FOOD RELIEF RESOURCES – CONCORD & CARLISLE

Click here for a list of food relief resources in and around Concord & Carlisle. (prepared in July 2020)

ACTON FOOD PANTRY

The Acton Food Pantry, which also serves Concord & Carlisle residents, will be open every week: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Wednesdays, and 9:30 am – 11:30 am Thursdays, as a DRIVE THRU PANTRY ONLY. More information found here.

CARLISLE

Carlisle resident Lauree Eckler is coordinating a group called The Carlisle Neighborhood Response Team. This group of volunteers will shop for vulnerable Carlisle residents that do not have anyone else that can provide those services. Please see the following link both if you need help or would like to volunteer.

https://www.carlislema.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2395/LEPC-Press-Release-March-30?bidId=

CARLISLE COUNCIL ON AGING

Currently, we are responding to calls as best we can, continuing with Minuteman Senior Services Meals on Wheels delivery, and providing transportation to local high-priority, non-emergency doctor’s appointments.

CCHS FOOD SERVICE



With great thanks to the food service department, we are pleased to continue our provisions at CCHS serving the community through the grocery pick-up and delivery services as we have provided during the school closure.

In order to do this, we need your help. We will continue to accept financial donations through our PayPal page and utilize those funds to purchase items through our vendors and local producers. Our hours and days of operation will shift slightly for the summer. Beginning the week of June 22, we will only be open for distribution on Tuesdays/Thursdays between 9.00am-11:00am. We will absolutely communicate any changes to these hours well in advance should we face issues with sourcing and staffing the service. We are hopeful that through these efforts we can continue to provide crucial services to all members of our community who find themselves in need. There will be ongoing communication regarding the viability of this effort, and if needed additional fundraising activities to continue as deep into the summer months as possible. Though we are excited to take this into the coming months, due to any number of circumstances, it is possible we may need to end sooner than the beginning of the next school year.

We are so grateful for the support to date in allowing us to provide for those in need.

CENTER FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

The Center for Parents and Teachers in collaboration with Dr. Rachel Kramer invites parents/grandparents and guardians to join Dr. Kramer for free weekly parent education webinars covering topics such as:

Coping With Anxiety in Uncertain Times

Get login information at www.centerforparentsandteachers.org

Dr. Kramer will be offering webinars on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM throughout the coronavirus crisis. Please visit her website https://www.drrachelkramer.com to access recordings of past webinars, weekly newsletters for parents, and to sign up for future webinars. Unable to join in person on a Wednesday morning? Please feel free to email questions to Dr. Kramer in advance at rkramerphd@gmail.com and every effort will be made to address all questions and concerns during the webinar.

CONCORD CARLISLE ADULT & COMMUNITY EDUCATION

The internet is filled with patterns, how to’s and recommendations, but if you’re struggling with some specific problems with either your machine and/or your pattern, and just need some help, Concord resident and life-long seamstress Amanda Mujica is willing to help. (Amanda’s Sewing Fix It Class was scheduled to run this spring – look for more of her classes when we resume). Send us your questions or problems!

CONCORD CARLISLE COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR

Town offices are shut except for all non-essential personnel. Bonny Wilbur is not able to make home visits or meet with clients, but will be checking phone and email frequently. The town website has been updated with this information, and is updated often to reflect any new information. Contact bwilbur@concordma.gov or 978-318-3034

CONCORD COUNCIL ON AGING

Making Masks – A local seamstress is making masks being distributed to seniors. She can no longer get material or elastic. If you have any cotton fabric or elastic material to donate please contact Renee Burns 617-645-9090 to arrange for a safe drop off.

Shopping for a senior – Help is needed to shop for groceries for seniors. No personal contact takes place. If you are not in a high risk category and willing to shop for a local senior, please contact COA Director, Ginger Quarles at 978-318-3020

DISCOVERY MUSEUM

Discovery Museum is open! Advanced ticket reservations are required. Members can reserve tickets 7 days in advance, non-members 5 days. Welcome back!

