Food & Justice News March 17, 2020

Food & Justice News Mar 17, 2020

Updated Coronavirus Resources

  1. Mutual Aid in Los Angeles
  2. Grocery Stores Opening Early for Seniors, Disabled, Pregnant Women (Exact Groups Depend on Particular Store)
  3. Los Angeles Unified School District Grab and Go Meals for Students
  4. CalFresh and other Public Benefits : Offices Closed But Phone and Online Are Available
  5. General Resources for Food, Housing, Health, Transportation and Education
  6. Demand Sick Days for Food Workers

Stay tuned for more updates. We will be working to advocate for following identified needs:

  • meal or grocery delivery for people under age 60 who are disabled or immune-compromised
  • a moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs

Mutual Aid in Los Angeles

Seniors, people with disabilities or particular needs may be having trouble accessing services these days. Others may want to volunteer to help our neighbors stuck at home who cannot get out to get vital items.

 

Here’s a Mutual Aid volunteer sign up for people in Los Angeles who either NEED assistance, or can OFFER assistance, or BOTH. This can be  to help with grocery delivery, errands caregiving, etc:

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGfypKKirsvUQCX5eVix86nIrTaf5atsnhn8bWxpCRn_lM9Q/formResponse

 

Thanks to groundgamela.org for setting this vital service up!

 

NextDoor App: If you can access the NextDoor app on a smartphone you may be able to find neighbors who have offered rides, delivery etc. and other forms of help especially for seniors and people needing special assistance:

https://nextdoor.com/login/


Grocery Stores Opening Early for Seniors, Disabled, Pregnant Women (Exact Groups Depend on Particular Store)

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/coronavirus-senior-grocery-shopping-hours-socal-panic-buying/2329889/

 

Northgate Gonzalez Market: All 41 Northgate Gonzalez Market stores throughout SoCal will also open early to help the elderly and disabled from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. in addition to its regular store hours. Delivery is available https://www.northgatemarket.com/Shop

Super A Foods: Super A Foods also announced a "Senior Shopping" period from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. for people older than 65 beginning Tuesday.

Vallarta Supermarkets: Starting Wednesday, seniors, pregnant women and customers with disabilities can shop early from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

 


Los Angeles Unified School District Grab and Go Meals for Students

From LAUSD: “Los Angeles Unified, in partnership with the Red Cross, will continue to provide nutritious meals to all students who need them during the temporary closure of schools. Our Grab & Go Food Centers will be open beginning Wednesday, March 18, and will be staffed weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

 

Each child can take home two nutritious meals. To find the closest Grab & Go Food Center, see the map below or check the list of centers on this page.”

 

https://achieve.lausd.net/resources

 

The Long Beach Unified School District reported that all this week it will provide both breakfast and lunch at nearly all its campuses between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Anyone aged 18 or under is eligible.

Palmdale Unified School District reported that, beginning Monday, it will provide drive-thru style service at several of its elementary schools from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. And 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will also be a food truck at McAdam Park during those times.

 

Closures of Los Angeles County Schools by District:

https://www.lacoe.edu/Home/News-Announcements/Coronavirus-School-Closures

 


CalFresh and other Public Benefits : Offices Closed But Phone and Online Are Available

LA County Department of Public Social Services Press Release: “All DPSS offices are temporarily closed to the public until further notice; however, we are continuing to provide services through our website and call centers.”

For New Applicants:

Customers can apply for the following benefits online through the Your Benefits Now website or by Calling the DPSS Customer Service Center at (866) 613-3777.

CalFresh:  Food benefit program for individuals and families;

General Relief: Cash assistance program for single adults;

CalWORKS: Cash assistance program for families;

CAPI: Cash assistance program for immigrants; and

Medi-Cal: Health benefits for individuals and families.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): in-home provided care for persons with a disability can be applied for by calling the IHSS Application line at (888) 944-4477 or the IHSS Helpline at (888) 822-9622.

For Existing Customers:

Customers can upload period reports (QR-7 or SAR-7), annual recertifications or renewals, or verifications online through the Your Benefits Now website or by calling the Customer Service Center at (866) 613-3777.

The Customer Service Center is also available to respond to general inquiry for all programs including CalFresh, General Relief, CalWORKS, Medi-Cal, and CAPI.

IHSS: The IHSS Helpline is available for recipients and IHSS providers by calling (888) 822-9622.

Please follow DPSS on Facebook @LACoDPSS, Twitter @LACo_DPSS and Instagram @laco_dpss for the latest updates.  

 


General Resources for Food, Housing, Health, Transportation and Education

A dedicated group of volunteers has been compiling a list of food*, housing, health, transportation, and education resources for the coronavirus crisis, divided into three general categories: children and youth, adults, and elderly. Please view this link:

 

https://tinyurl.com/lacovid19gd

 

 

Everytable is offering meals to EVERYONE: Food distribution for seniors who need food brought to their homes. Food available for students. Food distribution centers that can distribute food to a group of people. If you need 10-10,000 meals, reach out to Everytable at (323) 458 - 6487. For more info, click here!

 

El Torito Is Offering Kids Free Meals:

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbclosangeles.com/the-scene/el-torito-offering-free-kid-meals/2329690/%3famp

 

Dream Center Meals for School Kids: The Dream Center is servng school kids . From their website: “Just show up between 7:30am-6:30pm. Come stress and worry-free. Safety and making sure everyone is served is our priority. As Pastor @matthewbarnett1 said, the more awkward time you show up, the better. Food will be ready to go minute by minute. Help spread the word by sharing and tagging those in need.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9uX_66guVl/

 


Demand Sick Days for Food Workers

Restaurant Opportunities Center United has created a petition, and urge you to call on all corporate-owned restaurant chains, including Dine Brands (Applebee’s and IHOP), Bloomin’ (Outback Steakhouse), Brinker (Chili’s), Cracker Barrel, and Denny’s, to immediately implement paid sick leave. Together, in this time of public health crisis, let’s push for emergency paid sick days that these food chains must provide.

 

https://rocunited.org/stop-the-spread /

 


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