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Note: Blood drive at the Riverdale Y on May 27th. If you are able blood is critically needed at this time.

Important Message About Food

The Feeding New York Initiative is working hard to ensure that all New Yorkers have food. Over the next few weeks you will see expanded and new programs. Right now if you have food issues RSS will work with you or you can: 

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET FOOD & ARE 60+

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

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
 New York City will open the first kosher grab & go meal site in the Bronx at P.S. 24 on Monday, May 11. Three free grab-and-go meals are available in more than 400 Meal Hubs across the 5 boroughs. You can go there or send someone to pick up meals. 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. Meal Hubs sites operate Monday through Friday from 7:30AM-11:30AM for children and families and 11:30AM-1:30PM for adults. Vegetarian and halal options are available at all sites. All adults and children can pick up three meals at one time. 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.

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.

Link to Request an Absentee Ballot
Absentee Ballot Request - This is for the June 23, 2020 election. Applications are processed in the order that they are received. Ballots will be mailed the 2nd week of May. If you do not have an election in your district scheduled for that day you will not receive a ballot. You can always check what, if any, election(s) are in your district by visiting nyc.pollsitelocator.com or by calling 1-866-VOTE-NYC.

Food

• Fresh King Grocery at Knolls Crescent is back in business and doing deliveries. Call (718) 549-6464
• Garden Gourmet - you can now order online and have it delivered or pick up.
• 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.
• The following local stores are delivering

• Bens at Knolls Crescent, Mon-Fri from 12-3, 718.884.4500

• 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.

• Key Food on Riverdale Avenue, 718.581.5101

• Tierney's Fine Food - Mosholu Avenue, delivers to immediate area, 718.796.4996

• Park Terrace Deli - Delivers to Inwood and Marble Hill, 212.569.5990

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

• Food can also be delivered through delivery services like Amazon, Instacart, Peapod. Accounts have to be set up and you must order online.

• Many stores such as Shop and Stop, Target are having early morning hours for seniors only. Please check with the store first.

• KRVC has put together a list of restaurants that are delivering. Liebman's is now closed.

• 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

• The Walgreens on 235th street is now open. The pharmacy is open until 6 PM.
• 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.
• Through June 15th, 2020, health insurance enrollment is open for uninsured New Yorkers as part of a Special Enrollment Period. Use this link to learn more.
• If you need home medical equipment click here.

Other Services

• LGBTQ Coronavirus Resources — NYC Unity Project
• 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 has been extended to 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. I

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.

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. 
• 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 
• The United Way has established a COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund; they will help individuals with bills, rent and food. Call (866) 211-9966. 
• There are Covid-19 tracing and other jobs available - click here for more details.

Face Coverings

• All people in NY state are now required to wear masks or face coverings in public. You can wear a scarf, purchase a mask or create your own. Here is a link on how to create your own face mask.

Covid Testing

• NYC is now opening testing sites citywide, prioritizing those most at risk. Call 188-ONEMED1 or go to onemedical.com and use code NYCCARE30.
• 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.

Please make sure to avoid COVID-19 scams! Please look at this link to learn tips to keep scammers away.

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.