Resources to help cope with coronavirus

GENERAL HELP/INFORMATION

COVID-19: www.covid19.ca.gov is the state’s website for COVID-19 information.

Dial 2-1-1: If you need assistance finding community or disaster services, dial 2-1-1. 2-1-1 San Diego is a resource and information hub that connects people with community, health and disaster services.

WAYS TO HELP:

Give blood: The San Diego Blood Bank needs donations because there have been many cancellations. Extra precautions are being taken to clean donor beds after each donation and donors are at least 6 feet apart due to coronavirus concerns. Here are some upcoming blood drives:
CARDIFF: VG Donut & Bakery, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, at 106 Aberdeen Drive parked off Aberdeen. Donuts will be served to donors, courtesy of VG Donut & Bakery.
LA MESA: Office Depot, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, 8481 Fletcher Pkwy., parking lot.
Donors must be 17 and older, weigh at least 114 pounds, and be in good health. Call (800) 469-7322 or visit sandiegobloodbank.org.
ALSO: The San Diego Blood Bank has established a new temporary blood donor center at Liberty Station, 2445 Truxton Road, Historic Building 27, Suite 205, near Panera Bread. This week’s hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, by appointment only to ensure proper staffing. Call (619) 400-8251 or visit www.sandiegobloodbank.org/covid19.

Get on up: If you can do so, try to get some exercise, fresh air, sunshine (if it ever stops raining)! Many parks and beaches remain open to the public. But, again, you are reminded to keep appropriate social distancing, and don’t participate in group activities or games of sport.

Order it: Most cities are encouraging people to support local businesses during this difficult time. Some ideas:
-- Order food takeout or delivery: Many restaurants are still offering takeout or delivery. Phone them directly or check online to see who’s serving. City websites and Chambers of Commerce in those cities also have lists of who’s still open. SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com lists restaurants that are still open and offering food for pick-up and/or delivery. The site is searchable by Neighborhood, Food Type and Average Meal Price and provides links to online ordering and meal delivery platforms.
-- Buy a gift card from your favorite local place that you can use later.
-- Shop online: Many local businesses have online stores that are ready for your business.

Help them plug in: Many seniors are not as tech-savvy as their younger counterparts. Ask whether you can do some online ordering for them. Groceries, medications and other items (books! DVDs! toilet paper!) can come either through delivery services or by mail.

Phone it in: Coach seniors or other adults over the phone on how to set up accounts or request online food delivery from a store. Or just do it for them. And if you know someone who lives alone and can’t leave their home, give them a quick call so they don’t feel so lonely or isolated.

DONATE/VOLUNTEER

The San Diego Food Bank is requesting volunteers and monetary donations at SanDiegoFoodBank.org. It is also still accepting donations through the Food Rescue Program from restaurants, hotels and food service companies. To donate unused food items, please deliver the food to these warehouses from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. weekdays: San Diego Food Bank/Miramar, 9850 Distribution Avenue, San Diego, or North County Food Bank/Vista, 1445 Engineer Street, Suite 110, Vista. If you need to deliver outside those hours or have questions, email Kimberly Castillo, Food Procurement Supervisor, at KCastillo@SanDiegoFoodBank.org.

The San Diego Rescue Mission is in urgent need of cleaning supplies and preventative products to help with the housing of hundreds of long-term students. Items needed: hand soap, hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), tissues, trash bags and baskets, disposable face masks, disposable gowns, thermometers and disposable gloves. Drop off items any time at 120 Elm St., San Diego. For information, email Development Coordinator Crystal at chernandez@sdrescue.org. The Rescue Mission is also seeking money donations for the homeless. Donate online at sdrescue.org/donate.

San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund: A coalition of philanthropy, government and business partners has created this fund through the San Diego Foundation to help community-based organizations. Grant funding will focus on food security, rental and utility assistance, and income replacement or gap funding. The fund expects to move an initial round of grants in the next few weeks. All donations will go to organizations helping San Diegans affected by the health crisis. Call (619) 235-2300; email: info@sdfoundation.org.

Serving Seniors is relying on donations to continue providing resources to vulnerable seniors throughout the county. Due to quarantine advisories, opportunities to volunteer have been limited, so a Senior Nutrition Emergency Fund has been started to ensure they have the resources to continue delivering meals. To learn how you can help, or to donate, visit www.servingseniors.org.

Del Mar Community Connections is seeking healthy volunteers under age 65 to deliver groceries and supplies to home-bound people. The nonprofit also is collecting hand sanitizer, hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper, disinfectant products, and tissues for distribution to seniors. Leave donations in marked bin at Del Mar Community Building, 225 9th St. To volunteer, email dmcc@dmcc.cc or call (858) 792-7565. Visit www.dmcc.cc.

Interfaith Community Services seeks volunteers, food and hygiene items and monetary support. Flexible volunteers are needed who are in good health (not in high-risk categories) to make and provide sack lunches at the nonprofit’s 550 W. Washington Ave., Escondido, kitchen anytime. Email Micki Hickox at mhickox@interfaithservices.org. Drop off donations anytime at 550 W. Washington Ave., Escondido. The nonprofit created an emergency fund to help the poorest of the community and an Interfaith supporter has pledged $50,000 to match all contributions toward this fund. Visit interfaithservices.org.

