COMMUNITY INFORMATION
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES: FAMILY LINK & B-WELL TELEHEALTH
If you or someone you know is in need of help, please direct them to Family Link, Lori Canter at 954-908-0798. For more information regarding Family Link, click here.
BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA: VIRTUAL EXERCISE & EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS
Baptist Health South Florida continues to offer FREE virtual exercise, meditation, and educational seminars via Zoom. We hope you join us in sharing these opportunities with your staff, clients, partners, colleagues, employees, family and friends. We are also working in partnership with Mind Body Social for our exercise and meditation classes, please visit their Instagram page to stay updated and connected: @mind_body_social
Please use the password "zoom" in lowercase letters to join webinars.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, classes are subject to change without notice. Visit Events.BaptistHealth.net(https://events.baptisthealth.net/) for the most current information.
For the Week of September 28 schedule please visit the link below or see attached flyer and clickable links below for easy distribution.
https://events.baptisthealth.net/ClassesAndEventsDetails.aspx?ceid=345d7860-da5b-4176-96e8-03dfb8a73b17
SHOPPING & OTHER RESOURCES FOR SENIORS & VULNERABLE ADULTS
Medicare & Medicaid now allows psychology services to be provided by telephone without video. https://www.apaservices.org/practice/clinic/covid-19-telehealth-phone-only
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Go to grocery.walmart.com. Shop through departments. Mark favorites to make it easier to shop next time. -
Reserve delivery time. -
$30 minimum order. Delivery memberships are $12.95 per month/$98 annual. Single use fee is up to $9.95. Prices are the same as in the stores. $10 off first order of $50 or more. Use code WOWFRESH
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Select your store. Choose pick up time. They will text you when your order is ready. Drive to store. Park in designated spots. Call number on sign. They will load everything into your car. Notes: They email you if they need to make substitutions. If a substitution they made is not acceptable, just tell the person loading your car and they will remove that item and adjust your bill. No charge. No tipping permitted. -
$30 minimum order. Prices are the same as in the stores.
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Go to delivery.publix.com to shop. (Facilitated by Instacart.) select your items. Check out & and select delivery time. -
Prescriptions cannot be delivered. -
The Instacart “shoppers” will text you if product or quantity substitutions are necessary due to availability. -
You will be texted an estimated arrival time when the delivery is on the way. -
Yearly membership $99 or $3.99 per delivery. First delivery fee is waived. -
Minimum purchase $10. (Note: Instacart prices are slightly higher than in-store prices. Also, availability is the same as in the stores so they don’t have toilet paper either.)
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Order at delivery.publix.com. Choose pick up time. Drive to Publix at selected time, park in the designated Publix Curbside parking space, and call the store using the number on the sign. Give the Publix associate your name, and they will bring out your order and load it into your car.
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Delivery through Shipt. Membership required. $99 annually or $14 monthly. Orders over $35 are free with membership. Smaller orders are welcome but will incur a $7 service fee. Prices are the same as in the stores -
Prescriptions cannot be delivered.
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Go to https://www.aldi.us/en/shop-now/grocery-delivery/ (Delivery facilitated by Instacart) -
Check out & and select delivery time. -
The Instacart “shoppers” will text you if product or quantity substitutions are necessary due to availability -
You will be texted an estimated arrival time when the delivery is on the way -
Yearly membership $99 or $3.99 per delivery. free delivery on first 3 deliveries of $35 or more. -
Minimum purchase $10. (Note: Instacart prices are slightly higher than in-store prices. Also, availability is the same as in the stores.)
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Go to https://delivery.thefreshmarket.com/ (Delivery facilitated by Instacart) -
Check out & and select delivery time. -
The Instacart “shoppers” will text you if product or quantity substitutions are necessary due to availability -
You will be texted an estimated arrival time when the delivery is on the way -
Groceries and prepared foods are available -
Yearly membership $99 or $3.99 per delivery. Free delivery on first order of $35 or more. -
Minimum purchase $10. (Note: Instacart prices are slightly higher than in-store prices. Also, availability is the same as in the stores.)
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Order at https://delivery.thefreshmarket.com/
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Have purchase shipped to you using Shipt or Target.com. Go to Target.com. Select “Same Day delivery” on the red bar near top of page. Then select Grocery or other subtopic.
