Community Resources & Info

Authored by wppladmin on Apr. 20th, 2020 | Last modified on May. 9th, 2020

 

Community Resources and Information

While our physical location is closed, library staff continues to work to provide access to resources and information. The library remains an online source of updated and reliable community information during the coronavirus crisis. 

Last updated: May 9, 2020

 

Coronavirus resources and information

“What you need to know” fact sheets (CDC)

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 call center 1-866-779-6121 (operating 24/7) and email address COVID-19@flhealth.gov 

VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) Veterans who are concerned they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), flu or cold are encouraged to contact the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center at 1-877-741-3400 (toll free).

Subscribe to Winter Park’s citEnews for the latest local updates via email. Additionally, follow the City of Winter Park on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor.

Health Insurance and Other Medical Assistance

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 call center 1-866-779-6121 (operating 24/7) and email address COVID-19@flhealth.gov 

  • Healthcare Marketplace Navigator Covering Central Florida offers free help to compare plans, learn about financial assistance and sign-up for the Health Insurance Marketplace.

VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) Veterans who are concerned they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), flu or cold are encouraged to contact the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center at 1-877-741-3400 (toll free).

Forest City location of Community Health Center (407) 905 -8827 

Grace Medical in Orlando (407) 936-2785

Food and Housing Assistance

Food 

  • ACCESS Florida (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid) Florida Department of Children and Families. Program provides a website to apply for ACCESS benefits (SNAP benefits-food stamp assistance, Medicaid, and TANF benefits-temporary cash assistance) online or over-the-phone.

Help line: 850-300-4323

  • OCPS Grab and Go meals for Orange County Public school students. A map of distribution sites is here.

  • Free meals for Winter Park residents at the Winter Park Community Center 721 W. New England Ave. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m. 407-599-3399 Feed the Need

  • Meals on Wheels from Seniors First. For homebound individuals ages 60+. Seniors can purchase meals or apply for the free meal program wait list for Orange County. Please call 407.615.8987 to learn more or to complete an application.

  • Meals of Love Central Florida seniors and adults with disabilities interested in receiving free food from local restaurants can sign up by calling: Hotline: (321) 360-6315 Español: (321) 253-4430 ext. 104 or Text/SMS: Text “Mealsoflove” to 94253

  • Food Bank Locator Second Harvest Food Bank partner food pantries. Search by location.

Call: 2-1-1

Email: uw211help@gmail.com

Chat online with a United Way representative

Text your zip code to 898-211

Heart of Florida United Way Families can find free meals for kids under 18 by texting FLKIDSMEALS to 211–211, or call 2–1–1 and speak with a live operator 24/7.

  • Jewish Family Services of Orlando Food pantry, telehealth counseling, rides to medical appointments for the elderly or disabled

Housing and Financial Assistance

  • CONNECT apply online for unemployment benefits from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDOE). Florida’s Reemployment Assistance Program. Call 800-204-2418

Printable paper mail-in application **now available**

  • United Way Recovery Fund  In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Heart of Florida United Way has established a fund to support residents whose financial stability is being impacted. Go to the website to fill out the survey. 

  • Economic Impact Payment the IRS is facilitating this federal stimulus package including the one-time payment to most Americans.

AARP Tax Aide service has been suspended. Check the website for updates.

My Free Taxes, a partnership with United Way and H&R Block, offers free online filing. 

  • Orange County Rental Assistance *Note: The Covid-19 Rental Assistance program is not accepting any new requests for assistance. We are working to process all the requests for assistance for residents who submitted their contact information online prior to 5:00pm on April 1, 2020. (407) 836-6500   

  • Salvation Army  Emergency Financial Assistance. They accept calls for appointments Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 407-423-8581 x26491

  • Utility Billing from the City of Winter Park disconnection for nonpayment is currently suspended. Call (407) 599-3220

Legal Support

Mental Health

    Email: uw211help@gmail.com

    Chat online with a United Way representative

    Text your zip code to 898-211

  • Coronavirus Sanity Guide from Ten Percent Happier provides meditations, podcasts and blog posts regarding ways of coping with stress and anxiety

  • Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor for free (operating 24/7)

  • Aspire Health Partners a not for profit provider of mental health services in Central Florida. Covid-19 crisis line (407) 875-3700 ext. 2 (operating 24/7)

  • Jewish Family Services of Orlando Food pantry, telehealth counseling, rides to medical appointments for the elderly or disabled

Child Support

Taxes (personal)

AARP Tax Aide service has been suspended. Check the website for updates.

My Free Taxes, a partnership with United Way and H&R Block, offers free online filing. 

Victim of Violence 

  • Victim Service Center Crisis line (407) 500-4325 (24/7) or text (407) 497-6701 (8am-5pm) Provides crisis intervention for victims of rape, sexual assault and violent crime. 

Immigration

  • Hope Community Center While their offices are closed, individuals may call (407) 880-4673 and press 1. 

Resource list in English and Spanish 

Seniors

  • AARP coronavirus information for older adults. 

People with Disabilities

Employment and Unemployment Benefits

  • CONNECT apply online for unemployment benefits from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDOE). Florida’s Reemployment Assistance Program. Call 800-204-2418. 

    From the May 5 Orlando Sentinel: "Last week, DEO released additional guidance for Floridians marked ineligible for state benefits and wondering what to do next.

    Those who applied before April 4 — self-employed workers, gig workers, contractors or others — are to apply again at Floridajobs.org, select “file a claim” and request the PUA application.

