Wednesday, April 15
From Mutual Aid Tompkins
If you have an immediate need, call (607) 288-3252
As always, community members looking for more information on local health resources and resources related to COVID-19 can contact 2-1-1 by calling 1-877-211-8667 or visiting 211tompkins.org
Mutual Aid Tompkins Facebook Page
Mutual Aid Tompkins Facebook Group
Mutual Aid Tompkins Immediate Needs Facebook Group
Mutual Aid Tompkins Food Systems Facebook Group
Mutual Aid Tompkins Community Form
Mutual Aid Tompkins Community Resource Folder
Find Help & Give Help
Donations: We are neighbors concerned about our communities and helping to make sure those most vulnerable and affected by COVID-19 get the support they need. We are volunteer run, with no paid staff, and our aid comes directly from the community. We have created a PayPal & Venmo account and the money donated is going directly to people who have made requests through our immediate needs page. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fundraiser that is in partnership with Tompkins County Worker's Center, You can also make donations through PayPal here and our Venmo here. Thank you!
Need Help Finding Help? Contact 2-1-1 Tompkins Cortland: Callers are referred to service providers according to their needs. 2-1-1 may follow up with callers, when appropriate, to ensure that contact was made and to offer further assistance if needed. Some common questions include locations to find food, legal issues with housing, how to access healthcare, and finding employment. 2-1-1 is active 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. To access 2-1-1 by text, message your zip code to TXT211 or 898211. Texting service is available Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 4:00 pm). You can also access 2-1-1 services by email (iandr@hsctc.org) or by visiting their website.
Community Volunteer & Request Aid Form: Fill out this form if you would like to request aid (petty cash assistance, groceries, supplies, medicine, delivery), AND/OR if you would like to volunteer to give aid. THIS IS A NEW VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP FORM - please fill this out even if you had previously signed up to volunteer.
Older Adult Support Form: Read info here and fill out this form if you would like to provide assistance to older adults in Tompkins County.
Tompkins County Health Department
Most recent data can always be found on the Tompkins County Health Department website.
Total Tested: 2,546
Pending Results: 133
Positive Test Results:118
Recovered: 90
Currently Hospitalized: 4
Total Deaths: 2 (both non-county residents)
The CH Sampling Site will be open Thursday, 4/16, for its regular hours, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. To pre-register, call Cayuga Health Registration Line at 607-319-5708, or go online to cayugahealthsystem.org.
Local
Dryden Community Food Distribution will be Friday, April 25th from 10AM-1PM at TC3, 170 North St, Dryden. Registration opens on Wednesday, April 22 at 9AM-4PM and Thursday, April 23rd 8AM-4PM. Register via phone (833) 4FB-FOOD or online here.
Catholic Charities is open but asks that people call ahead to make appointments and is making an effort to help over the phone or text instead of face to face. The general number is 607-272-5062 with rotating staff in the office Tues-Fri and working remotely Mondays. People can reach staff at our emergency financial assistance program (called the Samaritan Center) by contacting:
Leslie.Mulcahy@dor.org or by calling 272-5062 ext. 27
Of particular note these days, they are providing, on a case by case basis, depending on income eligibility:
grocery store and gas gift cards, and referrals to food pantries and school lunch programs
assistance with applying for SNAP (Food Stamps)
Personal care supplies
security deposits
financial help with car insurance, phone and rental payments
assistance for people with limited English with applying for unemployment benefits
legal immigration services (DACA and green card renewals etc.) Contact: Sue.Chaffee@dor.org or 272-5062 ext. 11
GreenStar temporarily closes their DeWitt mall location
As of Monday, GreenStar has announced the temporary closure of their location in the DeWitt Mall. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, sales at the DeWitt location have dramatically decreased. According to Kane, DeWitt sales have dropped to 40% below last year's sales. In his statement, Kane said that if GreenStar continued to operate the DeWitt store the Co-op would lose between $5,000 and $10,000 per week. Read more here.
The following are measures the county has taken to respond to Governor Cuomo’s executive order 202.16 requiring all essential businesses to provide masks to employees that have direct contact with customers or members of the public (here is the Department of Health’s clear summary of the executive order).
employees and spouses that have volunteered to make masks. While waiting for masks the county is offering one-time masks. The county is also collaborating with community partners for masks. Instructions on how to wear and clean the masks will also be provided during distribution.
The county has worked with Economic Development agencies to craft and share recommendations and precautions to businesses referencing the Executive order.
The County Highway Director will be holding a conference call for Town Highway Superintendents, City/Village DPW Directors. He will review the County’s approach to highway/DPW work.
Finger Lakes Distillery has switched most of their production over to hand sanitizer and has been making it available to local hospitals and health care providers. They will have pick-ups available to the general public this weekend - selling 6 oz. ($6/ea) and 12 oz. ($10/ea) bottles just outside the front door of the tasting room from 12-3 pm.
We plan to minimize all contact by encouraging you to pre-order through our online store. If you plan to pay with cash, please bring the exact amount (tax is inclusive).
State
Effective this Friday, April 17th, all New Yorkers must wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible including on public transport, in stores and on crowded sidewalks. An executive order directs employers to provide essential workers with masks free of charge to wear when interacting with the public.
Due to Coronavirus, there is a shortage of blood and blood donations are desperately needed. New York State is working with blood banks to ensure safe social distancing protocols are being followed. Learn how and where you can donate at ny.gov/donateblood.
National
Earth Day Megaconference (April 22, 2020) - A global gathering of voices sharing and learning ways to cure our climate crisis. This is an unique opportunity for students (aged 10+), teachers and parents to learn more about current global issues and topics that can be used as professional development opportunities, student research, and as a stimuli to learn more from global experts in their fields. Please register to be sent details on how to participate live on the day.
Update on the Payment Protection Program (PPP) program. In NYS, 40,975 PPP loans have been approved for $11,737,950,918. Nationally, over 1 million loans have been approved for nearly $250 billion. For the most current and accurate information about PPP, please continue to visit our website at www.sba.gov/PPP. The Treasury Department page also contains updated helpful FAQ’s. To find a PPP lender, search here. You can find the New Interim Final Rule published on treasury.gov regarding self-employed and partnership PPP applications.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: A tool to track your federal stimulus payment launching soon. The IRS is planning to launch an online tool on April 17 that will let people track the status of their stimulus payment. The tool will identify whether the payment will be coming electronically or by mail and when to expect it. The site is not live yet, but you can get more information about the payment program at this IRS page.
Disunited States: Government Failure to Address Coronavirus is Sparking a Mutual Aid Revolution: Mutual aid is the medicine that bodies respond well to, the antidote to capitalism, and the salve for those basic elements of humanity so ruthlessly shanked by our system: solidarity, community, sharing, and supporting. It’s not about charity. Charity pities. Mutual aid understands. Charity distances. Mutual aid connects. Rest of article here.
