Food Distribution at Walnut Hill Community Church in Derby

November 16, 2020

If you need food, Walnut Hill Community Church is holding a food distribution event Tuesday, November 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at its Derby campus at the corner of Smith Street and 9th Street.

Please note that COVID-19 safety measures will be followed, so please wear a mask, social distance, and have space prepared in your vehicle so volunteers can place a food box in your back seat or trunk. 

If you can't make it to tomorrow's distribution event, there are additional food resources and events in our community and region. More information is below:

The Little Free Pantry on Church in Ansonia and on Skokorat in Seymour are available 24/7 for those who need it. These are mini community pantries that provide assistance to our neighbors who may be experiencing a financial setback, have a reduced grocery budget, are unable to afford food, or just can not make it to the store. The Little Free Pantry is there for whoever needs it and items in the pantry are donated entirely by the community. Click the below links to learn more about the Little Free Pantry:

The Valley United Way can also connect you to food resources. Pantries in our area include:

You can find additional pantries using the 211/United Way Locator Tool, here, or by calling 2-1-1.

TEAM, Inc in Derby can also help you if you're in need of food, as well as other basic needs including child care, utility assistance, housing assistance, and more. For more information, visit teaminc.org, email info2@teaminc.org, or call 203-736-5420.

Master's Table Community Meals:

Ansonia, Derby City Hall Hours

Due to health concerns related to COVID-19, Ansonia city buildings are closed to the public. Any meetings being held via Zoom can be found on the City's web site, here.

Derby City Hall is closed to the public today as two city employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the recent days. City Hall will resume its regular operations Tuesday, November 17. Read the announcement on the City of Derby's Facebook page, here. The following city buildings are closed to the public until further notice:

  • Derby Public Library
  • Derby Senior Center

Staff are available by phone or email during normal business hours. Learn more here.

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Testing – Even if you are not showing symptoms of COVID-19, public health experts recommend getting tested for the virus, especially if you live in an area with a COVID-19 Red Alert level, like Ansonia and Derby. Griffin Health is offering COVID-19 testing at 130 Division Street in Derby by appointment only Sunday through Saturday. Call 203-437-6815 to schedule an appointment. Use promo code "Community" and a doctor's order is not  required. 

Find a COVID-19 testing location near you using the 2-1-1/CT United Way locator tool at www.211ct.org. If you live in a high-density neighborhood, apartment building, or congregate setting, you can find a no-cost testing site at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Priority-Populations.

Connecticut COVID-19 Data Tracker – The state Department of Public Health tracks testing and new cases of COVID-19 and publishes a daily report containing this data. DPH has also created a COVID-19 alert map to analyze the rate of COVID-19 cases in each municipality each week and provide recommendations for individual residents, community institutions, and municipal leaders. Access the Data Tracker at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Data-Tracker

COVID-19 Alert CT App – Residents can now download a smartphone app that notifies them if they were potentially exposed to COVID-19. The app uses Bluetooth to sense whether a user's device has been within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more in a day. If a user tests positive, a contact tracer from CTDPH or their higher education institution will ask them if they are willing to share the "close contact" codes their app has logged while they may have been contagious. If the user agrees, a notification will be submitted to other app users who came within 6 feet of the COVID-19 positive user. Sharing this status is secure and private and the app will never reveal personally identifying information. Visit ct.gov/covidalertct to find instructions to download the app on a smartphone device.

CT Travel Advisory – Pursuant to Executive Order No. 9I, individuals traveling into Connecticut from a state other than New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island with a positive COVID-19 case rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10% test positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average, are directed to self-quarantine for a 14-day period. The CT Travel advisory is updated every Tuesday and can be accessed at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel. Anyone entering Connecticut from any of the identified states must complete a travel health form, available at ct.gov/travelform.

Executive Orders – All of the emergency orders signed by state leaders are available on Connecticut's Coronavirus website, ct.gov/Coronavirus. On the home page, scroll down until you see the block "Emergency Orders" underneath the list of what's open in Connecticut. On this page you can also find daily COVID-19 updates.