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Free 2 hour grocery delivery (Food comes from Whole Foods Market) with Amazon Prime membership $12.99 per month / $119 annual membership. *Prime membership also includes video/music/reading services. First 30 days of annual subscription free. Grocery prices are a little higher than other markets. -
Not available to all locations in Broward.
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Membership not required, but 5% surcharge applies to non-members. -
Go to https://delivery.thefreshmarket.com/ (Delivery facilitated by Instacart) -
Same day delivery. Select delivery window. Instacart shopper will text or call to discuss a substitute, or refund you for that item. Instacart shopper will deliver your order. You must be present to accept delivery. -
The order minimum is $35. -
Yearly membership $99 or $3.99 per delivery. Free delivery on first order of $35. No separate delivery fee for orders of $75 or more.
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Go to https://www.bjs.com (Delivery facilitated by Instacart) -
Instacart Yearly membership $99 or $3.99 per delivery. Free delivery on first order of $35 or more.
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Go to the selected Delivery Service site. -
Enter your zip code or address to see what restaurants are in their database in your area. -
Select a restaurant. It will indicate the minimum order- each restaurant is different. -
Delivery fees are additional (and may vary depending on time of day and demand), and tips for the driver are highly recommended. -
Struggling to Make Meals as Well as to Obtain Ingredients?
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Delivery to your home. -
Regular and Kosher options available -
Call (954) 731-8770
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Delivery to your home. -
Regular and Kosher options available -
Call (954) 745-9567
Joint-ESHEL has produced useful information for the elderly and their caregivers/family caregivers during this time of crisis. The page contains a set of eight short videos (with English subtitles) in addition to other relevant information.
The videos featured cover the following topics:
http://jointeshel.inwise.net/Covid19Materials
1. Guidelines for Caregivers
2. Geriatric Home Visit – Your Questions Answered
3. Loneliness
4. Physical Exercise
5. This is the Time to Talk
6. Guidelines for Family Caregivers
7. Teaching WhatsApp
8. Take a Personal Moment
BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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Online registration is now available and can be accessed by using a computer (cell phone not supported) through this link: pdms1.browardschools.com/fmi/webd/covid-19. -
Technical support is available from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. by calling 754-321-3314
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Update on Academics during Coronavirus Closure (English) -
Actualización sobre las inquietudes educativas durante el cierre por el coronavirus (Spanish) -
Mizajou sou Akademik diran fėmti lekὸlakὸz Kowonaviris (Haitian Creole) -
Atualizações sobre Questões Acadêmicas durante o Fechamento de Escolas Devido ao Coronavirus (Portuguese)
FOOD PANTRIES IN BROWARD COUNTY
Kosher Food Pantry
BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Broward County Public Libraries
After careful consideration of Broward County’s rapidly changing situation around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), all Broward County Library locations will be closed to the public following regular service hours on Thursday, March 19, 2020. All libraries will remain closed to the public until further notice.
Please note the following service changes/adjustments:
- Pick Up/Check Out Materials: Customers can no longer pick up holds or check out books/other physical materials until the library reopens.
- Fines: The library will not assess any late fines for materials returned during the library’s closure.
- Book Drops: Outdoor book drops will remain open during this time period.
- Holds: All items on hold for customer pick up will be suspended until the library reopens. Customers can still place holds on eBooks and eAudiobooks.
- Library Cards: While we are temporarily closed, we encourage anyone without a library card to apply for an Instant eCard to get immediate access to the digital collection.
Broward County Library is taking steps to support our customers as much as possible during this temporary closure:
- Library Resources You Can Access from Anywhere: Broward County Library offers free access to a wide range of online resources including thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, TV shows, classes and more.
- Online Tools for Youth, Parents and Caregivers: Visit our online Youth Resources Center for a wide range of free online resources for all ages, including our Axis 360 eBook collection for children and teens.
We will continue to update you on any changes in our operations. Please visit our website and check your inbox for email updates from us. If you are not already a subscriber, sign up for BCL eNews for updates and information about digital resources and services during our temporary closure.
REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Reemployment Assistance (what used to be called Unemployment Insurance) is an important benefit for workers who lose their jobs or have hours cut. However, the application process is complicated, the amount of benefits is based on prior earnings, and the process requires record-keeping and reporting every two weeks. Additionally, with so many people out of work at once, the computer systems may have a hard time handling the work volume. Applicants might find this process frustrating. We provide this information to help people understand the process and consider whether it will be worth their time before they begin.
SMALL BUSINESS & NON PROFIT LOANS
ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIANCY PROGRAM INFORMATION
Recertification Extension
To ensure Floridians can safely access SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits, DCF has implemented a six-month recertification extension for individuals and families scheduled to recertify in April or May.
Extending the recertification period, allows the state to ensure the continuity of, and safe access to, SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits during the current public health crisis and periods of social distancing. For more information regarding Florida’s benefit programs during this time, please visit https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/ or contact the customer call center at 850-300-4DCF.
To check the status of your recertification, log into your MyACCESS account here: https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
Increase of Benefits
As directed by Governor Ron DeSantis on March 27, 2020, the Department of Children and Families has submitted a federal waiver to temporarily increase all Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients’ benefit amounts to the maximum monthly allotment based on household size.
DCF is actively working to implement increasing benefits to the maximum monthly allotment based on household size for the months of March and April. Clients can expect to receive their additional March funds as early as April 3, 2020.
For April, if you are a client that receives your regular benefit between April 1-7, you can expect to receive your benefit on April 8. If you are a client that receives your regular benefit after April 7, you can expect your additional benefit to be included as a part of your regularly scheduled benefit allotment. Additionally, any new households approved for food assistance will receive additional benefits within a week of being approved for benefits. Please note, customers who are already receiving the maximum allotment will not receive an increase. A chart illustrating maximum benefit for household size is provided below for your reference.
People in Household
Maximum Benefit Amount
1 - $194
2 - $355
3 - $509
4 - $646
5 - $768
6 - $921
7 - $1,018
8 - $1,164
For Each Additional Person - +$146
Please contact DCF’s Customer Call Center at 1-866-762-2237 or 850-300-4323 for more information.
Economic Self-Sufficiency (ACCESS)
As directed by Governor Ron DeSantis on March 27, 2020, the Department of Children and Families has submitted a federal waiver to temporarily increase all Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients’ benefit amounts to the maximum monthly allotment based on household size.
To ensure Floridians can safely access SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits, DCF has implemented a six-month recertification extension for individuals and families scheduled to recertify in April or May.
At the request of Governor DeSantis, and in accordance with the federal Families First Coronavirus Act, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will waive work requirements for individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
We will maintain Medicaid eligibility for current recipients through the last day of the month of the state of emergency. This means no Medicaid recipient will lose Medicaid eligibility during the state of emergency. We are working on notifying recipients who may have received a termination notice in the month of March that their benefits will continue.
During this state of emergency, individuals applying for Medicaid may be unable to submit all the documentation required to process their application. Beginning with applications received in February 2020, we are extending the timeframe for individuals to submit any necessary paperwork to 120 days from the date the application was received. If the Medicaid application is approved, the individual’s Medicaid eligibility effective date will still be the first day of the month that the initial application was received.
MEALS ON WHEELS | NOURISH NOW PROGRAM
Meals on Wheels Home Delivered Meals
If you are unable to prepare meals for yourself and/or unable to shop for the food you would need to prepare them, due to advanced age, illness, frailty, or disability Meals on Wheels may be able to help! Several programs there may be able to help with long-term or short-term needs, including those related to COVID-19. Call Meals on Wheels of South Florida (954 731-8770)
The Nourish Now Program at Meals on Wheels of South Florida
The Jewish Federation of Broward County has funded a special program at Meals on Wheels of South Florida, the Nourish Now Program, to provide home delivered meals for qualified frail elderly, disabled, and seriously ill Broward Jewish community members, while they are wait-listed for federally or state funded home delivered meals; and for seriously ill and disabled Broward Jewish community members who aren't old enough to qualify for federally or state funded meals, or who, for other reasons (including citizenship status) don’t qualify, but still desperately need the meals.
