Food Services and Delivery:

Reading Terminal Market delivery, www.mercato.com/ 267-205-8361 

Instacart,  https://www.instacart.com

FreshDirect, 1-866-283-7374

Peapod, www.peapod.com

PhillyFoodWorks, 1-215-221-6245 / https://phillyfoodworks.com

Meals on Wheels through PCA Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, 215-765-9040

Philabundance food insecurity hub, 215-339-0900 

Emergency Food Assistance & Pick up sites

 

Mental Health & Wellbeing:

National Disaster Helpline, 1-800-985-5990 
– Crisis Counseling and Emotional Support During Pandemic 

Suicide Prevention Hotline,1-800-273-TALK 

WARMLINE Support NAMI Philadelphia: 267-687-4381 for confidential resources, support and HOPE 

Mental Health Delegates, 215-685-6440

  • Mental Health Delegates, overseeing the city’s behavioral health emergency services system, provide access to emergency services, assign mobile emergency teams for home visits to assist families with mental health crises, and provide access to Crisis Response Centers.

Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotline, 215-686-4420

  • Trained suicide/crisis intervention staff provide counseling, consultation and referral for people seeking assistance for acute psychiatric needs

NAMI COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide

Philadelphia-Area Online Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings 

Philadelphia-Area Al-Anon Meetings

Philadelphia-Area Narcotics Anonymous Online Meetings

LGBTQ and Predominantly LGBTQ Online12-Step Meetings

Additional resources

 

RS Support Group updates:

RS/CARON Parent Support Group will soon be meeting over Zoom. In the meantime please contact Richard Roisman at rsrichochet@gmail.com or Bob/Betsy Fiebach  at 215-815-8424 or fiebach@gmail.com

NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) Connections Support Groups Groups are postponed until further notice, due to the impact the coronavirus. Questions? Contact Ned Hanover at nedhanover@gmail.com

NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) Family Support Groups are postponed until further notice, due to the impact the coronavirus. Questions? Contact Ned Hanover at nedhanover@gmail.com

W Connection is in in session on the usual date and time, the third Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30 PM over Zoom. Questions? Contact Susan Gross at as45@comcast.net.

 

In case of a medical or psychiatric emergency please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

 

Additional Resources

Small Business Loan Assistance Philadelphia Dept of Public Health, www.phila.gov

City of Philadelphia Dept of Public Health Covid-19 Care Hotline, call 311 or 800-722-7112

United Way Economic Relief Fund

City of Philadelphia: Customer Assistance Programs

PECO Expands Assistance Programs to Support All Customers

Philadelphia Gas Works Assistance Programs

How to file for unemployment

Rental Assistance Resources

Medicare Telehealth Hotline, 888-392-8889 

Small Business – Disaster Assistance

Update from the Department of Health

 

Safe Food Practices during Coronavirus and Beyond

Can you catch coronavirus from food? It is not likely that you will be infected with this virus from food directly. There is a greater chance you might catch it from the variables that are involved with buying/receiving/preparation of food. Here are some tips for reducing your chances of becoming infected through the process of food consumption:

Assume everything  and everyone you that come in contact with is potentially contaminated. Handle all items and people with care to protect yourself:

Shop Safely

Best practices for safe shopping:

  • before you leave for the store check for store hours operation- and if they have any restrictions on timing (senior hours?)
  • make a list on paper before you go, but plan on being flexible with purchases
  • pack disinfectant wipes in ziplock bag for cleaning shopping cart handles
  • take extra paper towel sheets for getting items off of shelves
  • keep your own hand sanitizer in your pocket for use at critical exposure times
  • have your credit card or cash ready for payment
  • let your eyes pick out items first- then grab what you want
  • utilize self checkout lines whenever available
  • clean fingers after using credit card keypad
  • ask if the cashier would mind sanitizing their hands with a squirt of your hand sanitizer
  • stay a safe distance of 6 feet from everyone in the market
  • use a face covering of a mask/bandana/ scarf while you are shopping
  • consider not using your reusable bags during pandemic (they must be washed after a trip to the store); instead pack food in store supplied bags:
    • refrigerator/freezer items together
    • dry boxes with canned goods
    • cleaning supplies with paper/plastics
  • buy enough food to last several weeks
  • take coat /shoes off outside of house if possible, and leave in a corner for 24 hours
  • when arriving back inside of your home, gel hands right before entering house

Receive Safely
Best practices when receiving delivery of food from restaurants or supermarkets:

  • prepay for any delivery
  • find out if you can include the tip in your payment
  • do not allow a delivery person in your house
  • ask for the food items to be left at the doorstep
  • assume the bags/supplies that are delivered have germs on the surface
  • decide if you can set aside a space in the garage/hall/closet that can be used as a temporary “holding space” for anything received- from UPS, Grocery delivery, or FedEx
  • if possible pull out the non-perishable items, leaving these for 2 days before unpacking
  • determine where you can unpack deliveries, knowing you should have a “soiled side” and then a “clean side”
  • use store-bought or homemade antimicrobial wipes to clean any jars/boxes/bags- and change the wipes between cleaning every 4-5 items
  • use the wipes on your hands frequently while unpacking
  • wash your hands using the 20 second method when all unpacking is done

Handle Safely

Best procedures for safe food prep and kitchen practices:

  • identify a counter/surface to place “contaminated” items, including packages, before these are cleaned
  • next identify a counter/surface nearby for “clean” items, including all the bags/boxes you have wiped down
  • if using material towels in your kitchen, change daily
  • preferably use paper towel for cleaning when using disinfectant
  • “sanitize” wet sponges by placing in boiling water or microwaving for 2 minutes
  • plan to clean “high touch” areas several time per day:
    • door knobs
    • refrigerator handle
    • dishwasher handle
    • microwave handle/keypad
    • toilet knobs
    • sink faucet handles
    • TV remotes
    • cell phones
  • wash as many kitchen items in the dishwasher as possible
  • remember all those rules about sanitizing your sink /cutting boards/ hands after handling potentially hazardous foods (see great links below)

Helpful tips/resources/links:

Plan your food supplies for longer term usage:

  • purchase long lasting fresh produce including:
    • carrots, parsnips
    • cabbage, fennel, brussels sprouts
    • onions, radishes, garlic
    • potatoes, sweet potatoes
    • winter squash (acorn, butternut types)
    • beets, turnips, rutabaga
    • apples, oranges
  • great shelf stable items:
    • milk (condensed, dried, or aseptic packed)
    • fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, mackerel)
    • beans (any kind will do)
    • pasta/noodles and jarred sauces
    • canned vegetables, canned fruit, dried fruit
    • nuts and nut butters
  • dairy items with long refrigeration life:
    • ultra-pasteurized milk (listed on the label)
    • hard cheeses
    • some yogurts

Resources:

Please feel free to email Joan Katz, RD,LDN (registered dietitian, licensed in PA) at joankatz.rd@gmail.com with any food safety or nutrition questions.