Financial Resources:

Economic Impact Payments – What you need to know

OUR Florida: Florida’s federally-funded emergency rental assistance relief program to support residents and businesses as they continue to recover and rebuild. OUR Florida is currently accepting applications for rental and utility assistance. Click here to find out more information, OUR Florida Program. 

Bank On Suncoast: A certified checking account that is safe and affordable, featuring no overdraft fees and bill pay functions.  These certified accounts come with debit cards, a free bill pay function, or four free insured money orders each month. Click here to find out more information, Bank On Suncoast. 

• Not sure what you are eligible for? Here is how to access Government Support for Workers Affected by COVID-19 – a snapshot guide for people who lost current or upcoming full or part-time work.

If you do not currently have access to a computer, or are having issues with the website you can now apply via paper by:

• CareerSource locations across the state will be providing paper applications and assisting Floridians with submitting their Reemployment Assistance applications. Visit CareerSourceFlorida.com for information and center locations.
• FedEx is offering free printing and mailing of Reemployment Assistance paper applications at over 100 storefronts across the state.
• Applications can be downloaded at FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. Once the application is complete, individuals should mail them to:
  • Florida Department of Economic Opportunity – P.O. Box 5350, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350

• Check the status of your Stimulus Check here
• Save Small Business – $5,000 Grants – The Save Small Business Fund is a grant making initiative offering short-term relief for small employers in the United States and its territories.
• COVID-19 Stimulus Check Application for Those Not Required to File a Federal Income Tax Return
• The IRS issued guidance on deferral of employment tax deposits and payments through December 31, 2020.
• The Department of Labor provided updated information on benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) including the release of a helpful webinar, implementation notice, and updated fact sheets. 
• The Department of Economic Opportunity released a new mobile option for submitting applications for Reemployment Benefits. Paper applications are also available.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Guide
• Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
• The Department of Children and Families (DCF) provides food assistance through its SNAP program and cash assistance through TANF. Information about the work requirements for these programs can be found at DCF’s ACCESS Page or CareerSource Suncoast.
• Emergency Bridge Loan Program: The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is currently available to small business owners located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance. Read more >>>
  
• U.S. Small Business Disaster Assistance
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• The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP services are provided to assist families, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of their household income for home energy, meet their immediate home energy needs.
  
• Resources for Restaurants Workers
• Access – To apply for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (TANF) or Medicaid.
• HHS COVID Fraud Alerts
• Comcast announced will offer 60 days of complimentary no-cost internet access for new low-income customers
• Affordable Ask an Attorney program –  a 30-minute legal consultation on family law topics such as divorce, child support, child custody, and much more.
• Everyone On – has information about low-cost internet and affordable computers in the area
• Low Interest Crisis Relief Personal Loans from Capital Good Fund
• National Disability Institute (NDI) recently launched the Financial Resilience Center, an online information hub to help people with disabilities and chronic health conditions respond to the financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance with United Way Suncoast. Also includes help attaining a stimulus check if you have not yet received.
• Is your business in Manatee County? Does it employ 15 or fewer FTEs? Manatee County, Florida Government is launching a small business grant program and companies that did not access the PPP or EIDL programs could be eligible. Learn more 
• FPL’s customer support during COVID-19 – offering payment extensions and waiving late fee and helping customer with financial assistance. Spanish Flyer
• Florida Housing’s Coronavirus Relief Fund For Impacted Homeowners And Renters – Governor DeSantis has authorized $120 million of the State of Florida’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) allocation to Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) to assist Floridians that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and struggling to pay housing expenses such as: rent, mortgage payments, and emergency repairs that will keep families stably and safely housed. For additional program information or to speak to a representative, call Florida Housing’s toll-free Coronavirus Relief Fund Information Line at 1-888-362-7885. Open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sarasota County Cares – Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and the U.S. Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund – Human Services Nonprofit Funding Opportunity 
• Benevolence Assistance – Palma Sola Presbyterian Church administers two funds that enable it to help you meet emergency financial needs. 
• SOAR offers Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children – stabilizing income for children in your system who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. And helps with enhanced health insurance coverage (Medicaid).

Mobile Pantries Available Times And Dates

• Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club – 1790 21st St, Sarasota, March 25, 2020, 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
• Food Pantry: Salvation Army is distributing food at their 1400 10th Street, Sarasota, location. Please call 954-Hope (4673) for an appointment. Open Monday thru Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m
• Feeding Site: Mental Health Community Centers, Inc. 240B South Tuttle Ave, Sarasota. 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Serving to go meals.
• The Oasis Center (Samoset) is distributing food on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Restoration Church 3505 5^th St. East, Bradenton, FL 34208 – 941-465-2961 distributes food on Tuesdays.
• Salvation Army North Port (groceries)- 4940 Pan American Blvd, North Port | 7:30 am-3 pm
• **South County Food Pantry (groceries)- 121 Warfield Ave, Venice |9 am-12 pm
• Trinity United Methodist Church (groceries)- 4285 Wesley Ln, North Port | 9 am-1 pm
• Salvation Army Venice (groceries)- 1051 Albee Farm Rd, Venice | 9 am-4:30 pm
• Face of Hope (groceries)- 12765 S Tamiami Trl, North Port | 10 am-11 am
• **Church of the Palms (groceries)- 3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota |10 am-1 pm
• Trinity United Methodist Church (sack meal)- 304 W. Oak St, Arcadia | 11 am-12:30 pm
• Desoto Food and Resource Center (groceries)- 1021 E. Oak St, Arcadia | 2 pm-6pm
• **New Hope Community Church (groceries)- 5600 S Biscayne Dr, North Port | 3 pm-5 pm
• **Booker Middle (produce)- 2250 Myrtle St, Sarasota | 4:30 pm-5:30 pm
• Manatee Mobile Food Pantry – 3100 26th Street West, Bradenton, Florida 34205 – Thursdays | 4:00 pm-5 pm
• Farm Share Drive Thru Distribution – THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 – 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary School 515 63rd Ave E,
  Bradenton, FL 34203 (Flyer in Spanish)

