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Important Message About Food

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET FOOD & ARE 60+

• Call 311 or RSS at 718.884.5900 or email info@rssny.org

SENIOR FARMER'S MARKET NUTRITION COUPON BOOKLETS
Have you heard about the Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition program? The Dept. for the Aging is distributing coupon booklets to 45,000 seniors. Coupons are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.The coupon booklet is worth $20 which can be exchanged for locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmer's markets across new York City. These booklets will be mailed to people.To check eligibility requirements and apply online go to https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dfta/about/farmers_market_nutrition_program.page. All completed forms must be received by DFTA no later than Friday, July 30. Seniors without internet access can contact Aging Connect at 212-244-6469.

SNAP Recertification

• SNAP Program Recertification: The waiver for SNAP benefits (food stamps) recertification ends on July 31, 2020. Anyone who receives SNAP will need to recertify in order to maintain the benefits. If you are an RSS member receiving SNAP benefits and need help completing the recertification process, please call 718.884.5900 and leave a message. A social worker will get back to you.

Missing Deliveries / Cancellations / Changes
• To cancel, change or submit a complaint about food or food deliveries call 311 and say "Get Food" or submit feedback online here - nyc.gov/seniorfoodresources.

Grab and Go Meals
Meal hubs at schools will continue operating on a summer schedule. Starting on June 29th, Meal Hub summer service will operate at approximately 400 sites across the city and continue regular service from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Grab-and-go meals are available to any New Yorker who needs them. To find a location near you visit http://schools.nyc.gov/freemeals or text "NYC FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877-877. Here is also a direct link to the food locator for the place nearest you. No one will be turned away. No registration or ID required.

Resources 
(New Items Boldfaced AND PURPLE on Fridays)
Note: Listing of these resources is not an endorsement of their services.

Do you know about  Last Stop, the outdoor fridge where you can donate food? It's part of the "friendly fridge" initiative. There's one on 5977 Broadway and 8 West Kingsbridge Road (Fordham Manor). If you have city meals to donate or other items that need refrigeration they can be put there.

Fireworks have become a huge problem this summer. If there is an issue in your neighborhood you can reach the FDNY Fireworks Enforcement Unit at (718) 722-3600.

Cooling Assistance Benefit

The City Human Resources Administration has released the application for the Cooling Assistance benefit, which helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan up to a cost of $800. The Cooling Assistance benefit opens May 1, 2020. The deadline to submit applications is August 30, 2020. Air conditioners are provided on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. Call the HEAP Conference Line at 212-331-3126 if you have questions about cooling benefit or need help from an operator. Click here to determine Your Eligibility.

Food

• The Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has put together an excellent resource guide covering the Riverdale/Fieldston area which they are continually updating. It has a section on special supermarket hours, stores and restaurants offering food delivery and more. They are also doing these resource guides for many other neighborhoods in the city. You can find the complete list of guides with this link.

• Kosher Food is available through Riverdale Kosher Market.  It's the shopping center in Skyview for kosher food. You can order online. You cannot call in orders. There are not specific early hours for seniors but you can come in when they open which is at 8.

•  Invisible Hands is a volunteer organization that shops for seniors in this area. They are also looking for volunteers.

• GoGo Groceries allow you to order groceries through an online distributor (in this case Instacart) WITHOUT having a smartphone. This is a good resource for families and friends who don't have a computer or smartphone. Instacart is backlogged in the Bronx at this time and delivery could be as long as two weeks. To contact GoGo Groceries call 1 (855) 222-4919.

Medicine and Other Supplies

• Larry the Locksmith is open with free home delivery (orders over $20). You can go to their website or call 718.543.2095
• Amwell online doctors are available 24x7. Many of your current doctors may also enable online appointments.
• If you need home medical equipment click here.

Other Services

• Bronx Legal Services is open for business to assist with housing, foreclosure, immigration, unemployment insurance, consumer debt, access to public benefits, small business sustainability, and many more issues. You can access their services by calling 917-661-4500, Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.
• The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Office of Financial Empowerment is providing free financial counseling over the phone with counselors who can help New Yorkers manage their bills amidst the coronavirus crisis, understand student loans, and more. Appointments can be booked at nyc.gov/talkmoney.
• Do you know someone who needs internet access? Here's a link to low-cost options. We need as many people as possible online during this time.
• The Lighthouse has a free tele-support group for adults with vision learn. Click here to learn more.
• NYS Covid-19 Emotional Support Hotline - 844.863.9314. You can also connect with NYC Well through phone text or chat - click here.
• Text ‘COVID’ to 692692 (NYC-NYC) for accurate, real-time updates from Notify NYC and NYC Emergency Management. (Alerts are also available in Spanish by texting ‘COVIDESP’ to 692-692.) 
• Visit ​seniorplanet.org ​to see all available courses / resources / streaming / events 
• Learn about Dorot's University Without Walls - Or call ​212-769-2850
• LiveOn NY has some great resources on their site including nutrition resources for older adults
• GoGo turns on-demand transportation companies like Lyft and Uber into services that can be accessed and monitored without a smartphone. They also have a shopping and meal delivery service.