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES NETWORK

DVSN is an essential service, and, we are doing all we can to follow up on our toll free, confidential HELP LINE calls and reach out to clients by telephone with a secure, confidential phone line. We are here to help. DVSN’s HELP LINE IS 888-399-6111. Please encourage victims to call for help.

EMERSON HOSPITAL



While Emerson Hospital currently has inventory to support our healthcare workers in the short term, we are planning for a high volume of patients in which our inventory of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) will begin to deplete rapidly.

If you know anyone that might have access to supplies either personally, our through their place of work, we are currently seeking donations of PPE and other items. Current needs include masks (surgical & N95 any version), gowns, Tyvek suits or similar, and eye protection (face shields of any kind). Please reach out to Karl Kussin, Emerson’s Chief Philanthropy Officer and Vice President of Development at 978-287-3080 or email Kkussin@emersonhosp.org.

If you know anyone that might have access to supplies either personally, our through their place of work, we are currently seeking donations of PPE and other items. Current needs include masks (surgical & N95 any version), gowns, Tyvek suits or similar, and eye protection (face shields of any kind). Please reach out to Karl Kussin, Emerson’s Chief Philanthropy Officer and Vice President of Development at 978-287-3080 or email Kkussin@emersonhosp.org. Blood donors are needed! An appointment is required to maintain social distancing. To make an appointment, call Emerson’s Blood Donor Center at 978-287-3390.

Emerson employees are in desperate need of childcare. If you or someone you know could provide babysitting in their homes, please contact Emerson HR Manager Diana Marzoratti at dmarzoratti@emersonhosp.org .

ENGLISH AT LARGE

COVID-19 has made it necessary for English At Large to cancel all in-person programs. However, many of our volunteers are determined to continue instruction to keep their learners moving forward. Tutors and learners who are able are holding virtual sessions, utilizing email, Skype and FaceTime technologies.

With the help of our tech-savvy volunteer group facilitators, we are also working to identify online options for those who wish to experiment with hosting Conversation Groups through virtual platforms.

Our Career Access Lab Program recently held mock “Skype” interviews and we are adding to the existing curriculum to develop activities that our learners can do to continue moving their job search forward.

Through our social media channels we are sharing news updates and resources from credible sources. These are very frightening times for everyone, and we want our learners to know that help is available in their community from organizations and people they can trust. During this time we feel that this is the most important role we can play; the relationships between our learners and our volunteers is a strong network that will help us ensure that people most in need and most at risk are getting the information and support they need. Our goal is to help keep everyone safe and healthy, and connected to their community.

FERNS COUNTRY STORE

Ferns Country Store in Carlisle is willing to deliver groceries and meals. Please contact them for details, 978-369-0200.

FIRST CONNECTIONS

We can connect families to resources and we have a diaper pantry that we can leave diapers for families that call or email us for what they need.

GAINING GROUND

Gaining Ground remains committed to our recipients and hunger-relief partners who rely on us as a source of fresh produce. We are making plans to ensure our produce delivery stays on schedule and to minimize any potential disruptions.

GROCERY STORES

Please see below a list of area grocery stores offering special senior shopping hours, as well as others that do not offer special hours for seniors but continue to be options for grocery shopping for the community.

Stop & Shop, 100 Powder Mill Rd., Acton, senior special hours: 6 AM – 7:30 AM (7 days/wk).

Crosby’s Market, Concord, Still working on times. Early AM is best: store is less crowed, cleanest. Currently store is less crowded than at start of crisis.

Roche Bros., (all locations), seniors over 60 special hours: 7 AM – 8 AM (7days/wk).

Whole Foods, 170 Great Rd., Bedford, senior special hours: 8 AM – 9 AM (7 days/wk).

Wegmans, 53 3rd Ave., Burlington, no special senior hrs at this time Hours: 7 AM – 10 PM, (7days/wk).

Market Basket, 110 Market Place Dr., Waltham, senior special hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 5:30 AM – 7 AM.

Market Basket, 6A Cornerstone Squ., Westford, senior special hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 5:30 AM – 7 AM.

Trader Joes, 145 Great Rd., Acton, no special senior hours; hours: 9 AM – 7 PM (7days/wk).

