• If you are unable to meet basic needs like housing, food and healthcare, please reach out to the following partners who we will be working with to distribute funds to individuals and families in need:
• House of Hope: (772) 286-4673 
• Salvation Army of Martin County: (772) 288-1471

• We anticipate the need to gather significantly more funding to assist Martin County residents and are seeking additional contributions. 100% of donations will go toward the relief funds – no administrative fees will be taken. 
• As with the prior emergency funds managed by United Way, safeguards will be put in place to ensure these funds are used effectively and appropriately. Organizations receiving grants will be required to report back on use of the monies granted.

• The big news is the anticipated approval of the $2 Trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
• In an effort to provide you with the most accurate information, we will share the language from the CARES Act once the final version is released. 
• Please find important updates below regarding a new temporary application process for the SBA disaster loan, IRS tax relief efforts and enhanced unemployment assistance.

• The web portal for this loan program is temporarily unavailable. The demand unfortunately has caused the portal to crash yesterday. Please use the following information and link to access the new, temporary process until the web portal issues are resolved. 
• This loan provides access to capital up to $2 million with an interest rate of 3.75% (2.75% for non-profits) and a term of up to 30 years. 
• Click here for more information: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Home/OfflineApply  

• SBDC has begun reviewing and approving applications to provide businesses immediate access to short-term capital.  
• The loan program offers access to capital up to $50,000 for 12-months at 0% interest. Click here for more information: http://floridajobs.org/rebuildflorida/businessrecovery

• The FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY has extended the UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HOTLINE HOURS to better serve individuals seeking assistance. The hotline is now available seven days a week at 1-800-681-8102.
• Governor DeSantis has waived the eligibility requirements for claimants currently seeking unemployment. Claimants do not need to register with the state job search portal (Employ Florida) and do not need to submit the number of employers they contact each week. 
• The suspension of these requirements has a retroactive start date of March 15, 2020 through May 2, 2020 pursuant to Governor’s Order 20-52. Click here to view the Department of Economic Opportunity Emergency Order 20-011.  
• Visit http://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants for more info.

• The IRS had unveiled a new PEOPLE FIRST INITIATIVE which includes a sweeping series of steps to assist taxpayers by providing relief on a variety of issues ranging from easing payment guidelines to postponing compliance actions. 
• Please click here to read how these initiatives can best assist you and your business in this challenging time. 

• The Martin County Business Development Board is here to help navigate the local, regional, state and national resources.
• They have created a COVID-19 BIZ Hub  to help centralize all current and forthcoming information on key announcements, new services, programs, virtual events and community efforts to assist local businesses through this ever-changing environment.
• You can also call them at 772.221.1380 or email info@bdbmc.org with any questions or needs.

• United Way of Martin County has proudly partnered with other local funders to establish a coordinated COVID19 application process for our nonprofits providing services.
• Funding priorities include:
• Emergency food, shelter and other basic needs
• Expansion of service capacity related to increased demand for direct services
• Access to health care services for uninsured and underinsured clients
• Technology and other resources to allow your organization to continue to provide services
• Click here for more information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief & Recovery application process.

• Tax Day has moved from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties.
• Through United Way’s partnership with H&R Block, every household with a simple return can file their taxes for free at www.myfreetaxes.com

• Learn more about the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program, established during times of hardship here: https://www.usbgfoundation.org/beap

• Facebook is offering assistance to businesses that may be experiencing disruptions resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19 with $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where they operate. Sign up for details here.

• Meals on Wheels and Kane Cuisine - To access home-delivered meals, call 772-223-7826 or 772-223-7825.
• Emergency Food Pantry – The emergency food pantry is stocked with non-perishable foods for those in need. Please call meal services for information, 772-223-7826 or 772-223-7825.
• 24-Hour Hotline – Seniors in need, or their loved ones, can call the 24/7 hotline at 772-834-4236.
• Case Manager Navigator – Case managers are still caring for their clients. The case manager navigator is also available for assistance with accessing services and supplies. Call Jeanne at 772-223-7845 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Caregiver Counseling – Those caring for loved ones with dementia can access free caregiver counseling by calling Donna True, LCSW, at 772-223-7879.
• Day Medical Center – The medical center is open. As many patients as possible are being seen via telemedicine. When necessary, patients are still being seen in the office, with additional safety precautions in place. The medical center can be reached at 772-223-7864 or online at www.daymedicalcenter.org.