Referrals to this program can be made by any Broward County Jewish agency, school, JCC, or synagogue in Broward county, as well as by the Federation itself. You do not need to belong to the synagogue, or routinely utilize services at the agency that makes the referral, however, if you do have a pre-existing relationship with any of these agencies/organizations, we strongly recommend you start there. Agencies making referrals should complete a referral form (which can be obtained from the Federation or Meals on Wheels of South Florida), and then submit it to Meals on Wheels of South Florida. Meals on Wheels will follow up by calling you.
Nourish Now recipients (as well as all Meals on Wheels of South Florida recipients) may choose to receive Kosher meals, meals from Meals on Wheels’ regular menu, or pureed meals.
KOSHER CONGREGATE FEEDING SITES
Daniel Cantor Senior Center
- Kosher congregate food program offering lunch within a Senior Center/Senior Day Care Program.
- 5000 N Nob Hill Rd, Sunrise, FL 33351
- (954) 742-2299
- Cantor Center is usually open 5 days a week. During the Covid-19 shut-down, however, all participating seniors have the option to receive meals to eat at home.
- Note: The Daniel Cantor Senior Center is the only senior center with a Jewish Flavor (celebrating Shabbat, Jewish holidays, etc.) in Broward County.
David Posnack Jewish Community Center
- This is a Kosher senior congregate food program offering lunch located at a Jewish Community Center. (Membership at the Jewish Community Center is not required.)
- 5850 S Pine Island Rd, Davie, FL 33328
- Posnack JCC's senior lunch program usually runs 5 days a week. During the Covid-19 shut-down, however, all participating seniors have the option to receive meals to eat at home.
- (954) 434-0499
- Note: The David Posnack Jewish Community Center is an extremely high quality Jewish Community Center with multiple programs for seniors and the community in general.
COVID-19 TESTING & INFORMATION
BROWARD HEALTH:
COVID-19 TESTING DURING PHASED REPOPENING
In order to continue to protect the safety of our community during reopening of our economy, Memorial Healthcare System highly recommends testing of employees returning to work. It is our goal to facilitate testing for employers as they phase employees back to work. The Drive-Thru Community Testing Site at CB Smith Park has extended its criteria for testing.
CRITERIA FOR TESTING
·All South Florida residents 18 years and older who are symptomatic or asymptomatic (showing no symptoms of COVID-19.)
·First responders and healthcare workers, who are symptomatic or asymptomatic (showing no symptoms of COVID-19.)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call 954-276-4680 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm – daily
·Every person who wants to be tested at this site must pre-register.
·If multiple individuals are coming in one car, each individual must be pre-registered.
·Every person must bring identification. Driver’s License, Passport or State Issued ID (no pictures or photo copies).
OBTAINING TEST RESULTS:
- Memorial Healthcare System clinical teams will notify all registrants of positive and negative results by phone.
- Registrants who provided an e-mail address during registration will receive a link to register to Memorial MyChart, where they will be able to see their results in their electronic medical record.
- Quest: you would need to register directly with Quest Laboratory to receive results electronically from Quest. To register for Quest visit https://myquest.questdiagnostics.com/web/home.
TESTING FOR CHILDREN:
·Information on testing for children is forthcoming.
Memorial Healthcare System has been registered to participate in Mayo Clinic’s Convalescent Plasma Expanded Access Program to test the use of donated blood as a treatment for people with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Community members who fully recovered from COVID-19 can donate potentially lifesaving plasma. Memorial Healthcare System has partnered with OneBlood for the plasma collection.
The donation process is simple, but it is only for donors who meet the required screening criteria. If a potential donor meets the identified criteria, they should fill out the form online at https://www.oneblood.org/CCP/CCP-form-donor.stml.
To get the most up-to-date information on Memorial Healthcare System and the latest developments on COVID-19, visit https://www.mhs.net/patients-visitors/coronavirus-disease
RENTAL ASSISTANCE
Do you need assistance to pay for your child's K - 12 education? Step Up For Students Scholarships may be able to help.