    If a person applied on or after April 5 and was found ineligible, he or she should wait for additional information from DEO, either through the mail, email or their “inbox” in the CONNECT system. These workers should also see an option on the lefthand side navigation menu on CONNECT to apply for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which offers $275 a week maximum for up to 39 weeks, plus another $600 a week from March 29 through July 31."

Reemployment Assistance Resource Guide (updated May 9, 2020)

Printable paper mail-in application **now available**

Job search resources

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Guide  

  • Career Source of Central Florida provides help for career seekers to update resumes or LinkedIn profiles, learn virtual interviewing skills, provide an individualized career plan to help secure employment, and more. 1-800-757-4598 for virtual assistance.

COVID-19 Support page

Call: 2-1-1

Email: uw211help@gmail.com

Chat online with a United Way representative

Text your zip code to 898-211

Education

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Digital Learning

Student Resources OCPS support for students and distance learning 

Colleges and Universities

University of Central Florida

Valencia College

Home Activities for Children

  • KidLit TV Read-louds, author interviews, drawing demonstrations and more

  • Orlando Science Center Our local science center’s videos and activities to keep young scientists engaged at home

  • Read, Wonder, and Learn Author, librarian, and teacher Kate Messner’s guide to free online learning resources, read-alouds, and illustrators’ drawing demos

  • Scholastic Learn at Home is offering resources for remote learning for grades K-12, including videos, articles, fiction and nonfiction ebooks and activities

  • Teaching Guides Activity sheets and discussion questions for children’s books provided by publishers

Abrams Books 

Disney Books 

Penguin

Random House

  • TumbleBooks Library Currently offering free ebooks and audiobooks for young readers 

TumbleBooks

TumbleMath

TeenBook Cloud

AudioBook Cloud

Affordable Computers and Internet

Business

  • Winter Park Small Business Utility Assistance a utility bill assistance program that will credit the equivalent of one month’s water, sewer and electric bill up to $2,500 on the utility bill for COVID-19 affected Winter Park businesses 

  • Florida’s Small Business Bridge Loan Program managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from coronavirus. DEO will administer the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program in partnership with the Florida SBDC Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation to provide cash flow to businesses economically impacted by COVID-19. The application period is open through May 8. For additional questions regarding loan programs, please call 833-832-4494 or email FloridaBusinessLoanFund@deo.myflorida.com or contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at 866-737-7232 or email Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org 

FLDEO Rebuilding Florida Businesses

Florida Disaster Loan fact sheet

Business Disaster Recovery Assistance 

  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information from the Florida Small Business Development Center regarding eligibility and where to apply. Must apply through a certified SBA 7(a) lender. Due date: June 30.

  • Licenses through the Florida Department of Business and Professional regulation, for applicants and license holders customer service continues via phone 850-487-1395 and online here. 

  • OSHA and COVID-19 U.S. Department of Labor provides information regarding OSHA standards and coronavirus impacts on employees

  • Fair Labor Standards Act Understand the effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act

Resource list 

COVID-19 toolkit 

  • Edyth Bush Institute Helpful resources for Winter Park and area nonprofits specific to the coronavirus crisis. Virtual offices are open, call (407) 975-6414. 

  • Economic Impact Payment the IRS is facilitating this federal stimulus package including the one-time payment to most Americans.

AARP Tax Aide service has been suspended. Check the website for updates.

My Free Taxes, a partnership with United Way and H&R Block, offers free online filing. 

  • Winter Park Chamber of Commerce providing daily briefings relevant to the Winter Park business community. Focus is on connecting businesses to assistance, information and resources needed to lessen the impacts of the crisis. 

Securing Your Business webinar series

Local Information

Subscribe to Winter Park’s citEnews for the latest local updates via email. Additionally, follow the City of Winter Park on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor.

  • Restaurants open for curbside or takeout 

Bungalower’s list by local area (call to confirm) 

Visit Orlando’s master list of restaurants open (call to confirm) 

  • Farmers’ Market pick up available Tuesdays & Saturdays 11am-7pm at Proper & Wild Winter Park and other locations.

  • Wellbeing Network from the Center for Health and Wellbeing The digital destination for curated health and wellbeing content providing tools, resources and inspiration to people in all stages of their lives and wellbeing journeys.

  • Winter Park Chamber of Commerce providing daily briefings relevant to the Winter Park business community. Focus is on connecting businesses to assistance, information and resources needed to lessen the impacts of the crisis.

Government Resources

U.S. Representative Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy 

Phone: 888-205-5421

Web: https://murphy.house.gov/

 

Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani

Phone: 407-801-4896

Web: http://www.annaforflorida.com/

 

City of Winter Park 

City Manager, Randy Knight citymanager@cityofwinterpark.org

City Clerk, Rene Cranis rcranis@cityofwinterpark.org

 

City Commissioners reachable through email: mayorandcommissioners@cityofwinterpark.org

  • Register to Vote by Mail The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the August 18th Primary Election is 5 p.m. Saturday, August 8th.

Scams and misinformation

  • Report price gouging If you think you are experiencing price gouging or want to report price gouging please call the Price Gouging Hotline 1-866-966-7226 

  • FactCheck.org A nonprofit and nonpartisan resource from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center.

  • Consumer Information from the Federal Trade Commission. Reporting on what the government is doing to prevent scams. Report a scam here.


 

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