COMMUNITY CENTERS, INC. COVID 19 UPDATE 

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I hope this finds you and your loved ones well, safe, and healthy. As I write, I am confident that things will change while you are reading this. But since I cannot predict those changes, I will take a moment to tell you now what we are doing during this challenging time.

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We have partnered with Neighbor to Neighbor, Boys and Girls Club and Food Rescue to deliver food to all the families who normally receive snack from us through Homework Club.  TAG, Jewish Family Services, Meals on Wheels and so many others are generously helping our seniors to get groceries and hot meals.  Generous individuals have offered to bake yummies for us to distribute, and nearby restaurants and caterers are preparing hot meals.

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Throughout the week staff are checking in with as many clients as they can reach, matching people with services and supplies as we can.

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What’s ahead? Well, of course, who knows? BUT, if we are able, here’s what we have planned: we will continue food deliveries as we receive donations; we will continue to reach out to clients and pair them with whatever services they need to the extent possible; we are trying to organize virtual tutoring for some of our high school students with volunteers; and we are participating in the roundtable of service organizations convened by the Greenwich United Way to coordinate efforts as much as possible.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP:

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• We need grocery bags-brown paper bags with handles are best, but any kind new or gently used will be so much appreciated. We have a box on our front porch so you can leave them at any time that’s convenient for them.

• Volunteers- We need help to bag and deliver groceries and prepared foods on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Food is going to families and senior citizens who live in subsidized housing in Greenwich and are our most vulnerable neighbors.

• DONATE – To support CCI’s efforts during this time.

 

With deepest thanks, an abiding hope that this all ends soon, and an even greater wish that you are ok.

 

Warmly,

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Gaby Rattner
Executive Director, Community Centers, Inc.

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IMPORTANT LINKS

 

Below please find several links with important information. 

For current updates, please click on the source link to be directed to individual websites and view current updates for more information.

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SOURCE: STATE OF CONNECTICUT

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This is from  Jimmy Tickey, Congressman Himes’ District Director:

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The government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is constantly evolving, so please stay up-to-date on information from verified sources. Learn more online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the State of Connecticut. 

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By phone, you may contact 1-800-CDC-INFO, call 2-1-1, or text “CTCOVID” to 898211 for more information.

To receive updates about the virus and how the government is responding to it, you may subscribe to the CDC’s Subscription Service or sign up for our newsletter. You may also review the State of Connecticut’s answers to Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about how the state is responding.

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SOURCE: GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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New! Hot Breakfast:

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Beginning Tuesday, March 24, we will start a hot breakfast drop off in the morning. While last week we were dropping off breakfast at the same time as lunch, we realized that many of our children were utilizing the breakfast bars for an afternoon snack. Hence, having no breakfast the next morning.

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The Transportation Association of Greenwich (TAG) which is partnering with GPS to deliver breakfast five mornings a week. TAG will deliver three out of five days. Families will need to watch for the TAG bus on Wednesday and Friday next week (and Mondays as well starting the following week).

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GPS will use its yellow buses on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Breakfast will include such items as: pancakes, french toast sticks, waffles, etc., with options for cold breakfast including cereal and milk. Breakfast drop off points will be the same as the lunch routes.

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The new breakfast schedule is included in the full schedule of Breakfast and Lunch routes. Lunch routes remain the same (no change to the times and/or locations).

Chromebook or iPad Tech Help

There is a team of technical staff who are online and ready to help with challenges during the day. It’s important that families keep the [email protected] email address somewhere handy as teachers are not able to manage both teaching and technical support. If you email the portal we will respond promptly and try to resolve the challenge.

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¡Nuevo! Desayuno caliente:

a partir del martes 24 de marzo, comenzaremos un desayuno caliente por la mañana. Mientras que la semana pasada dejamos el desayuno al mismo tiempo que el almuerzo, nos dimos cuenta de que muchos de nuestros niños estaban utilizando las barras de desayuno para un refrigerio por la tarde. Por lo tanto, no desayunar a la mañana siguiente.

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Agradecemos a la Asociación de Transporte de Greenwich (TAG) que se está asociando con GPS para entregar el desayuno cinco mañanas a la semana. TAG entregará tres de cada cinco días. Las familias deberán estar atentas al autobús TAG los miércoles y viernes de la próxima semana (y los lunes también a partir de la semana siguiente). GPS utilizará nuestros autobuses amarillos los martes y jueves. El desayuno incluirá elementos tales como: panqueques, palitos de tostadas francesas, gofres, etc., con opciones para el desayuno frío que incluye cereales y leche. Los puntos de entrega del desayuno serán los mismos que los de las rutas del almuerzo.

