Corona Virus: Hunker Down 2020 Resources

hunker down

Click here for City of Waco Corona Virus Information Page

We’re collecting a list of useful websites to help Wacoans manage life in the time of Corona Virus.  If you know of a good site we should add, please email to [email protected].

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Recently Added

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Updates from the Public Health District

Updates from Waco ISD

Community needs/Ways to help

  • DONATIONS OF SUPPLIES and MEALS FOR HEALTH WORKERS -The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is handling the requests for donations in the community relating to COVID-19. Including requests for meals for health workers. Questions or more info: [email protected].  To see the list of needs and make a donation, click here: Donate for Corona Virus Needs.(4/2/20)

To do for kids and everybody else

Financial/Business/Employment resources

Other Resources

Virtual events

April 7 – 10 AM – Unlearning Circle – COVID19 through an anti-racist lens

April 7 – 12:30 PM – Expert Live: A Conversation with the SBA

April 8 – 8 AM – Pecan Morning on-line learning opportunity presented by Texas A&M Agrilife

April 17 – 8 AM – MCC Continuing ed online class: Excel 2016- Tricks & Traps ($59)

April 23 (11 AM), May 28 (6 PM) and June 17 (6PM) – Circles of Care orientation webinar on foster parenting

From the Act Locally Waco blog

From the News

Virtual Events

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April 7 – 10 AM – Unlearning Circle – COVID19 through an anti-racist lens

April 7 – 12:30 PM – Expert Live: A Conversation with the SBA

April 8 – 8 AM – Pecan Morning on-line learning opportunity presented by Texas A&M Agrilife

April 17 – 8 AM – MCC Continuing ed online class: Excel 2016- Tricks & Traps ($59)

April 23 (11 AM), May 28 (6 PM) and June 17 (6PM) – Circles of Care orientation webinar on foster parenting

“Prevent the Spread”

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Tips for staying healthy in the time of Corona from Tiffiney Gray, Senior Specialist for Health Initiatives at Prosper Waco

Shelter in place order (3/23/20)

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number to cal banner

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Updates from the McLennan County Public Health District

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Updates from Waco-Mclennan County Emergency Operation Center (EOC)

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Updates from local school districts

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Resources

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Mental Health Resources

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  • MHMR Mental Health Hot line – 254-752-3451 or 1-866-752-3451 – 24 hours a day. For questions related to substance use challenges, call 254-297-8999.
  • NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? CALL THE SALVATION ARMY EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL CARE HOTLINE (3/31/20)
  • Oceans Healthcare is a nationally recognized provider of behavioral health services and recently opened a state of the art hospital in Waco. The seek to help with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, behavioral changes or suicidal thoughts.  They specialize in treatment of acute mental illness, substance abuse and complex issues often associated with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Currently accepting patients and  open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know needs help please call 254.870.4874.  Walk ins are welcome. (3/31/20)
  • STARRY Counseling seeing families through telephone, telehealth and crisis line. Crisis phone  – 800- 440-9789 – 24/7. (3/20/20)
  • Call 911 for a life-threatening crisis.
  • MHMR’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) provides community-based crisis assessment and response. The team meets people where they are: at home, on the street, in the hospital, or in a shelter. Call 866-752-3451.
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free and confidential support for people in distress. English: 800-273-8255; Spanish: 888-628-9454; Deaf and hard-of-hearing (TTY and chat): 800-799-4889. Chat is available 24/7. Because of the high demand, it may be necessary to wait for a counselor. The wait is worth it.
  • The SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters: 800-985-5990. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Emergency Child Care Resources

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Financial, Business and Employment Resources

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Resources for the Immigrant Community

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Most are nationwide or state-wide, not necessarily local

Resources for Educators

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Libraries/E-Books

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Community Needs/Ways you can help

WILLING TO VOLUNTEER?

Prosper Waco, United Way and several other groups are collecting the names of people who are willing to volunteer as the need arises.  CLICK HERE to enter your information to be contacted as volunteers are needed for various projects.