• Restaurants throughout Martin County are taking additional measures to ensure the safety of all staff and guests. Local eateries are offering carryout, curbside pick-up, and delivery options to continue feeding patrons in the safest way possible.
• To find what restaurants in the Martin County area are open for take-out, curbside pick-up, or delivery during this time there are two local resources: https://www.diningatadistance.com/martin-county and ourmartincounty.com 

• Teleperformance is hiring. Contact Michael.Hudgens@teleperformance.com or 772-398-2014 for details.

• Amazon in Fort Pierce will have available job openings soon! Please find the hiring links below -- Set up your profile and job alerts and as soon as the positions are posted you will receive alerts to apply http://www.amazon.com/jobsnow

• FEMA hires local residents, who are themselves disaster survivors, to help their fellow citizens in the recovery process to add to disaster operational staffing. They allow disaster survivors to get back to work while adding to the long-term recovery of the local community and bring a special understanding of the problems faced by their fellow disaster survivors. Click here.

• The Martin County School District’s Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) Department will serve free meals to children in the Martin County community from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, March 23 – Wednesday, April 15 2020.
• Effective March 27, 2020, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services will NOT require students to be present to receive meals, but parents/guardians should be prepared to provide one of the following documents to receive a meal for their child(ren) who are not present:
• School ID (any school - MCSD-operated school, charter or private)
• Birth certificate/passport/religious record
• Daycare record
• Meals will be served to children aged 18 and under at the following locations:
• Hobe Sound Elementary School -11555 SE Gomez Avenue, Hobe Sound, FL 33455
• J.D. Parker Elementary School - 1010 E. 10th Street, Stuart, FL 34994
• Port Salerno Elementary School - 3260 SE Lionel Terrace, Stuart, FL 34997
• Warfield Elementary School - 15260 SW 150th Street, Indiantown, FL 34956
• ***Beginning Thursday, March 26, FNS will provide meal service to St. Lucie Mobile Village in Indiantown.**
• ***Beginning Monday, March 30, FNS will begin serving meals to children aged 18 and under at Jensen Beach Elementary School

• Martin County Boys & Girls Clubs will provide free meals to children under the age 18—whether or not they are club members. This will continue until further notice. Meals provided will include dinner and a snack, and can be picked up drive-through style outside the clubs.
• Youth can continue to stop by from 4 to 8pm
• Families can pick up from 6:30 to 8 pm
• Those receiving can accept the meals regardless if they arrive on foot, by bike or by car.
• Meals are available for pick up at:
• Cloe-Clark Club, 11500 SE Lares Ave., Hobe Sound
• Bill & Barbara Whitman Club, 17375 SW Palm Beach St., Indiantown
• H. Wayne Huizenga Club, 1150 SW Martin Downs Blvd., Palm City
• John & Marge Bolton Club, 4731 SE Flounder Ave., Stuart

• Effective immediately House of Hope pantries will start prepackaged food distributions directly into client's vehicles. Clients will be signed in and emergency service allotments will be offered as appropriate. Clients on foot and bicycle will also be served but no one will enter the pantries. If you are new to House of Hope, be sure to bring the following information needed to access service:
• Picture ID
• Proof of Martin County residency (current lease, mortgage or utility bill within the last 30 days. A utility bill may be either, lights, water or gas bill.)
• If you have any questions or need to speak about financial assistance while pantry locations are closed to foot traffic, call (772) 286-4673.

• Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser. 
• New customers will receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month.

