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Girls Club COVID-19 Response and Resources

Girls Club COVID-19 Response: What We’re Doing to Help

As you can imagine, COVID-19 and its effects are putting the health, well-being and safety of our members at risk — many who have lost their safe spaces. The Girls Club is a parallel family, a lifeline, a place where girls grow physically, mentally and emotionally, and they need us now more than ever.

In response to COVID-19, we are:

  • Providing short-term cash infusions for non-food necessities
  • Providing homemade masks and cleaning supplies
  • Sourcing produce from local organic farms, and distributing food and takeout meals for families of 4+
  • Sending books, art supplies, computers and sewing machines to members
  • Daily check-ins from staff, assessing the needs of each family
  • Providing online mentoring, tutoring and resources
  • Running a ‘virtual’ online Girls Club to enable our staff to continue to teach classes and provide safe social spaces for our members
“I wanted to extend my gratitude to you and the rest of the staff in this very difficult time you girls are a BEACON OF HOPE, LIGHT and FAITH. Don’t think that for a second that your efforts are going unnoticed. I am so grateful for the chef that prepared the food, all the way to the person who passed me the box.”
Girls Club Parent
Everything is closed and everyone is in the house. Where do you get help when you need it? Especially when/if you have no means to get to the help you need? In steps the Girls Club with an open heart and willingness to always go the extra mile and reach girls wherever they are. The box bought food, essentials, and extra surprises showing the love and compassion that Girls Club has for its members and THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY. Who does this? Girls Club. We definitely feel loved. And we greatly appreciate it.
Girls Club Parent
“Thank you for the cute masks and the cake. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CARING WE WHOLE HEARTEDLY APPRECIATE IT”
Girls Club Member
“I cannot thank The Lower East Side Girls Club enough and all their staff members. Things would have definitely been a lot harder for me, especially being a single parent. I truly believe that the Girls Club has been a big blessing to all the girls and their families. I am so thankful and grateful, but not surprised. You guys always have treated my daughter and I like family and for that I will be there if and whenever you need me.”
Girls Club Parent
“Thank you L.E.S.G.C. for caring ♥ for us.”
Girls Club Member
“As I received the laptop and the extra items I felt my heart get so heavy and eyes rapidly filling with water. I’m forever grateful, thank you and your team for all you do in this time of great need.”
Girls Club Parent
“A little tough but we are doing much better thanks to your help…thank you so much”
Girls Club Parent
During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Lower Eastside Girls Club’s commitment to our community of girls and families is stronger than ever. We’re offering a range of resources to keep our girls and their families feeling supported and engaged, even from afar.

While we work to support our community’s relief effort, we are also working to provide as much care and support directly to our members.

Help us to support our community in this time of crisis and trauma.

Donate to our Community Action Fund

Wellness Kit

The health of our members and their families means everything to us. During this crisis, it is critical that we continue to cook and share healthy, hearty, immune-supporting meals.

Every Friday, we are inviting our members to pickup items from the Girls Club; including takeout dinners for families, YA books, masks made by our Sewing and Design Studio instructors and more.

For our Weekend Wellness Kit, we have joined two Hudson Valley farm CSAs for deliveries of produce and fruit, and continue to receive mushrooms weekly from our friends at Smallhold. We’re also thrilled to work with our friends at Pizza Cupcake, who are donating their delicious treats to our families.

Pick up on Wednesday from 2:00–4:00 PM
For member families only, RSVP necessary: Erikka@girlsclub.org

Resources & Tips for Girls Club Families During Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Stay Informed

Stay up to date with accurate information:

New York City: Receive Real-time COVID Updates by SMS / Text Message

  • Text COVID to 692-692 to receive updates from NYC’s text notification system.
  • Envíe mensaje con la palabra COVIDESP a 692-692 para noticias en español.

Community Education Council 1 in Manhattan / Lower East Side is a group of elected parents from the district. They have decided to laun a family support education text and call hotline at: (917) 830-7536. You can text or call and leave a message in your native language. A person will help direct you to the information you need ranging from education to food within 24 hours.