  • DONATIONS OF SUPPLIES and MEALS FOR HEALTH WORKERS -The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is handling the requests for donations in the community relating to COVID-19. Including requests for meals for health workers. Questions or more info: [email protected].  To see the list of needs and make a donation, click here: Donate for Corona Virus Needs.(4/2/20)
  • OPERATION COMMUNITY CONNECTION – Hillcrest, like many hospitals, is currently under a ‘no visitor’ policy. Hillcrest has set up We’ve set up a special email address –  [email protected]  – to which community members can send scanned copies of handwritten notes, hand-drawn pictures, etc. These messages of encouragement will be printed and distributed each day to patients throughout our hospital. PDF format is best, but you can also take a picture on your phone and email it that way if needed. Anyone can join in! (3/31/20)
  • BEVERAGES NEEDED – The Salvation Army Waco/McLennan County is in dire need of bottled water or drinks.  Donations of one or several cases of bottled water or other individually bottled drinks are appreciated.  Bring to 4721 W. Waco Drive, to our drive-up donation center any Monday through Friday, or any day or time at our Community Kitchen/Shelter at 300 Webster Avenue. Call 254-756-7271. (3/31/20)
  • Repurpose for a Purpose:  Donate your Fitted Bed Sheets to Goodwill – Tuesday, March 31st through Saturday, April 4th, Heart of Texas Goodwill will be accepting donations for fitted bed sheets and adult sized diapers at the Goodwill Job Connection location (1700 S New Rd) in Waco from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm. (3/31/20)
  • Humane Society of Central Texas needs 90 (yes, NINETY) new homes this week.  Call to make an appointment to come see us at 2032 Circle Rd -254.754.1454. Open 11am-6pm weekdays and until 5pm on Saturdays. (3/29/20)
  • The best way to help The Salvation Army is with financial donations.  Click here for an update. (3/26/20)
  • Compassion Ministries of Waco is in immediate need of basic grocery items like bread as well as disinfectant wipes, gloves and hand sanitizer, as case managers are in frequent contact with residents during this time to closely monitor their needs. (3/26/20)
  • Brazos Education Foundation is in need of emergency funds for college students (aka Brazos Scholars) who have been affected by the closure of schools and rising unemployment rates. . (3/26/20)
  • The NAACP is in need of funding for its scholarship programs. . (3/26/20)
  • The Heart of Texas Region MHMR is in immediate need of hand sanitizer, surgical masks, N95 masks and PPE. (3/26/20)
  • The Care Net Pregnancy Center is looking for supplies like diapers, wipes and formula. (3/26/20)
  • The Talitha Koum Institute is immediately seeking rent assistance for parents, non-bleach sterilizing wipes, and monetary donations. (3/26/20)
  • Waco Shepherds Heart, Inc. is in need of monetary donations and volunteers. Funding is especially important because many of their donors are facing unemployment in the wake of the virus. Volunteers are important because many of their regular daily volunteers are of the age to be threatened by the current situation. (3/26/20)
  • Fuzzy Friends Rescue is urgently seeking homes of abandoned or re-homed animals. They are in need of cleaning supplies, lint rollers and funding for medical needs. (3/26/20)
  • The Animal Birth Control Clinic is in need immediate need of cat/dog food and is also asking that people who come into the clinic bring up-to-date medical records for their pet(s) so that they will be more readily accepted into a temporary home with a friend or family member should they should they become sick as well as to avoid unnecessary shelter intake. The clinic is also asking for supplies such as hand sanitizer and exam gloves. (3/26/20)
  • The primary need of CASA of McLennan County at this moment is funding, as their annual fundraiser which typically raises $50,000 for operating revenue was canceled.
  • The Family Abuse Center is in immediate need of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and soap, as they are running low on basic supplies. (3/26/20)
  • Grassroots Community Development is in need of food and daycare services as well as monetary donations.  (3/26/20)
  • The MCC Foundation is seeking emergency grants for those students who have lost or experienced setbacks in their jobs. They are also in need of food, hygiene products and funding for the MCC Food Pantry.  (3/26/20)
  • March 26-28- Drop off Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitation supplies at the Goodwill on New Road — supplies will be donated to the family health center. (3/25/20)
  • Help foster families and support local restaurants – Click here to donate a meal from a local restaurant to a foster family. (You can also sign up to deliver meals or to receive a meal if you are a foster family. (3/25/20)
  • Call either Heritage Creamery ( 254-537-1352) or Shorty’s Pizza Shack (254 – 235-2646) and let them know you want to support ” Project: Nurses” by purchasing a gift certificate to help us provide meals for nurses and hospital staff on day & night shifts at BS&W-Hillcrest Hospital here in Waco. (3/25/20)
  • Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry needs financial support to sustain their drive through food pantry and their delivery program that serves 700 seniors. Donate here: www.shepherdsheartpantry.org/donate/. (3/25/20)