Families may qualify for one of two income-based scholarships – the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship or the Family Empowerment Scholarship – for the 2020-21 school year. These scholarships help qualified families pay K-12 private school tuition or assist with transportation costs to a different public school. This may benefit children who are entering kindergarten through 12th grade. As always, program funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
StepUp4Students is accepting scholarship applications from new families for the income-based scholarship program. Applicants may need paystubs from the last 30 days and/or any other sources of income (i.e., unemployment benefits, social security benefits, child support benefits, etc.). Step Up understands each situation is unique. Please visit the application. It will guide you. To learn more and apply: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/lower-income-scholarships-ftc-fes/
Here's a video that may answer may questions about the program: https://youtu.be/qZukLmBslWI.
Are you still waiting for your Economic Impact Payment?
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, but did not file federal taxes in 2018 or 2019 (possibly because your income did not exceed $12,200 or $24,400 for a married couple) and you do not receive Social Security, SSI, Veterans Affairs C&P benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, you'll need enter your information into the Internal Revenue Service’s non-filer tool by October 15, 2020, in order to receive your Economic Impact Payment. Click here for: non-filer tool
HURRICANE PREPARDNESS DURING COVID-19
Prepare Ahead
Hurricane Season in a Time of COVID-19
Hurricane Season is now upon us. And unfair as it may seem to be forced to face hurricane season in the midst of a pandemic, that is where we now find ourselves. In fact, meteorologists are predicting we may well have a heavier than average hurricane season.
Here at the Jewish Federation of Broward County, we have a great deal of experience preparing for, and responding to, crises, and potential crises, in our community. For decades, we’ve assisted Jewish agencies, schools, and synagogues, as well as individuals and families in our community, address the unthinkable, and we will continue providing that life-changing support for decades to come. Devastating hurricanes, a horrific mass shooting, and now a pandemic; we’ve been there supporting our community through it all.
And because of that experience, and because we so deeply care about each and every member of our community, we offer the following advice as we enter this new hurricane season in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Our most important piece of advice is: Plan ahead… way ahead. If you would normally stock up a week before a predicted hurricane, this year buy everything you would need to prepare now, long before a hurricane is announced. Be prepared for empty shelves at stores, long delivery times, and even the possibility that you could be quarantined due to COVID-19 or exposure to someone with COVID-19, at the exact moment you would ordinarily prepare. Specifically:
- Buy water, or containers to fill with water from your tap. (3-7 gallons/person)
- Stock several days’ worth of food that will keep if we lose electricity, and hence refrigeration. (Peanut butter, crackers, tuna, raisins, nuts, canned fruits and vegetables, etc.) Have a manual can opener ready to open those cans.
- Stock extra prescription medications. (Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.) Don’t risk not being able to get a refill when you need it. Also consider backup eyeglasses, (could you get around if your only pair broke?) hearing aid batteries, etc.
- Buy additional masks, gloves, and sanitizer. If you need to evacuate or head to a shelter, social distancing may be difficult. And washing hands frequently would be difficult if we lost water.
- Have a back-up way to charge your cell phone. (External battery, solar charger, car charging cord, etc.) Consider adding a traditional corded landline phone. (They work without electricity.)
- Learn how to shut off your water if you experience a major leak, and how to shut off the gas if you have major damage. Know where your circuit breaker box is. Have a flashlight with batteries ready in case you need to find them in the dark. Have emergency temporary repair supplies – duct tape, tarpaulins, etc. – in case a repair person can’t get to you quickly.
- Prepare a contact list with information for family, neighbors, and your insurance company. (A paper copy will help if power goes out.)
- Consider whether you will want to bring older relatives into your home before the storm. Ask their ALFs or nursing home if they have a backup generator. (Those with waivers may plan to move residents to common cooling areas where maintaining social distancing would be near impossible.) If they live alone, consider what will happen if home health aides can’t get to them. If they (or older neighbors) will be sheltering alone, offer to help them prepare.
- Know how you would evacuate: Do you have special health needs? (Register on Broward’s Special Needs Registry, so you can utilize a special needs shelter if necessary: https://www.broward.org/AtRisk/Pages/SpecialNeeds.aspx. 954-831-3902.) Do you know which hotels and shelters allow pets? (Dogs and cats must be crated and have proof of vaccinations, and you may need to register ahead.)
- Finally, consider how you would want to help others in a real emergency. (The Federation may be able to offer suggestions.)