Educational Resources

• A comic for kids exploring the new coronavirus
• Instructional materials about viruses, outbreaks, and the new coronavirus
• NY Times: teaching, learning, and thinking critically about the novel coronavirus
• PBS News Hour: Coronavirus resources for grades 6-12
• Brain POP on the new coronavirus
• Using the coronavirus as a teachable moment for Social-Emotional Learning
• PBS Kids for Parents – Tips and activities to help children grow
• Scholastic Learn at Home – Learning experiences for PreK-12
• Kennedy Center Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence at Home will host lunchtime art lessons. Additional activity sheets available.
• Manatee County Library – You can now register online for temporary library cards that give full access to electronic resources!
• Manatee County Library access to FREE tutoring via Tutor.com
• COVID-19 Map: Tracking Substance Usage During Coronavirus – Use this resource to see how adults responded about their past-month use of drugs and alcohol to better understand how COVID is currently affecting substance use and mental health.
• Alzheimer Support for Families
• DIY Face Coverings

Talking to Kids About COVID-19

• PBS Kids guide for talking to younger kids about the coronavirus
• PBS Kids guide for talking to younger kids about tragic or scary events in the news
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) guide for talking to kids about COVID-19
• NPR guide for talking to kids about scary events in the news
• Morningside Center guide for talking to students about the coronavirus
• Morningside Center guide for addressing bias and bullying in response to the novel coronavirus
• Ways to Promote Children’s Resilience to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Family Safety Guidelines and Resources

• Six steps for K-12 leaders to respond to the coronavirus
• Map of school closings related to the coronavirus
• Preparing for school closures due to COVID-19 from American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
• COVID-19 information and resources for schools and school personnel from US Department of Education
• Child Abuse Prevention Month – Resources & Tips for Parents, Children & Others
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Healthy Parenting
• Florida Department of Children and Families: Childcare searchable database
• Emergency Childcare – Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County
• Forty Carrots Family Center – Virtual Services
• What is COVID-19? And how does it relate to child development?
• Suncoast Behavior Health offers mental health services for children and adolescents in crisis – no cost assessments for 24/7. Call (941)951-5000 to schedule your appointment.
• Children First Nurturing Dads Initiative – free virtual classes, twice a week at 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• College Hunks Moving Company Offers Free Services To Anyone Fleeing Domestic Violence
• Reporting Child Abuse during COVID-19 for Educators – Florida Department of Education Resources
• School Readiness Program – do you need FREE or reduced cost childcare? Apply online today. Flyer in Spanish.
• Circle of Security Parenting – Forty Carrots Family Center offers a relationship-based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. A Certificate of Attendance that satisfies court requirements is provided upon completion. Next series September 22nd.

Resources for Children

• PBS News Hour: Resources and lesson plans for grades 6-12
• Two high school librarians offer ideas and resources for virtual learning
• 20 learning activities for kids stuck at home
• The Learning Network by the NY Times
• Navigating Life with a Special Needs – Child Parent Mentoring and Support Program: Encouraging Families through Support, Education, and Advocacy
• Lesson plans from The Learning Network
• Nightly Met Opera Free Live Streams
• Macaroni Kid – a local resource with a weekly newsletter with great suggestions on “what to do with your children during this time.”
• The Latest Resources for Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&Rs) Agencies and Providers
• Childcare Resource & Referral Services – a service to connect employees to childcare during COVID-19
• READS reading resources
• Sesame Street has just teamed up with Headspace, to create Monster Meditations on the Sesame Street YouTube channel
• Florida Studio Theatre – offering summer camps through August 7th. Enrollment open and scholarships are available.
• COVID-19 Resource for Parents and Caregivers – Florida Department of Education. Talking to Kids, Coping and Managing Stress, Toddlers and Preschoolers, ACCESS Florida.
• Nobody’s Perfect-Parenting in a World of Change – by Marlene Resnick Simons

Self Care Resources

• 30 Day Free Online Yoga
• Managing stress & anxiety
• Three Strategies to Manage Eating During Stay-at-Home
• Affordable Remote Mental Health Counseling – First appointment is free! Mental Health is big part of your overall wellness. The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people and fear and anxiety can become overwhelming. WRC understands, and is here to help.
• 25 Stay-At-Home Self-Care Ideas 
• Planet Fitness Daily Livestream Workouts
• Headspace Mindfulness App
• Managing Stress for Nurses
• 3 Steps To Stay Healthy During the Pandemic
• Something to Think About – finding gratitude during COVID-19
• ANCHORING HEART Technique: a self-help resource produced by OPUS PEACE
• Tidewell Teams Support Community – Hope Line. Social workers, chaplains and grief counselors are joining forces to help meet the emotional-health needs of our communities through this 24/7 service.
• Tidewell Grief Education and Support Center. (En Espanol)
• 5 natural ways to boost your mental health during stressful times
• Meditation Workshop – free and confidential online workshop for survivors of abuse and professionals that witness trauma in the workplace. To sign up, call (941)343-0039
• FREE Bilingual Emotional Support Helpline – 833-8481762 specially trained behavioral health counselors available 24-hours a day to help with stress, anxiety, trauma and health crisis.
• Self-Care for Healthcare Heroes – 14 ways to help our healthcare heroes take care of themselves by Suncoast Behavioral Health Center.
• UCLA Guided Meditations – UCLA has free guided meditations in English and Spanish. Meditations range from 3 minutes to 14 minutes.