  • CareNet Pregnancy Center needs supplies and volunteers.  Email [email protected] for details. (3/23/20)
  • Central Texas Senior Ministry (Meals on Wheels Waco) needs funding for additional shelf stable and frozen meals, volunteers, hand sanitizer and paper towels. Email [email protected] (3/24/20)
  • Salvation Army needs Volunteers to help package ‘TAKE-OUT’ meals at the Community Kitchen. Sign-up at http://sarmytx.org/volunteerwaco.  Our shelters, kitchen, pantry and several other programs remain open. Meals are served 7 days a week.  Your support via give.salvationarmytexas.org  , or by mail to 4721 W. Waco Drive, Waco, TX 76710, is urgently needed. Donations of supplies, meals, snacks, rags, cleaning supplies, etc. are also appreciated.  To discuss, or for those needing services, please call the social services team at 254-756-7271 or email [email protected]. (3/24/20)
  • Walk your block and pick up trash – Want to get out of your house and practice social distancing? Grab a bag and some gloves and let’s clean up while you walk your block! If you need tools and supplies, contact Keep Waco Beautiful ([email protected] or 254-3391077) and schedule a time to pick up during their office hours, 12 – 4 PM. (3/23/20)
  • WacoStrong Supply Drive – Collecting non-perishable food for Caritas and cleaning supplies, alcohol, sanitizers and gloves for Mission Waco.  Drop off at The White Elephant (1025 Austin Ave) and Christi’s Shop (1023 Austin Ave).  Daily 11 AM to 5:30 PM. (3/22/20)
  • Waco Masks Seamstresses for Covid – A Facebook group for people who want to sew masks for local health providers (3/21/20)
  • Sew masks for the Family Health Center (3/21/20)
  • Phone numbers for volunteering: Shepherd’s Heart – 722-9517, Caritas -753-4593, Gospel Cafe – 753-5916, Salvation Army – 756-7271, Mission Waco – 753-4900
  • Covid-19 How to help – Website to view and enter volunteer opportunities – maintained by the Amberley Collaborative (3/19/20)
  • To volunteer for Jesus Said Love, email [email protected] and let them know how you would like to volunteer.  They need people to help deliver meals and other tangible supplies. (3/17/20)
  • The Humane Society of Central Texas is requesting volunteers to join our K9 Clean Team to help keep the dogs clean. To join K9 clean team come to the Waco Animal Shelter any time 9am-6pm on weekdays and until 5pm on Saturdays to register.  For more information about this press release, please contact Dr. Paula Rivadeneira, [email protected], cell 254-447-0368. (3/19/20)
  • Caritas has served more clients in the past 3 days than they normally serve in a full week. Our resources are being stretched as we strive to meet the challenge.  Donations may be made online at www.caritas-Waco.org or by calling (254)753-4593. (3/19/20)
  • Friends for Life, which helps elderly and disabled people live independently in the community, has over 350 clients who need regular check-ins by phone to see whether they have any urgent needs. They will also be setting up a system to deliver necessities to their clients, and will be seeking help with that too. To volunteer, go to the Friends for Life volunteer sign-up page, click “Apply Now,” and take it from there. Questions? Contact  April Love at [email protected].
  • Infant formula has been scarce. Lactating mothers can donate their milk to the Mothers Milk Bank, which has a drop-off location at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital in Waco.  Call 877-813-6455 to begin your 10-minute phone screening.
    https://www.milkbank.org
  • The Humane Society of Central Texas is urgently requesting foster homes that can keep pets for up to 6 weeks. Click here for more information. (3/17/20)
  • Online Auction benefiting Cenikor Foundation can be accessed for 4 days starting Thursday March 19th at 5:00 pm. To participate in the online auction, please go to www.bidpal.net/bootsbucklesbling to create your account and begin bidding on the scheduled date. (3/17/20)
  • The Gospel Cafe is considering ways to best serve their customers. They are looking for a food truck they could borrow or a tent/table they borrow to set up to serve food in their backyard behind the cafe. If you think you can help with either of these, please email Sherry Castello at [email protected].
  • Mission Waco needs masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, thermal temperature scanners and gloves. Volunteer wise they are going to need sanitation crews willing to come clean My Brother’s Keeper and the Meyer Center. Email: [email protected].
  • Music Relief Fund/Assistance for musicians (3/18/20)

Resources for kids with autism

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Things for kids to do

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Things for everybody to do

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Restaurants/Farmer’s Market/Local Businesses

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From the Act Locally Waco blog

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News Links

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Information about the CARES act

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Other Announcements

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