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El nuevo horario de desayuno está incluido en el horario completo de las rutas de desayuno y almuerzo. Las rutas de almuerzo siguen siendo las mismas (sin cambios en los horarios y / o ubicaciones).
Ayuda técnica de Chromebook o iPad

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Hay un equipo de personal técnico que está en línea y listo para ayudar con los desafíos durante el día. Es importante que las familias mantengan a [email protected] dirección de correo electrónicoen algún lugar, ya que losmaestros no pueden administrar tanto la enseñanza como el soporte técnico. Si envía un correo electrónico al portal, le responderemos a la brevedad e intentaremos resolver el desafío.

 

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE GREENWICH FIRST SELECTMAN 

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From First Selectman Fred Camillo:

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As each day goes by, the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. It is causing changes in the way we live and the way our Government operates. I want to provide you with the latest information we have.

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Town Hall, the civic centers, libraries and playgrounds remain closed to visitors. Time sensitive services will be provided by appointment only. Please contact the department directly to request help. All face-to-face interaction should be extremely limited. Please allow sufficient time for a response. Many Town services are available online, some of which can be accessed here.

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Updates also will be posted on the Town website’s dedicated page (www.greenwichct.gov/covid19) for COVID-19 information. This page also includes links for residents to subscribe for emergency alerts.

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We continue to encourage residents whether you live in a single-family home or in apartment buildings, condominium complexes or work in highly-trafficked buildings, to maintain social distancing of at least six feet; to frequently wash their hands; frequently clean common areas such as community rooms, elevators, light switches, door handles, and banisters.

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Here are updates on various Town services and operations which have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

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First Selectman Fred Camillo has made the following decisions to protect the health and safety of the public and Town staff, while maintaining core government functions.

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• First Selectman Camillo has issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency, effective immediately.

• Private businesses must limit meeting room occupancy by half and must not exceed CDC guidelines of 50 people. This will further restrict the maximum number of individuals allowed in an enclosed spaced as determined by Greenwich Fire Marshals. This includes all rooms with a designated occupancy limit.

• Reinforcing Governor Lamont’s announcement, all bars and restaurants that serve food will temporarily be required to move to take-out and delivery services only. Bars which do not serve food will be required to temporarily close. These measures will take effect at 8 P.M. today, Monday, March 16, 2020.

• The Town’s Emergency Operations Center’s (EOC) status has been elevated from “open and monitoring” to “open and partial activation”.

• Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Greenwich Town Hall is closed to the public. Time sensitive services will be provided by appointment only. Please contact the department directly to request help. All face-to-face interaction should be extremely limited. Please allow sufficient time for a response.

• Greenwich First Responders will maintain their assigned shifts and schedules. The Public Safety Complex will have extremely limited access to the public. All Fire Stations are closed to the public. For non-emergency issues call 203-622-8000.

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SOURCE: GREENWICH POLICE DEPARTMENT

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The Police Department asks that if you are experiencing mild symptoms of illness and are not in a high risk group that you contact your personal physician rather than call 911. If you have mild symptoms, do not go to the emergency room before contacting your doctor for direction. If you have any serious symptoms, please do not hesitate to call 911. Please save 911 for real emergencies.

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The Greenwich Police Department is altering how non-emergency calls for service are handled in response to the COVID-19 crisis. These temporary measures are designed to minimize exposure to our officers while trying to maintain our standard of high-quality service to the Greenwich community.

Nothing will change in our response to emergency or 911 calls for service.

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A police officer may not be sent to your location to take a complaint about a non-emergency, non-violent, or past event. Instead, a Public Safety Dispatcher will gather basic information from you when you call and then advise you that a police officer will shortly call you back for follow up investigation. If the officer needs to come to your location, we will be attempting to have all contact outside while we try to maintain proper social distancing.

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SOURCE: COMMISSION OF AGING

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Please also see the attached information including:

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• CMS: News Alert COVID-19: CMS Issues Frequently Asked Questions on Catastrophic Health Coverage and the Coronavirus
• ACL: COVID-19 Updates
• CMS: COVID-19: Expanded Medicare Telehealth Coverage
• SSA: Social Security offices will be closed to the public–PRESS RELEASE
• Medicaid provides guidance on Telehealth and Audio Only Physician Visits