Connecticut Reopening Phases – Effective November 6, Connecticut rolled back to Phase 2.1 rule, a slightly modified version of the Phase 2 rules. More information about Phase 2.1 is available at ct.gov/Coronavirus.

Resources for Renters
The State of Connecticut, with support from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, has launched Phase 2 of the Temporary Rental Housing Assistance Program to help renters impacted by COVID-19, which provides landlords with up to $4,000 in rental assistance on behalf of approved tenants. Call
860-785-3111 or visit www.CHFA.org/TRHAP to apply.
 
Resources for Homeowners
Temporary Mortgage Assistance Program – Homeowners with conventional loans who are behind on mortgage payment directly or indirectly due to the pandemic can call 860-785-3111 or visit www.CHFA.org/TMAP to apply for this program.
Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program – Homeowners experiencing financial hardship who received a Notice of Default from their mortgage servicer and were unable to work out their delinquency with their lender can apply for this program by visiting www.CHFA.org/homeowners/emergency-mortgage-assistance-program.
 
CT CARES Small Business Grant Program
The CT CARES Small Business Grant Program opened the week of November 9 to allow small business owners and nonprofits to apply for a one-time $5,000 grant to use towards payroll, utilities, rent/mortgage, inventory, equipment purchases, and more. Eligible businesses include:

  • Businesses with no more than $1.5 million in annual payroll
  • Businesses with 20 or fewer employees
  • Businesses that demonstrate a 20% loss in revenue
  • Home-based businesses
  • Sole proprietorships
  • For-profit businesses using any type of incorporation, and 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), and 501(c)(19) nonprofits

Additional information about the program including full eligibility requirements and how to apply can be found at business.ct.gov.
 
Mental Health Resources
If you are struggling to take care of your mental health, below are some resources:

  • Call 2-1-1 to locate mental wellness services near you, or use the 2-1-1/CT United Way locator by visiting www.211ct.org. 

Warmlines are available for those who are feeling stressed or anxious and need to talk:

Ansonia and Derby:

  • BH Care Community Warmline: 203-732-2004. It is staffed Sunday-Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  • The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence can provide support, counseling services and legal assistance. Call the 24-hour line at 203-736-9944 and 203-789-8104 or toll-free at 1-888-774-2900 or send a confidential email at UCDVS@bhcare.org.

Statewide:

  • SAMHSA's Disaster Distress 24/7 Helpline: 80-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746
  • Samaritans 24/7 helpline: Call or text 877-870-4673 for assistance. Visit www.samaritanshope.org for more information about this organization
  • CT Department of Children and Families Talk It Out Line: This line is for parents and caregivers who need someone to listen, understand and speak about their feelings. Call 1-833-258-5011.

Insurance Coverage
The Access Health CT Open Enrollment period began November 1 and will end December 15. Coverage begins January 1, 2021. This is a time where you and your family can enroll or renew in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP). Individuals interested in shopping, comparing, and enrolling in the available plans can get free assistance through the following:

  • Online: AccessHealthCT.com
  • Live Chat: AccessHealthCT.com, click on "Live Chat" icon
  • Phone: 1-855-805-4325, Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • With Certified Brokers or Enrollment Specialists in your community
  • Virtual Enrollment Fair
  • In-Person at an enrollment location in Groton, Bridgeport, New Haven, New Britain, Stamford, Hartford. 

All in-person locations and virtual enrollment fairs are by appointment only. Residents must wear a mask. Visit Learn.AccessHealthCT.com/FindUs to schedule an appointment.

If you are out of work, you have the right to file for unemployment insurance.
Go to www.FileCTUI.com to file your claim.

Other Important Resources
Office of the Healthcare Advocate: 866-466-4446
Department of Social Services: 855-626-6632
Department of Rehabilitation Services: 800-537-2549
Agency on Aging of South Central CT: 203-785-8533
Care for Kids: 1-888-214-5437
Workforce Development: ctdol.state.ct.us/gendocs/training.html