response to COVID-19 here.

• The DuPage County Health Department and DuPagePads are partnering to offer homeless people a place to stay and food to eat. The Northern Illinois Food Bank will be providing meals and Pads is sheltering those at risk in local hotels as they closed their doors recently to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. The service is being provided each Friday until further notice.

• La Casa Norte shelter is offering free meals and shelter for homeless youth on West Side (ABC 7 Chicago)

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Parenting

• 4 Easy Activities to Support Learning While Your Child is at Home (Teachstone)

• 47 STEM Books for K-12 Readers (MastersinDataScience.org)

• Caring for Each Other (Sesame Street)

• #COVIBOOK: Supporting and Reassuring Children Around the World (Mindheart)

• A COVID-19 Social Story for Young Children (Available in several languages from the National Association for the Education of Young Children)

• COVID-19 Emergency Childcare Provider Search (Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies)

• COVID-19 Resources for Early Childhood Providers and Families (Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development)

• Education and Mental Health Resources for Kids and Families during Coronavirus Pandemic (ACEs Connection)

• Free Educational Resources (Waterford Early Learning Boosts)

• Free Educational Resources for Children Ages 3-5 (Frog Street for Young Learners)

• Free Online Learning Access for Schools and Families Impacted by School Closures (BrainPop)

• Free Online STEM Resources (STEMfinity)

• How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (PBS KIDS)

• MPWR Parent Hub: Activities and resources to use with your children via our RECESSTM at Home offerings. (YWCA Metropolitan Chicago)

• Online Teaching Resources (Wide Open Schools)

• Parent COVID-19 Resources (The School Association for Special Education in DuPage County)

• Tips for Families: Coronavirus (Zero to Three)

• A Video to Help Kids Understand the Coronavirus (BrainPOP)

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Transportation

• Metra is reimbursing qualified monthly tickets and waiving the $5 fee. Click here for details.