• All AT&T consumer home internet wireline customers, as well as Fixed Wireless Internet, can use unlimited internet data. Additionally, we’ll continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 a month through our Access from AT&T program. We’ve expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start. Additionally, we’re offering new Access from AT&T customers two months of free service. https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html

• FPL has a long history of working with its customers during difficult times and it will continue to do so. For customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, FPL has resources available to help, and to the extent they are available, it will continue to connect customers with resources from federal, state and local authorities. For now, FPL is suspending disconnections at least through the end of March. A good place to learn more is www.FPL.com/Help

• If you know a family with children in need of clothing, our hours are Wednesdays from 12-5 and Fridays from 9-2. In addition we are open the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 9-1. 772-221-8777. www.4cmartin.org

• All high school students will have access to free, live Advanced Placement review lessons by AP teachers from across the US. The classes are optional, mobile-friendly and designed to be used with work that may be given by schools.
• Click here for information.

• Character Counts in Martin County, especially during a crisis. Thanks to a partnership with United Way, students can still build their character muscle during distance learning at https://characterplaybook.com now accessible to all students through a direct-to-parents website.

• The Martin County School District is preparing for distance learning by distributing devices to students that do not have a personal device to use outside the classroom.
• These devices will be distributed to K-8 students according to this schedule. High school students will use their previously-issued Laptops 4 Learning (L4L) devices.
• High school students who do not have an L4L device will be able to pick up one of these devices at their high school using the process outlined here on Friday, March 27, 2020, between 1 PM and 5 PM.

• Here is a helpful resource regarding Google Classroom as we transition to online curriculum. View the information.

• Audible just launched a place where anyone anywhere can listen to hundreds of titles for kids and families completely free. While we are all stuck at home, great way to experience stories and minimize screen time. https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
• No login required. Can listen via computer, tablet, or phone. Titles sorted by age group and avail in many languages. Even some things in there for parents. 

• Khan Academy has compiled great daily learning schedules for students to use when school is not in session. These lessons and resources (including AP and SAT test prep) are 100% free. Schedules are broken up by age group and include time for meals and play/leisure. Click here to learn more. 

• The Florida Department of Education’s CPALMS virtual student center is a great online learning resource. Browse tutorials and other resources broken up by grade and subject level at floridastudents.org.

• PBS Kids has started a weekday newsletter that offers activities and tips parents can use to help children play and learn at home. Click here to sign up.

• Scholastic has launched a "Learn at Home" website that has daily courses for students from Pre-kindergarten to grades 6 and higher. Click here for info.

• United Way of Martin County partners with FamilyWize to provide access to affordable prescription medications.
• The prescription savings card is free, accepted at major chain pharmacies and there is no registration or eligibility requirement.
• Simply download a card and show it to the pharmacy to get the lowest prices. This can also be used for pharmacy delivery orders. https://www.unitedwaymartin.org/discounted-prescriptions

• To keep Florida residents and visitors safe, informed and aware about the status of the virus, The Florida Department of Health has launched a COVID-19 dashboard that will be updated twice daily.  
• To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage.
• For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov

• For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website. 

• Cleveland Clinic Martin Health is now performing drive-through testing at Martin North Hospital for influenza and COVID-19 by appointment only.
• Testing will only be performed for individuals who meet Florida Department of Health criteria for COVID-19. If individuals do not meet criteria, testing will not be performed.
• For an appointment, individuals who may have symptoms must call (772) 419-3360, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. For additional information about Cleveland Clinic Martin Health drive-through testing for COVID-19, visit t martinhealth.org/covid19

• When a crisis disrupts our lives and routines, maintaining our mental health is critical. Thankfully, Tykes & Teens has implemented HIPPA compliant virtual counseling services to ensure continuity of care for all clients. For more information call 772-220-3439.

• Catholic Charities Counseling Program encourages anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, and fear due to the COVID-19 pandemic to call our toll free hotline number at 1-844-848-6777. In addition, we are offering video sessions in lieu of face-to-face meetings with our highly trained therapists. Fees may apply to follow up video sessions (not the initial call), depending on our income-based sliding fee scale.  Staff and counselors are bilingual - Spanish/English.

• Martin County Healthy Start Coalition is still giving out diapers, wipes, and formula while inventory lasts during our diaper pantry days on Mondays and Thursday 9am-5pm at 963 SE Federal Hwy in Stuart. We are enrolling clients in Medicaid and SNAP by appointment only. They must call 772-463-2141 to schedule.