Lincoln-Sudbury Mutual Aid Network

Below is a list of resources specific to Lincoln Town residents.

This information is available courtesy of Carolyn Bottum, director of the Lincoln Council on Aging, and is copied directly from her newsletter. This page will be updated to reflect the most current iteration of the newsletter.

An additional list of resources compiled by the Lincoln Council on Aging and the Lincoln Family Association can be found here.

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Public Health Nurse, Tricia McGean

Most of you are up to date with all things coronavirus but if not, check out the Town of Lincoln website and click on the coronavirus link that will have (hopefully) weekly postings from me including up to date information regarding the virus and assorted links for more detailed information.  

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I have received several calls from residents as well as staff members in town asking specific guidelines regarding running their departments, their businesses and also questions regarding their own health related to the pandemic.  It is a scary time for all of us and it will most likely get worse, before it gets better so preparation is the key. 

 

Make sure you reach out to our vulnerable residents as there is a lot fear of the unknown.  I will keep you all updated as best as I can.  

 

 I am stealing this quote but I love it, 

             "Keep your heads up, your spirits strong and your hands clean!"  

 

Lincoln Police

The Lincoln Police are available to do well being checks, deliver essential items, etc.  For less urgent needs, like deliveries, contact Ian Spencer at spencian@lincolntown.org.  For a well being check or anything else that needs immediate attention, please call 781-259-8113 or 911.

 

St. Vincent de Paul

Karen Boyce reports, Since we have such a small space at the pantry, we are not setting open times for people to come in for food, for safety reasons, but rather asking them to contact us so we can make arrangements to meet them, personally.  In extreme cases we can deliver to them.  

 

One of our volunteers delivers to homebound.  I personally contact the client and compile a list of things they need and secure a time they will be there to receive the food. (I attach a list that can be used to make their order).  Also, we are willing to contact the clients, make up bags for them with items on their list, and have them pick up these bags at the pantry at a designated time. If there is a big need for home deliveries, other volunteers will step in to help with this function. Every one of our volunteers has been CORI checked.

 

We supply items that can be used to make meals but do not have premade meals. We  CONSTANTLY need cereals, spaghetti sauce, Progresso Soup, mayonnaise, cookies, crackers,  and are getting these items as we can. I received a food order yesterday with 2000 lbs of food and am making an order for Tuesday in the same amount, or more.

 

I am an email/phone call away at 781-259-9303 or  karenboyce620@gmail.com

 

Open Table

A reminder that Open Table is continuing to run their drive-thru pantry on Tuesdays from 1-6:30 and Thursdays from 3-6:30. Guests should come at their regular appointment times — those in cars should enter the Maynard municipal lot from Summer street and groceries will be placed in their trunks for them. Anyone on foot should proceed to the back door to receive their bags.

Anyone who is new to Open Table and needs to sign up for an appointment time should come to our front door either day between 5 and 6:30 pm to register.

Updated information can be found at our website, opentable.org. Please know we will continue to provide food for anyone who needs it.

Stefanie Cloutier stefaniac@comcast.net

 

Tower Road Neighbors 

Tower Road Neighbors connects people in the Tower Road neighborhood for mutual aid and support.  The contact is Peter von Mertens at petervonmertens@gmail.com.

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First Parish Church

First Parish in Lincoln is offering emotional support to the community through a phone chain. If you are interested in participation (either making calls or receiving calls), please contact Sarah Andrysiak at sarah.andrysiak@gmail.com.

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And some information for you…

 

Unemployment Insurance

If you get calls from people who are out of work, they should immediately apply for unemployment.  The Commonwealth is making special efforts to process applications speedily.  People should go to

https://www.mass.gov/applying-for-unemployment-benefits

 

Foundation for Metrowest

The Metrowest Foundation is making grants to organizations providing support during the coronavirus emergency.  “The MetroWest Emergency Relief Fund is a new fund of the Foundation for MetroWest. This Fund will award one-time operating grants to non-profits addressing the most immediate needs or experiencing significant financial challenges due to closures during broad-based community emergencies, such as natural disasters, financial crises, and public health emergencies.” You can find more information at: foundationmw.org.

 

Resources for Managing Stress and Anxiety

Mackenzie Dezieck, Jail Diversion Program Coordinator, has posted some mental health and substance abuse resources that the community can access remotely on the police department partnership website: https://www.cmpolicepartnership.com/covid-19-resources

Claire Gerstein, a social worker on the COA Team also recommends these resources for helping ourselves and those we serve manage stress and anxiety:

 

Managing Anxiety and Stress Center for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

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Safety, Predictability and Control in the Midst of COVID 19 Riverside Trauma Center http://riversidetraumacenter.org/safety-predictability-control-in-the-midst-of-covid-19/

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Talking with your Children About Highly Stressful Events Riverside Trauma Center http://riversidetraumacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Managing-Reactions-to-the-Coronavirus.pdf?fbclid=IwAR006DoUSn1mgkIto9ojyBMzpQ87gkte7NLbhjT6lQS1Dg3nbH_xL3haFsk

