Where to Maybe Reach Out For Help
By Carina Sims, Cully neighbor
During this challenging time, we all are called upon to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and practicing social distancing. As a result, many of us find ourselves without work and unable to earn an income. However, know that your community is here to support you! We can still continue to meet our needs as we help to keep each other safe. The purpose of this newsletter is to let you know about some of the resources that are available to those in need.
FOOD PANTRIES IN THE CULLY NEIGHBORHOOD
(Availability may be subject to change. Call first to confirm.)
C3 Church Food Pantry (free groceries, Shopping style pantry)
Address: 6120 NE 57th Ave, Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 997-2003
Hours: Tuesday 12:00 pm-1:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
SVDP St Charles (free groceries)
Address: 5310 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 9721
Phone: (503) 235-8431
Hours: Saturday 10:00 am-1:00 pm; other days by referral only
Details: Food boxes are prepared and delivered to those who request
Boundaries: Columbia River, south to NE Mason Ave. From 22nd Ave. to 82nd Ave.
Rigler Elementary Free Food Market (free produce)
Address: 5401 NE Prescott, Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 282-0555
Hours: 2nd Monday of each month 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Ortiz Center Free Food Market (free produce)
Address: 6736 NE Killingsworth, Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 988-3509
Hours: First Thursday of each month, 9:00 am – 9:45 am
Details: random number given at start of distribution. Please bring your own bag.
EMO NE Emergency Food Program (free groceries)
Address: Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 4800 NE 72nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 284-5470
Hours: Tuesday 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Thursday 1:00 pm -3 :00 pm, Saturday 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Details: Prepared boxes only as of 3/17/2020 and until further notice. Drive up & stay in car, or walk up following social distancing. (Normally, Shopping Style Pantry)
ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE FOOD RESOURCES
Oregon Food Bank – oregonfoodbank.org
Address: 7900 NE 33rd Dr, Portland, OR 97211
Phone: (503) 282-0555
The Oregon Food Bank website has a number of valuable resources as well as a continually-updated list of food pantry locations and hours. Volunteering opportunities are available, and donations of time, money and food are welcome.
Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon – oregonhunger.org
Resource for information on SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – aka Food Stamps)
MORTGAGE AND RENT PAYMENTS
On March 21st, President Trump ordered a 60-day halt to foreclosures and evictions across the country to assist citizens affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Mortgage lenders are offering borrowers deferment of payments for a number of months during the COVID-19 crisis, and you can contact your mortgage lender for the options available to you.
Additionally, on March 22nd, Governor Kate Brown signed a 90-day moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent in Oregon. Renters should similarly notify their landlords of any inability to pay rent before it is due.
UTILITIES
Portland Water Bureau/ City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
The Portland Water and Bureau of Environmental Services has announced that, until further notice, they “will not disconnect water service for non-payment of sewer/stormwater/water bills.” The measure is temporary, however, and customers are still responsible for (payment of) sewer/stormwater/water charges that are accrued”. For more information and/or to make payment arrangements, call Customer Service at 503-823-7770.
Pacific Power
Pacific Power has announced they are “temporarily suspending disconnections and late fees for non-payment for customers in Oregon, Washington and California to support the state of emergency declared in all three states in response to the COVID-19 virus.”
Pacific Power customers can call 1-888-221-7070 for more information
NW Natural
NW Natural has stated that “We will not disconnect customers who can’t make a payment due to impacts caused by the coronavirus. Customers will continue to receive bills and past-due notices. But NW Natural will not send a final shut-off notice and disconnect service.”
Customers can contact 800-422-4012 with questions or to make payment arrangements.
UNEMPLOYMENT
According to the Oregon Employment Department’s website, Unemployment Insurance benefits are available to “most workers who are out of work through no fault of their own”.
Visit the Oregon Employment Department’s COVID-19 website to determine your eligibility: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Pages/COVID-19.aspx
It may take a few weeks before unemployment payments start, so it’s recommended that unemployed workers file online as soon as possible.
ELDER / DISABLED SERVICES
Hollywood Senior Center – hollywoodseniorcenter.org
Address: 1820 NE 40th Avenue, Portland, OR
Phone: (503) 288-8303
Email: staff@hollywoodseniorcenter.org
Staff are committed to communicating regularly with people ages 60+ to assure that they have the necessary support and resources they need. Hollywood Senior Center Staff is now working remotely, but will continue to respond to emails and voice messages.
Hollywood Senior Center’s Nutrition Intern Kristin Cowin, a graduate student at the National University of Natural Medicine, will do free phone and video consultations with Hollywood Senior Center participants while we’re closed to the public. Simply visit this website and select a day (Monday or Friday) and time: https://calendly.com/kristin-cowin/nutrition-consultation?month=2020-03
Story to Door – storetodooroforegon.org
Home-delivers groceries weekly from Fred Meyer to people disabled or 65 years or older, for a 10% fee. To get on the waiting list, fill out the enrollment form on: https://storetodooroforegon.org/client-enrollment/
VOLUNTEER/DONATE
If you are looking to volunteer and/or donate, you can call programs on the list above, or others you know about, and ask how you can help (while observing current government-mandated public-health guidelines). Here are some volunteer and donation opportunities we know of at the time of this writing:
Hollywood Senior Center – hollywoodseniorcenter.org
Address: 1820 NE 40th Avenue, Portland, OR
Phone: (503) 288-8303
Email: staff@hollywoodseniorcenter.org
Volunteer to provide telephone reassurance and letter correspondence to isolated older adults during this time.
Story to Door – storetodooroforegon.org
Email: kelsey@storetodooroforegon.org
Volunteer as a telephone order taker, or other appropriate tasks.
Donate money, https://storetodooroforegon.org/
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
DAILY QUARANTINE QUESTIONS (a facebook shared post)
1. What am I GRATEFUL for today?
2. Who am I CHECKING IN ON or CONNECTING WITH today?
3. What expectations of “normal” am I LETTING GO OF today?
4. How am I GETTING OUTSIDE today?
5. How am I MOVING MY BODY today?
6. What BEAUTY am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?