You Are Not Alone: This is a free service for Carlsbad seniors who live alone and would benefit from a daily check. The Police Department’s senior volunteer patrol makes daily phone calls to each participant. Weekly visits have been suspended temporarily, but if volunteers are unable to contact participants, they will follow up with whoever is listed as the emergency contact. If they still can’t make contact, a Carlsbad police officer will make a welfare check. To enroll a Carlsbad resident, call (760) 931-2214.
YANA: The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department runs a similar program. To enroll, contact the nearest sheriff station or visit sdsheriff.net/documents/yana-brochure.pdf.

FOOD:

NEW: The San Diego Food Bank is holding a food distribution with the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council at 9 a.m. Saturday 3/28 at SDCCU Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, San Diego, until all the food is gone. You must be in a car to receive food. No walkups allowed. For more food distribution sites, visit www.unionyes.org/covid19.

NEW: The Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego (www.mlcsd.org) , an umbrella organization representing over 25 Muslim organizations based in San Diego, offers a free meal program for San Diegans affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The program will run from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. starting today through March 31 and will include free delivery for healthcare workers, seniors and those without transportation. The initial program is being sponsored by MLC with two local restaurants, Tikka Lounge and Charminar. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/ulbr2pa. To volunteer or to sponsor meals, contact Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego at info@mlcsd.org.

The San Diego Food Bank is providing food to 500 nonprofits countywide with feeding programs, and distributes food through 200 direct monthly food distributions throughout the county. Visit https://sandiegofoodbank.org/gethelp or https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/north-county-community-news/story/2020-03-20/resources-coronavirus. Call (866) 350-FOOD (3663) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays to find a site near you.

Feeding San Diego has created a map of food distribution locations around the county. Text “food” or “comida” to 877-877 to find the nearest site, or call 211 to talk to a resource specialist. E-mail info@feedingsandiego.org or phone (858) 452-3663.

FSD food distribution sites in Escondido include:
Escondido Community Child Development Center, 819 W. Ninth Ave., 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, (760) 839-9361.
Foundry Food Pantry, 120 N. Ash St., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, (442) 777-2081.
Interfaith Community Services, 550 W. Washington Ave., Suite B., every second and fourth Tuesday and Friday, (760) 489-6380.
Ruth Anointed World Ministries Escondido, 777 W. Felicita Ave., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, (760) 580-0835.
Salvation Army Escondido, 1301 Las Villas Way, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, (760) 745-8616.

Serving Seniors: Free meals from the nonprofit Serving Seniors are available to anyone aged 60 or over, regardless of income. If you are a senior in need, or know of one, you can sign up to receive meals by calling (619) 235-6572 and selecting Option One, or reaching out via email at meals@servingseniors.org. Recipients have the option of donating for meals, but nobody is turned away if they don’t have the means to do so.

COVID-19 EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES:
South: Community through Hope, 465 C St, Chula Vista
North Inland: Community Food Connection, 14047 Twin Peaks Road, Poway
North Coastal: Brother Benno Foundation, 3260 Production Ave., Oceanside
East: Salvation Army El Cajon, 1025 E Main St., El Cajon
Central: Labor Council SDCCU Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, San Diego, northeast lot.
Find listings of emergency food distributions at feedingsandiego.org/coronavirus.

Pacific Beach United Methodist Church, 1561 Thomas Ave., San Diego, will host a meal service to-go only through its San Diego Project Grace from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 25 and every week thereafter. Congregating on site will not be allowed. Visit pbumc.org or call (858) 274-6573.

Church of the Nazarene in Mid-City, 4101 University Ave., San Diego, has extended its food distribution hours: 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Call (619) 249-2684 or visit midcitynazarene.org.

The San Diego Hunger Coalition and its more than 150 partners across San Diego County remain committed to making sure that everyone has enough to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition is coordinating with partner agencies, gathering information on resources, and working to expand access to food assistance. Visit sdhunger.org/covid19. Are you looking to volunteer to support hunger relief during the Coronavirus crisis? Go to www.weallwegotsd.com.

LIBRARIES
San Diego County’s 33 branch libraries will NOT be able to offer the curbside pickup service that had been announced earlier. All branch libraries and the county’s two bookmobiles will be closed. However, library patrons can still digitally access all the library’s e-books and e-magazines 24/7 by downloading the Libby app for e-books or Flipster (under e-books and e-magazines) for e-magazines like Sports Illustrated, People, Time. Residents who don’t have a library card can sign up for an Instant Digital Card and use their mobile phone number as their library card. Visit sdcl.org.
Also, county library branches are closing as of Thursday under the guidance of the California Department of Public Health and San Diego County’s Public Health Officer. There will be no returns accepted and the due dates will be extended for any and all materials that are out and until they re-open.

County Services: San Diego County’s Family Resource Centers, as well as the Housing and Community Development Services office, are temporarily suspending in-person services. Most services provided at these facilities are available online, and staff will continue to answer questions via phone or email. Residents looking to apply for essential services, including food and housing assistance, medical coverage and other vital support programs, can apply for benefits at https://www.mybenefitscalwin.org. They can also call 2-1-1 San Diego and a live representative can help with the application process by phone.

OTHER SERVICES

Alzheimer’s San Diego: Alzheimer’s San Diego has suspended all group classes and programs until further notice. It will continue to provide support over the phone, email, and live chat. Check alzsd.org/coronavirus for the latest news about programs and community resources. If you need support, call (858) 492-4400 and ask to speak with a social worker.

AARP: Those looking to connect with others remotely can turn to the AARP online community, which includes a caregiver-specific forum. Visit https://community.aarp.org to post or respond to a discussion topic. AARP’s family caregiving line is another resource people can use from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays: 1-877-333-5885. The support line is also available in Spanish, at 1-888-971-2013.