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How to keep coronavirus fears from affecting your mental health CNN Article https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/health/coronavirus-fears-mental-health-wellness-trnd/index.html

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Coronavirus and Mental Health: Taking Care of Ourselves During Infectious Disease Outbreaks American Psychiatric Association https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2020/02/coronavirus-and-mental-health-taking-care-of-ourselves-during-infectious-disease-outbreaks

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Taking Care of your Behavioral Health: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration American Psychiatric Association https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2020/02/coronavirus-and-mental-health-taking-care-of-ourselves-during-infectious-disease-outbreaks

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CARES Act Unemployment Benefits For Self-Employed, Gig Economy, and Other Workers 

The Baker-Polito Administration announced today that Massachusetts residents who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits can now apply online for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. 

The new federal PUA program provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to those who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits. This includes self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and those with limited work history. Applicants can learn more and apply at www.mass.gov/pua. 

To be eligible for this new program, individuals must provide self-certification that they are otherwise able and available to work but are prevented from doing so by circumstances relating to COVID-19, including their own illness or that of a family member. 

Those able to telework with pay and individuals receiving paid sick or other leave will not qualify for PUA. Individuals receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits for less than their customary work week, however, may still be eligible for PUA. Also, those working fewer hours, resulting in a loss of income due to COVID-19, who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits may be eligible for PUA. 

The federal CARES Act signed into law on March 27 created PUA, as well as another temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) that provides an additional $600 weekly benefit for those receiving unemployment benefits or PUA. FPUC provides that additional benefit through July 25, 2020. The Commonwealth announced implementation of FPUC earlier this month. 

All approved PUA applications will initially receive the minimum weekly benefit amount, plus the additional $600 FPUC weekly benefit. Once a worker’s wages are verified, weekly benefit amounts may increase. The amount of PUA benefits received is based on the individual’s reported previous income. PUA benefits may not be more than the state's maximum weekly benefit rate for regular unemployment, which is $823 in Massachusetts. 

Weekly benefits, including any increase to your weekly benefit amount, will be retroactive to January 27, 2020, or the date when you became unemployed, whichever is more recent, as long as you became unable to work because of a COVID-19 related reason. 

 

Eviction and Foreclosure Protections 

Yesterday [April 23], Governor Baker signed legislation into law to protect homeowners and tenants from eviction and foreclosure. An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 emergency ensures housing stability for residents and families, and can be read in its entirety here. 

 

Extra Money to Buy Food for Households with Children who Received Free or Reduced-Price School Meals

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently received approval from USDA to implement Pandemic-EBT, or P-EBT, in Massachusetts. We will be working quickly to implement P-EBT in Massachusetts.

 

P-EBT benefits are extra money to buy food for households with students who would have received free and reduced-priced school meals, but have been unable to due to school closures. There are about 500,000 students in Massachusetts that are eligible for this extra benefit. This benefit will supplement the more than 1,300 school meal sites that DESE has worked to set up with local school districts.

 

Households with eligible children will be receiving $5.70 per student per day of school closure. This will be delivered in a lump sum amount of about $200 to cover the 35 days that schools have already been closed.

 

P-EBT benefits can be spent in the same way as SNAP. P-EBT benefits are available to eligible households regardless of immigration status and are not considered for public charge.

 

P-EBT benefits are a different, special benefit type that. They do not confer SNAP eligibility, and they cannot be used to receive HIP benefits.

 

Of the 500,000 students who are eligible for P-EBT, about 40% are children in a current DTA household. These households will get their P-EBT benefits on their existing EBT card.

 

About 60% of households are not known to DTA, and that means that we will need to reach these households to provide these benefits. These households will be mailed a preloaded P-EBT card per student.

 

We will be working with DESE and our partners at The Shah Family Foundation and Project Bread to reach these households to make sure they are aware of the extra benefit, why they are receiving it, and how it can be used. More information and outreach materials will be provided to you and other partners to help spread the word.

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Action Needed for Social Security Beneficiaries with Dependents and Who Do Not File Tax Returns to Receive $500 Per Child Payment

“Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon.  People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment.  They should immediately go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here section to provide their information.  Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance beneficiaries with dependent children and who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Wednesday, April 22, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly.  SSI recipients need to take this action by later this month; a specific date will be available soon.

 

By taking this proactive step to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment.  If beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, their payment at this time will be $1,200.  People would then be required to file a tax year 2020 tax return to obtain the additional $500 per eligible child.

 

I urge Social Security and SSI recipients with qualifying children who do not normally file taxes to take action now.  Immediately go to IRS.gov so that you will receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for.

 

People with Direct Express debit cards who enter information at the IRS’s website should complete all of the mandatory questions, but they may leave the bank account information section blank as Treasury already has their Direct Express information on file.

 

Additionally, any new beneficiaries since January 1, 2020, of either Social Security or SSI benefits, who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, will also need to go to the IRS’s Non-Filers website to enter their information as they will not receive automatic payments from Treasury.”