Physical Health & Safety

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

If you can, stock up on 1-2 months of prescription medications to avoid having to leave the house multiple times – click for more information 

En español https://www.aarp.org/espanol/salud/farmacos-y-suplementos/info-2020/abastecerse-medicamentos-recetados-coronavirus.html?intcmp=AE-HLTH-TOSPA-TOGL-ES

 

MEDICARE & CORONAVIRUS 

https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Survivors

  • You are not alone. We understand home is not always safe.
  • For services visit nyc.gov/nychope 
  • Call NYC’s 24-hour hotline at 1800-621-4673 or call 911 for emergencies

Anti-Violence Project offers a 24-hour English/Spanish hotline for L.G.B.T.Q.+ experiencing abuse or hate-based violence: call 212-714-1141

 

Immigrant New Yorkers: Seek care without fear. 

Use of health services related to COVID19 will NOT be considered under the Public Charge rule and will NOT impact your ability to apply for a green card or citizenship.

Check out this list from Jose Antonio Vargas

 

New Yorkers with Disabilities during COVID-19. 

For information on Food/Supply Delivery, Social Security/Medicaid Benefits, Home Healthcare Services and more visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mopd/resources/covid-19-resources-for-people-with-disabilities.page

 

PETS

What about the animals in my home?

Mental Health

Connect with a counselor.

Find support for domestic violence survivors.

Get tips and information about coping and emotional well-being

Crisis Text Line Honors Health Care Worker Week

Our corporate sponsor, Kate Spade, announced their new partnership with Crisis Text Line to provide counseling and emotional support for the medical professionals across the country working tirelessly to save and protect our communities right now.     

CTL crisis text number: 741741

 

NYC WELL: Talk. Text. Chat. 24/7 Connection to mental health support is free and confidential. Talk-1-888-692-9355 Text-WELL to 65173 Chat-nyc.gov/nycwell

 

Thrive NYC  Guide identifies resources for all New Yorkers as well as services tailored to the needs of aging New Yorkers, veterans, students and young people, and people harmed by violence, crime or abuse. All services are free to New Yorkers, regardless of insurance coverage or immigration status.

Go to https://thrivenyc.cityofnewyork.us/mental_health_support_while_home

 

This is a resource that provides FREE crisis counseling. The site also provides additional tips to support parents and staff with managing anxiety, and other mental health concerns. When you click on link you will see a hotline people can call (844-863-9314) to receive FREE and confidential emotional support. Please share this with our families and staff.  Click the link below: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/covid-19-resources.htm

7 Cups: Online emotional support service where you can anonymously chat with trained volunteer listeners for free.

The Samaritans Suicide Prevention Hotline (212) 673-3000 24 hours/7 days a week community-based, completely confidential.

 

STRESS /ANXIETY RESOURCES

 

Insight Timer Guided Meditations: Insight Timer offers 30,000 free audio guided meditations.

Headspace– meditation app free for New Yorkers

2 minute -Loving Kindness Meditation

Food & Meals

Pandemic EBT: Food Support for All NYC Public School Students

Sign up for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Use SNAP to shop for groceries online.

Get food delivered to you (ages 60 and over).

Find a food pantry near you: Food Bank NYC is giving out free meals, groceries and SNAP support all over the city. To find nutrition support near you, visit www.foodbanknyc.org/covid-19/

NYC food hub: The Covid-19 food hub for NYC is continuously gathering information about free groceries and meals around the city as well as about financial help for restaurant workers. Check it out »

 

District 1 NYC Public Schools Feeding Sites
Feeding Sites will continue to serve Grab and Go meals  Monday to Friday. Kids pick up 7:30 am—11:30 am. Adults pick up 11:30 am—1:30 pm. 

M019 P.S. 019 Asher Levy 185 1 AVENUE Manhattan 10003

M063 The STAR Academy – P.S.63 121 EAST 3 STREET Manhattan 10009

M064 P.S. 064 Robert Simon 600 EAST 6 STREET Manhattan 10009

M142 P.S. 142 Amalia Castro 100 ATTORNEY STREET Manhattan 10002

M137 P.S. 184m Shuang Wen 327 CHERRY STREET Manhattan 10002

M445 New Design High School 350 GRAND STREET Manhattan 10002

 In addition, Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs) will begin serving the children of essential employees beginning Monday at 7:30 AM until 6:00 PM, at least until April 8th. The following RECs are located in our district. These sites are only feeding students at the site and are not open for Grab and Go:

M056 J.H.S. 56 – MANHATTAN 220 HENRY STREET 10002 212-406-9411

M188 P.S. 188 – MANHATTAN 442 EAST HOUSTON STREET 10002 212-677-5710

Food Pantry Locations and Times within or near the Lower East Side   Families need to call the locations to make a reservation, photo ID needed. 

