Resources
Foundation for Health Equity™ recognizes the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color, older adults, and families.
For example, Black and Latinx Philadelphians have the highest and second highest rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death. In light of this, we have collected dozens of resources (and counting) below, organized by food, family, older adults, community, and emergency:
- COVID-19 Food Assistance Resource Guide from Governor Wolf.
- SNAP Hotline (215-430-0556): Apply for benefits and have questions answered by phone.
- Free food boxes for Philadelphia households (no income requirement).
- WIC: office updates
- SHARE: works 7 days a week to get food to those who need it! Please visit the link for details.
- Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels (CHMOW) does food delivery to seniors and individuals unable to leave their homes. They are specifically in need of canned and boxed items as well as toiletries. Please visit the link for drop off times and location
- Face to Face: provides drive up emergency meal pick up; accepting donations of non-perishable food items. Please visit link for additional details.
- Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) continues to deliver tailored meals to individuals with life threatening illnesses. Food delivery volunteers are needed- please visit the link for details.
- Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) continues to deliver food to households in need. JRA’s work is fueled by volunteers. Please visit link for volunteer details.
- The Food Trust: Saturday Farmers Markets that remain in operation under COVID health guidelines include: Headhouse Square, Clark Park, Filter Square (SNAP accepted).
- Interfaith Housing Alliance: Ambler pick up food pantry services as well as housing support remain open. Accepting food item donations. Please visit link for details.
- Why Not Prosper (WNP) continues to provide food assistance, hygiene supplies, and other staples four days a week. Please visit link for details.
- Philadelphia Corporation for Aging: grab and go meal sites for older adults.
- Catholic Housing and Community Services: meal distribution sites for older adults.
- Food Pantries in the Philadelphia Region.
- How to use your SNAP benefits to shop for groceries online.
- PHLConnectED: Connecting K-12 students to the internet.
- Philadelphia Office of Youth and Families: City-wide resources and referrals.
- Baby supply pick-up sites throughout Philadelphia.
- Online sites for students who have special learning needs.
- Indoor Activities for Kids: Hundreds of fun activities for children, from crafts to cooking to computer games.
- Emotional Health: “Dear Therapist’s Guide to Staying Sane During a Pandemic,” by Lori Gottlieb of The Atlantic.
- Arts and Crafts: Hundreds of crafts, games, and recipes for parents and children, from hello, Wonderful.
- Free Library of Philadelphia: Virtual programs for readers and listeners of all ages.
- Gardening with kids: Gardening resources for children, parents, and educators.
- Children’s Health Center of VNA: providesprimary health care services for uninsured children and those on medical assistance. They do so over the phone or seeing patients in their car. Their work keeps children healthy and at this critical time, keeps them out of the emergency room. VNA is also in need of non-perishable food donations, visit their website for details.
- Philadelphia Children’s Alliance: (PCA) continues to provide emergency response and ongoing services to victims of child sexual assault and abuse.
- Uplift Services for Children: providing remote support and resources for grieving children and families.
- Breastfeeding Resource Center: outpatient offices remain open for consults; support groups and resources are being provided by phone.
- Covenant House of Philadelphia: Keeping their doors open to youth in need during the COVID crisis, Covenant House provides shelter and a wide array of service to youth facing homelessness.
- Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network: Providing diapers, childcare supplies and food items.
- Catholic Services: Providing diapers, food and formula.
- Center in the Park (CIP) is now open and continues to provide remote counseling and support to seniors as well as delivery of emergency food and lunches.
- SOWN continues to provide telephone support and services to help older adults stay connected.
- Montgomery County Senior Adult Activities Center (Montco SAAC) is providing meals for seniors as well as personal support by telephone.
- VNA Community Services is providing personalized in-home services to help seniors stay healthy and remain in their homes.
- Keystone Cares is providing telehealth services as well as home care, palliative care and hospice care to patients in need.
