Contra Costa nutrition assistance services adjust to shelter-in-place order
Several county services, which provide nutrition assistance to Contra Costa County are making changes to accommodate the shelter-in-place order that has closed much of the Bay Area down this week. Here’s how some of them have responded:
Loaves and Fishes of CC
Dining rooms are partially closed. No communal dining; they are serving “to go” meals outside from the doors of the dining rooms with groceries. They are serving at the dining rooms located in Oakley, Martinez, Antioch and Pittsburg and serving to their partner Trinity Center in Walnut Creek.
For more about Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County, click here.
Monument Crisis Center
Monument Crisis Center will be distributing emergency groceries (1 bag per each adult) for anyone in need of emergency food for themselves and their families on the following dates:
- Friday, March 20, 2020, 9am -12noon
- Monday, March 23, 2020, 9am -12noon
- Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 9am -12noon
Additional distribution dates will be posted after re-evaluation of services and the current health & safety situation.
For more about Monument Crisis Center, click here.
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region
Home delivered meals are continuing uninterrupted. MOW Café’s are transferring to a weekly frozen delivery of 7 meals every Tuesday. They have to sign up by the Monday afternoon before to receive meals.
They are trying to recruit additional volunteers as many of our existing volunteers fall in the high-risk category and have understandably cancelled their shifts. I anticipate we will have more volunteers cancel as the shelter in place order sinks in.
They are providing additional supplies to our drivers – gloves, hand sanitizer, plastic bags, and Command hooks. We are instructing them to leave the meal on the senior’s porch, to ring the doorbell, and then to back away and watch them get the meal.
They are trying to respond to needs we have heard from our clients for cleaning products, hygiene products, and incontinence supplies.
Client at our Cafés will be receiving 7 frozen meals tomorrow (3/17), available for pick up or delivery. We will do the same next Tuesday (3/24). This has added the need for more drivers – and MOW will be using mainly staff to make that happen.
MOW Friendly Visitors program is going to provide all services over the phone. They are planning to ramp up calling services for seniors who may find themselves newly isolated during this time when social isolation seems to be getting worse.
Our Fall Prevention and Health and Exercise classes are temporarily suspended.
Our Care Management department is still providing services, but are trying to do as much over the phone as possible. We are also ramping up service in this area to help seniors process this crisis.
Related story: Meals on Wheels needs your support now more than ever.
For more on Meals on Wheels Diablo Valley, click here.
MDUSD
The Mount Diablo Unified School District announced a closure of its schools, effective March 17, 2020, with an expected duration through April 2, 2020. Spring Break is from April 3, 2020 to April 10, 2020. At this time, school is expected to resume on April 13, 2020.
The district’s goal will be to ensure a continuation of as many critical services as possible for the community going forward, including instruction, food services, and core payroll and business functions. They will provide free community meals for all children 18 years and younger. Limited food service will commence on Wednesday, March 18, 2020:
Eight locations throughout the District that will provide meals to students 18 and under. The sites include: Cambridge Elementary, Meadow Homes Elementary, El Dorado Middle School, Foothill Middle School, River View Middle School, Valley View Middle School, Ygnacio Valley High School and Mt. Diablo High School.
Meals will be provided from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. MDUSD will be providing lunch and breakfast food for the following day in each bag.
Please see the attached flyers for a list of locations:
For more about MDUSD, click here.