Donelans, 248 Great Rd., Acton, no special senior hours, but considering it; best times are mornings.

Debra’s Natural Gourmet, 98 Commonwealth Ave., Concord, no special senior hours, but AMs best to shop; hours: Mon. – Sat. 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM; Sun. 10:30 AM – 6 PM.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Houshold Goods is currently accepting donation drop-offs by appointment only. Due to Covid-19, our donation drop-off process has changed so we can provide the safest experience possible for you, our volunteers, and our clients. The number of donation drop-offs will be limited each day so we can follow social distancing and sanitizing guidelines. Please sign up here, or learn more about our new process here.

LYFT

Lyft has activated LyftUp to donate tens of thousands of rides to those with essential transportation needs — especially for families and children, low-income seniors, doctors and nurses.

MASS211

Mass211 is providing information about Coronavirus to the Massachusetts community in partnership with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and with support from the Department of Public Health. Up-to-date information is available by calling 2-1-1 from any phone in Massachusetts and selecting the option for Coronavirus.

Our Call2Talk program is also here to help people during this time of increased anxiety and possible isolation.

METROWEST LEGAL SERVICES

We are working remotely. Clients with existing cases can call and email their advocates. People seeking legal services can also call and an intake worker will return their call and do an intake if appropriate. Intake hours will be MWF 10-1 and TR 2-4. All outreach, clinics and Lawyer for the Day programs are suspended until further notice.

MINUTE MAN ARC

Most Minute Man Arc programs are operating via telemedicine. All nine group homes are fully staffed 24/7. The Early Intervention Program is accepting referrals directly from families with infants and toddlers who may have concerns about their development. Call 978-287-7950 to start the referral process. There is no out of pocket cost to parents for evaluations or services.

We are in need of unopened containers of sanitizing wipes and new N-95 masks. Contact Stephanie Parish at sparish@minutemanarc.org for drop off instructions.

Everyone at Minute Man Arc is grateful from the bottom of our hearts for all the donations of paper goods, cloth masks and well wishes. Our collective spirit is buoyed by the outpouring of community support.

MINUTEMAN SENIOR SERVICES

Minuteman Senior Services recognizes the widespread concern about COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). The situation is changing daily but our agency remains open, supporting seniors, people with disabilities and their caregivers, and making preparations in advance for all scenarios.

Here is what we are doing as of March 18, 2020:

We continue to accept referrals via our online referral form and/or by calling 888-222-6171

We are working closely with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and our 16 municipal partners, to stay up-to-date on local needs and concerns

We have adapted some program protocols to keep consumers, volunteers and staff safe

We are calling all home care and senior nutrition consumers to determine what they might need, identifying our most vulnerable consumers, and working to ensure back-up plans for care and meal delivery

We are making pre-screening calls prior to visiting people in their homes

We are keeping our resource data base up-to-date with current, town by town information for those that need assistance with food, medicine, or essential transportation. Please call 888-222-6171 for assistance

We are operating with limited staff in the office environment, and practicing social distancing

We have infection control procedures in place in our office, with regard to home-delivered meals, and throughout our vendor agencies

We are working with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to identify the Personal Protective Equipment needs for our staff and provider agencies

We continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

MOTHERS OUT FRONT

Mothers Out Front has create this site: concordhelps.org as a resource for getting help, in particular for parents.

THE NATURE CONNECTION

Here are some nature based activities that you can do at home:

Record Natural Changes

Autumn has been documenting the rapid changes of spring in a nature journal. She suggests choosing an object to focus on that you can easily access and observe for a few days or weeks, and making a variety of observations. You can also get creative and write a poem! See journal examples here.



OPEN TABLE

Due to concerns for the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, and community, Community Dinners for the near future have been canceled. Our Pantry will be OPEN regular hours with drive-thru service. Please arrive at your normal pantry time. Foot traffic should receive grocery bags at the back door. New guests are welcome 5-6:30pm. Please keep good social distancing practices in mind. Please review our COVID-19 Response Plan and check back frequently for updates.