Nazareth Housing Inc. (Tuesdays 10am-12pm)   206 E 4th Street NY NY, 1009 (212-777-1010)

Primitive Christian Church (Thursdays 10am-12am)   209 East Broadway NY, NY 10002 (646-626-9748)

Cabrini Immigrant Services (Tuesdays 9:30am-12:30pm)   139 Henry Street NY NY 10002 (212-791-4590)

Money & Expenses

UNEMPLOYMENT

 Sign up for unemployment.

Find a job.

Learn about paid sick leave

 

 

Internet Access

  • NYCDOE Technology Support: NYCDOE will provide technology and materials necessary for remote learning for students who need it. If you would like to request a device for a NYC student in your family, please fill out this form. The DOE will use the contact information you provide to get in touch with you to discuss when and where you can pick up a device. Priority will be given to students most in need, and all devices are granted on a temporary basis and will later need to be returned. There is a limit of one device per student. If you need help with this, please contact your Guidance Counselor.
  • Altice: Free broadband internet access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students.
  • Comcast Internet Essentials: Affordable in-home Wi-Fi for low-income households. New customers will receive two months of free service.
  • Charter Communications/ Spectrum: Free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who don’t already have a Spectrum broadband subscription.
  • Spectrum Internet Assist: High-speed broadband internet for low-income households.
  • AT&T: Waived data overage fees for all customers so you can stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 a month through the Access from AT&T program.
  • More information

Housing

NYCHA and Covid-19

NYCHA information for residents struggling with rent hardships

 

 

NYCHA Chair and CEO Gregory Russ announced that they would be observing a moratorium on residential evictions and extending their rental hardship policy to impacted households. The NYCHA hearing office will be adjourning all cases, and residents are encouraged to use NYCHA’s automated and online systems to complete their transactions whenever possible. Any NYCHA resident experiencing a loss of income is being encouraged to request an Interim Recertification for any decrease in income that will last more than two months by accessing the NYCHA Self-Service Portal.

Additionally, NYCHA is securing outside vendors to provide intensive cleaning services at NYCHA developments that may be impacted by COVID-19, and NYCHA maintenance staff will be increasing the frequency of daily cleanings, specifically targeting high-traffic areas and senior buildings. All senior buildings have already received intensive cleanings. More details on their cleaning process can be viewed here.

Residents with further questions or concerns should contact NYCHA’s customer contact center at (718) 707-7771. For general information on recommended building cleaning procedures outside of NYCHA, please click here.

 

HOMELESSNESS / HOUSING INSECURITY

Homeless Family Advocacy: 

Coalition for the Homeless (212)776-2000 

Homes for Homeless: (212)529-5252 

Information for Families. Inc. www.informationforfamilies.org This website offers valuable resources for families in the NYC shelter system

 

The New York Court System will not be conducting eviction proceedings in the immediate future. 

Remote / Virtual Learning

  • NYCDOE Technology Support: NYCDOE will provide technology and materials necessary for remote learning for students who need it. If you would like to request a device for a NYC student in your family, please fill out this form. The DOE will use the contact information you provide to get in touch with you to discuss when and where you can pick up a device. Priority will be given to students most in need, and all devices are granted on a temporary basis and will later need to be returned. There is a limit of one device per student. If you need help with this, please contact your Guidance Counselor.

 

Get Learn at Home resources.

Parents may request a WiFi enabled tablet through the DOE by completing the following form:

https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/remotelearningdevices

 

iPad Distribution Link (Information on the Process): 

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/ipad-distribution

 

Getting Started w/ Your Device:

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/ipad-distribution/getting-started-with-your-ipad

 

NYC DOE REMOTE LEARNING ACTIVITIES

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/activities-for-students

 

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

New York Public Library Connect: Although New York Public Libraries are closed for the time being due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NYPL Connect offers a number of online services accessible with your library card, including e-books, e-journals, and their digital history archives. New York residents can apply for a library card through the SimplyE app.

 

Access the NYPL from home or your phone

Remote Learning by age from NYPL

NYPL Tutoring Services: The NYPL is offering online tutoring to provide families with homework help, enrichment activities, and remote learning support through Brainfuse. Students in grades K–12 can access free, remote, one-on-one tutoring in a wide range of subjects and levels. Tutoring is offered in both English and Spanish, seven days a week from 2 PM to 11 PM via chat. These services are accessible with your library card. New York residents can apply for a library card through the SimplyE app.