State & City Resources For Indiana Residents During Coronavirus Pandemic

Source: IOneDigital / iONEDigital

Here are a list of resources that can help you during the Coronavirus in Indiana.

Child Care

• Families who need help finding or paying for care can contact Brighter Futures Indiana at 800-299-1627 to speak to a referral specialist.
• Every community has a child care resource and referral agency that can also connect parents with local child care options and provide referrals for support. Marion County families can access our local agency, Child Care Answers, here or by calling 800-272-2937.
• Marion County families can search for licensed child care here.
• COVID-19 guidance for child care providers can be found here.

Food Support

• Indy Parks have options throughout Marion County for any child under the age of 18.
• School districts are working to provide options for current students.
• Community and non-profit organizations have food delivery and pick-up options for individuals and families.
• Community Food Compass- an innovative, multi-platform resource designed to connect Indianapolis residents to critical food resources and nutrition assistance. Community Compass contains a finder for such resources as food pantries, Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) retailers and clinics, hot meal sites, farmers’ markets and other food-related events, and more. Additionally, the platform will help residents navigate the nutrition assistance programs to determine if they may qualify for SNAP, WIC or other nutrition benefits. It also includes a “smart chatbot expert” – accessible via the app, text message, phone call, or Facebook messenger – to serve as a guide.
  • Download the Community Compass app on Apple or Android devices or by texting “hi” to 317-434-3758. Click here for more information about the Community Compass platform.
• Gleaners Food Bank- Gleaners’ Community Cupboard is open to all in need. Located on the southwest side of Indianapolis, the pantry serves thousands of Hoosier families each month who are struggling to get the food they need. To learn more about Community Cupboard, click here.
• Lyft Indy Grocery Access Program– providing $1 Lyft rides to and from grocery stores each way on the Far Eastside and Near Northwest side. Rides are $1 each way only when going to/from approved grocery stores and from/to qualifying areas.
• iTown Church- organizing rapid response delivery teams for food assistance. Click here for more information about locations
• The Indiana food assistance map- This site is designed to help you find available food resources near you. Click here to view the map.
• Food pantries- A list of food pantries across Indiana with various hours and locations to help Hoosiers. Click here for the full list. 
• Eating healthy on a budget- Purdue University gathered information to help people still eat healthy while on budget due to COVID-19. Click here.

Support For Job Loss:  

For families who are experiencing permanent or temporary job loss:

First, file for unemployment insurance through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. That can be accessed here.

• Frequently asked questions about payment, benefits, claims, and vouchers can be viewed here. A digital tutorial can be found here.
• Dislocated workers, struggling with permanent or temporary job loss, can access free, no-strings-attached financial counseling available via Pete the Planner. Individuals interested in the service can get started by emailing recover@petetheplanner.com.For individuals looking for job opportunities:

In the interest of public safety, job seeker services are virtually available through WorkOne Indy by calling 317-798-0335 or sending an email to questions@workoneindy.com.

Job seekers can find virtual resources, career development tips, and additional information by clicking here and visiting WorkOne’s website.

EmployIndy’s digital job board can be found here.

Donate/Volunteer Resources: 

State & City Resources For Indiana Residents During Coronavirus Pandemic  was originally published on radionowindy.com