COVID-19 Information; Emergency Food Services for School Children, Seniors and the Community; plus Other Resources

APRIL 3, 2020

We understand you may be concerned about COVID-19, the Novel Coronavirus that has spread worldwide and is now here in America with New York being the epicenter of it. Your risk of being exposed to the virus is greatest if you have had close contact (within 6 feet) of someone who has COVID-19. If you are having symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, call your health care provider. If you are severely ill, call 911.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Wash your hands often. Use soap and warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds before rinsing. If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
• Don’t touch your face (especially your eyes, nose or mouth) unless your hands are clean.
• Don’t shake hands! Greet people with a bow or an elbow bump.
• Avoid places where there are large groups of people. Try to stay six feet away from others.
• If you feel sick, stay home. Call your health care provider if you need advice.

How to Get the Health Care You Need

The Institute for Family Health has health centers in New York City and in Ulster and Dutchess Counties. We offer primary medical care, mental health care, and dental care to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay. Our centers are open and we can offer many services by video or phone – please call us. Click here for a complete list of locations and phone numbers.

Emergency Food Services for School Children

The Office of School Food and Nutrition Services is working around the clock to ensure that students have access to nutritious meals every day. Adults, parents, students and young people under 18 can access breakfast/lunch grab and go bags from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at any of these NYC school sites (Food Hubs).  Text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877-877. Signage indicating food service may not be visible, so students and parents should knock loudly on the front door. The security guard should provide you with a to-go bag. There are Regional Enrichment Centers in NYC where children of first responders, healthcare and transit workers can receive educational programming and 3 hot meals daily.

Food Services for Seniors

These locations are serving free meals to seniors:

• PSS Andrew Jackson, (356 East 156th St), 9AM-10AM and 11:30AM-1PM
• BronxWorks Heights Neighborhood, (200 West Tremont Ave), 11AM-1PM
• Hope of Israel, (1068 Gerard Avenue), 12PM-2PM
• Mid-Bronx Senior Center, (900 Grand Concourse), 11AM-4:30PM
• PSS Morrisania Air Rights, (3135 Park Avenue), 12PM-1PM
• PSS Highbridge Gardens, (1155 University Avenue), 12PM-1:30PM
• PSS Highbridge (1181 Nelson Avenue), 12PM-1:30PM
• RAIN Findlay House NORC (1175 Findlay House), 11:30AM-1PM
• William Hodson (1320 Webster Avenue), 1PM-2PM 

Food Services for Community Members

Farmer’s markets and Fresh Food Box sites.

Red Rabbit provides emergency grab-and-go meals delivered to daycares, schools and community organizations.

FoodHelp NYC Map of food pantries and community kitchens.

COVID-19 Food Hub NYC.

How to Stay Informed

Only get your information from trustworthy sources like the CDC, the New York State Department of Health and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. For updates on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities in New York City, click here. Also, you can call the New York coronavirus hotline at 1-888-364-3065. In NYC, text COVID to 692692 for text updates from Notify NYC.

Community and Faith-Based Leaders

The City is actively monitoring and responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a community and faith-based partner, you play an important role in helping keep New Yorkers safe and informed.

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and NYC Emergency Management hosts a weekly COVID-19 informational call for community and faith leaders. Each week they will provide updates from various city agencies.

Below is the conference call information to join the call:
The dial in number is (800) 832-0736.
The room number (access code) is 5245195.

New York City needs your help. Here’s how individuals, businesses, and non-profits can help the City and fellow New Yorkers during this COVID-19 crisis:

Share Your Space: If you own or manage a large space, then take the Share Your Space Survey. The survey identifies spaces in your community that could potentially support the City’s emergency operations, such as their response to COVID-19.

DonateNYC: DonateNYC, a program of NYC Department of Sanitation, has resources for individuals, businesses, schools, and agencies to give and receive donated items.

HelpNow NYC: HelpNow NYC can connect New York State licensed medical professionals for potential surge staffing shifts in response to COVID-19.

New York Cares: If you are not a licensed medical professional, you can still help the COVID-19 response through New York Cares.

You can give back by giving blood. New York City needs approximately 2,000 people to donate blood every day to maintain its supply. Find a New York Blood Center near you.