• NYC Free Tax Prep: The tax deadline is July 15th. While all NYC free tax prep providers have suspended in-person services, the Department of Consumer Affairs is providing virtual and assisted self-prep free tax prep services. New Yorkers who earned $64,000 or less in 2019 are eligible for Virtual Free Tax Preparation. The Department of Consumer Affairs currently offers services in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Arabic with others to come. You can find the latest updates and the list of providers here.

• For Elder Abuse and Crime Victims: Bronxworks, Safe Horizon, Shopps Elder Abuse Program

Tech Support

• National Tech Hotline: 920-666-1959 from Senior Planet. It is open from 9am – 5pm EDT, Monday through Friday. They will help with any technology questions including setting up your computer or laptop. Please leave a message if they are on another call and they will get back to you. 

For Your Pets

• Pet owners impacted by COVID-19 can call the Pet Hotline at 1-877-204-8821 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. The Pet Hotline will help mitigate people’s questions and concerns about keeping their pets during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as connect callers to pet relief resources such as subsidized emergency veterinary care and food and supply distribution services. For NYC residents with pets requiring a higher level of care, cases will be escalated for coordination of temporary placement or supplemental care of animals.​​​​​​​

Benefits and Job Opportunities

• Stimulus Checks:   Individual US taxpayers may be eligible for up to $1,200 each in economic stimulus payments. To check the status of your stimulus payment go to IRS Coronavirus Economic Impact Payments. Those receiving social security benefits do not need to file. Stimulus support will not be considered income. Some people are receiving their stimulus money through an Epicard. Here's what it looks like - some people have mistakenly thought it was a promotional credit card.  if you accidentally throw away your debit card, you can receive a replacement by calling 800-240-8100 (option 2 from the main menu). The IRS recently added this “how to“ info to its website.
• To apply for SNAP, SCRIE/DRIE, Medicaid and more contact LiveOn NY Benefits team hotline​ at 212-398-5045​ or email: ​benefits@liveon-ny.org 

Covid Testing

• NYC is now encouraging all New Yorkers to be tested for Covid-19. Go here to learn more details.
• Antibody Testing: New York City offers free antibody tests to New Yorkers in partnership with BioReference Labs. Bronxites can get tests at 4006 Third Avenue. Priority will be given to local communities, and results will be provided in 24-48 hours. For additional information, or to schedule an appointment for a test, click here or call 888-279-0967.
• All CityMd Urgent care centers in the Bronx are offering testing.

SCAMS

• Please make sure to avoid COVID-19 scams! Please look at this link to learn tips to keep scammers away.
• Beware of scams related to the corona virus. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/beware-coronavirus-related-scams/  Selina Ng our social worker will be doing a presentation on scams in July. See our calendar for details.

To Our Beloved RSS Community:

The City has closed all senior centers for programming and congregate meals. We do not have a targeted re-open date from the city. This being done to protect all of us. It is very important that you follow guidelines issued by the city and by your own doctors.

We know that this is a stressful, scary time. We need to be strong New Yorkers together. RSS will be here to help older adults in the area in as many ways as possible. 

If you are a member or an older adult in our area that needs help please call us at 718.884.5900 or email us at info@rssny.org. We will be picking up phone calls and responding to them as soon as we can.

We will miss seeing all of you on a day-by-day basis but we know we will be together soon and talking in the interim! Be safe and stay healthy!

Call Us at 718 884-5900

Wellness Wheel

Focusing on Wellness In All Aspects of our Programs and Services

RSS - Riverdale Senior Services -  is more than just a meeting place. RSS is a place for emotional, cultural and physical engagement. We're a multi-faceted center - an exercise studio, an arts studio, dance floor, lunch spot and social hub - all in one place!

RSS champions older adults and their friends and families by giving community members the opportunity to live better, happier and healthier lives. 
All programs and services are free to any one 60+. We are located in the Bronx, New York.

Come join us! We are the Center for Ageless Living.