- Senior Law Center (SLC) is providing seniors with free legal assistance in these areas: legal advocacy, referrals, elder abuse, exploitation, housing, grandparents raising grandchildren, and consumer protection. Many of SLC’s staff are volunteers and additional help is always needed! Please visit the link for details.
- Philadelphia Corporation for Aging is providing grab and go meal sites for seniors and other senior resources.
- Catholic Housing and Community Services meal distribution sites for seniors.
- Older Adult COVID-19 Checklist
- Tips for Caregivers
- Community Resource Connects: Search all types of resources by zip code.
- Philadelphia Health Access Network: Information on unemployment, housing, and more.
- COVID-19 information by language.
- COMPASS: Apply for SNAP and other state benefits. The turn-around time for emergency SNAP applications is 5 days.
- Community Legal Services
- Application for mail-in ballots
- Tenant Rights Information
- Stay Connected: List of discounts and offers by internet / phone providers.
- State-wide Hotline: The toll-free, round-the-clock support line can be contacted at 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600. A partnership between PA Department of Human Services and Community Center for Resources, the hotline hopes to provide assistance to people struggling with emotions during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Stimulus Check FAQ
- Economic Stimulus Payments: Your questions answered (View here).
- Community Behavioral Health: online and remote mental health services and referrals.
- BenePhilly – Benefits Data Trust: Help with accessing benefits and services such as food, heat, shelter and medical expenses.
- Foundation for Health Equity™ is responding to the needs of non-profit organizations who provide critical services and emergency response at this time. If you’d like to participate with us, feel free to contact us directly or go to the Give page to designate a donation to the COVID-19 Response Fund.
- The Philadelphia Foundation: The PHL COVID-19 Fund provides grants to Greater Philadelphia organizations with a successful track record of serving at-risk populations such as the seniors, people with disabilities, and those who are experiencing homeless or are economically disadvantaged, in order to continue community safety nets such as food pantries and health services, and help with preparedness and protection such as hygiene supplies, access to accurate current information, and available services.
- The Montgomery County Foundation: The MontCoPA COVID-19 Response Fund has provided grants to nonprofit organizations with a successful track record of serving vulnerable populations in Montgomery County. The Fund is designed to complement the work of Montgomery County’s public health, state, and federal officials and expand local capacity to address the outbreak as efficiently as possible. Initial grant applications may be submitted for up to $5000.
- Foundations Community Partnership: COVID-19 Response Grants are intended to quickly provide financial resources so that nonprofit organizations can continue serving Bucks County children, youth, and families throughout this public health and economic crisis.These $5,000 grants will be awarded to eligible applicants that address the behavioral health needs for children, youth, and families in Bucks County.
- Merchant Relief Fund: The Merchants Fund – Stabilization Grants are available to help small businesses remain stable and viable.
- Small Business Relief Fund: Providing some small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with immediate relief through a mix of grants and loans.
- LISC: Rapid Relief and Resiliency Fund will inject much-needed, flexible resources into historically under-invested communities. These are the places that are suffering most from the economic fallout due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- COVID-19 Artists Aid: COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL supports individual artists as well as small arts and culture organizations and mid-sized organizations whose operations, work and livelihood have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Case Studies
Center in the Park (CIP)
It has been a busy year for Center in the Park and, even though they physically closed the building in March, the Center is as active as ever! CIP is providing emergency food from their pantry and delivering special interim frozen meals to over 200 older adults per week. Their staff have made thousands of “wellness check” phone calls to participants, and began programming online. While 2020 has been a challenging year thus far, they are truly living their mission: promoting positive aging, listening to the voices of their participants, and truly providing community connections during a critical time.
SeniorLAW Center
The team at SeniorLAW Center came together creatively to serve older people at the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. They moved their entire team to a remote operation and have come together in this time of crisis to put older people first:
- To provide critical legal services and resources to older people
- To ensure their safety, freeing them from financial exploitation and abuse, saving homes and lives
They have expanded services, education and advocacy, and are honored to serve older people who are at risk during this crisis.