During the State of Emergency, the City of Lansing will be sending daily COVID updates at 5pm to everyone on the Neighborhood News list and posting to the city’s social media channels.

We are getting many calls about how we can help our neighbors during this time. We will include opportunities to help each other and resources where help is available. If you have information that you would like included, please send it to DeLisa Fountain at DeLisa.Fountain@lansingmi.gov by 3pm. This emergency is changing daily and we are committed to making sure our neighbors have the information necessary to care for themselves, their neighbors, and our community.

Lansing Parks and Trails remain open

*Fenner Nature Center is closed

How Can I Help?

The Mayor is urging citizens to continue to take the following basic measures to prevent the spread of the virus:

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.
If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.

Link to the State of Michigan Community Mitigation Strategies Website.

American Red Cross Blood Donations

The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood.

Please schedule your appointment to donate blood HERE using your zip code to locate the closest location.

Great Lansing Food Bank

Support the Greater Lansing Food Bank with monetary donations. Please donate at the following LINK

Volunteer Opportunities Available:

Volunteers are needed for Lansing area shelters. If you are available to volunteer, please contact Renee Jones at Holy Cross by phone 517.489.5278 or email: rjones@hccsnet.org
Tri-County Office on Aging is looking for volunteers to safely deliver meals to seniors in the area: https://www.tcoa.org/volunteer

Combating Price Gouging

Effective Monday, March 16, until Monday, April 13, Michigan is cracking down on businesses and individuals that engage in price gouging on consumer food items, emergency supplies, and other goods and materials. Residents are urged to report any price gouging or other violations of the Consumer Protection Act online by clicking here or by calling (877) 765-8388.

Statewide Coronavirus Hotline — (888) 535-6136

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launched a statewide hotline to respond to your health-related questions about COVID-19. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Public health and other experts will answer your questions and direct you to the resources available in your local communities and in other state government departments.

Local Corona Virus Hotline- Ingham County Health Department

Have questions or concerns about coronavirus?
Call us at (517) 887-4517 or visit us on the web at hd.ingham.org/coronavirus

Take Out Tonight Spotlight
Support our local restaurants by ordering take-out. Our resident take out specialist, Director of Economic Development and Planning, Brian McGrain, is happy to share some of his favorite take out spots. Today he is recommending Corey’s Lounge at 1511 S Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48910 where earlier this week he had great corned beef and cabbage. Call (517) 482-3132 and place your order and pick it up!

Give!

United Way Emergency Response Fund

Many of our neighbors will need help in the coming weeks. Give to the Capital Area United Way Emergency Fund. Capital Area United Way (CAUW) has been communicating with other nonprofits, government officials, and the United Way helpline, 2-1-1, to understand exactly how the COVID-19 crisis will affect local families.

CAUW has detected a lack of rent and mortgage payment assistance funds in the tri-county. While a moratorium on evictions has been approved at the federal level, it is only temporary and will not forgive rent and mortgage arrearages. If our community does nothing, people will still lose their homes due to this crisis.

Emergency Relief Fund page - https://www.micauw.org/emergency-fund

Direct Link to Giving Page : www.tinyurl.com/micauwef

COVID-19 Informational Page - https://www.micauw.org/covid-19

Rain is Coming!

Help prevent flooding in your neighborhood and clean out the catch basins. Thank You Council President Spadafore's boots for modeling this quick way to make a big difference in your neighborhood.

How Can I get Help

Updates from Mayor Schor

Mayor Andy Schor joins bipartisan mayors from across the country in signing the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s letter to congress asking for the $250 billion in emergency supplemental assistance to be provided directly to America’s cities to help address both the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress is considering at $1 trillion request and it’s imperative that cities are included.

Info: https://www.usmayors.org/2020/03/18/united-states-conference-of-mayors-requests-250-billion-in-localized-aid-to-fight-virus-maintain-city-services-help-workers-and-local-businesses/

Grants Available

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million for impacted small businesses. Coordinate with your governor's office.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is distributing $560 million to state and local jurisdictions to support Covid-19 response.
The Jack Ma Foundation is donating 500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks to the United States.
For K-12 schools, Zoom is temporarily lifting the 40-minute time limit on its basic videoconferencing service.

For Assistance Call 211

2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in over 180 languages.

https://www.mi211.org/

Referring people to 211 is the best way to connect them with services. It also allows us to track community requests for support and properly respond.

Unemployment Assistance

If you lose your job during the coronavirus outbreak, you can apply for unemployment assistance here. You can find a full, step-by-step guide to doing so here. The Governor has implemented a number of changes to Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance rules to ensure that they are better able to benefit Michigan workers and families during the coronavirus outbreak. Most importantly, she extended unemployment benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks.

Small Business Assistance
Yesterday, Governor Whitmer formally requested the U.S. Small Business Administration to issue an Economic Injury Disaster declaration for Michigan. When approved, an SBA Economic Injury Disaster declaration will make disaster loans of up to $2 million available to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

In the interim, small businesses that could benefit from SBA loans are encouraged to start collecting the information they’ll need to complete and submit their application. Examples of information needed can be found here. For additional information or to obtain help preparing the loan application in advance of the declaration, please contact the Michigan SBA offices in Detroit or Grand Rapids.

Separately, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) call center stands ready to support businesses looking for assistance through other available state programs. For more information, visit MEDC’s website or call 888-522-0103. The Michigan Small Business Development Center can also provide resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. For additional information, please visit their website here.

Expanding Access to Telemedicine

Michigan residents receiving Medicaid benefits can now take advantage of telemedicine health services from their home. In addition, most major health insurers have announced that they will cover and encourage the use of virtual care, while waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing. Call your health care provider for more information.

Pre-Eviction Prevention Program
Public Housing and Section 8 tenants at risk of eviction due to late rent, and fees are scheduled for a Citizen Intake to determine their eligibility for financial assistance. A judgement and SER determination from DHHS, proof of income, and identification is required for an appointment. Call 487.4477

Utility Assistance (in partnership with LBWL and St. Vincent DePaul)
Assist families with paying the LBWL bill to avoid shut-off and prevent eviction. A SER determination from DHHS, LBWL bill, proof of income and identification is required for an appointment. Call 487.4477

Lansing Board of Water and Light

Customers may pay their bill online, through the mail or over the phone. More information on ways to pay your bill can be found at www.lbwl.com/paybill.

The BWL has suspended electric and water shut-offs until further notice and COVID-19 is better controlled. Customers are encouraged to contact customer service to setup a bill payment plan to not fall behind when the moratorium is lifted by emailing customerservice@lbwl.com.

Consumers Energy

For the health and safety of our employees and customers, we’ve reduced service at our 13 direct payment offices to drop box and drive-thru only.

Payments left in drop boxes will be processed the same day and receipts will be mailed to customers' homes. Customers are also encouraged to pay online or find another payment location.

We are ensuring our most vulnerable customers have the services they need during this state of emergency by suspending shutoffs for non-pay for low-income and senior customers beginning March 16, 2020 through April 5, 2020. These time-frames could be adjusted depending on the spread and severity of the virus.

Senior citizens and qualified low-income customers already enrolled in our Winter Protection Program have already had their end dates extended through May 3, 2020, without any additional actions required on their part.

Capital Area Housing Partnership

HOUSING COUNSELING
Capital Area Housing Partnership is a Michigan State Housing & Development Authority Housing Counseling Agency with on-staff HUD-certified housing counselors who can help mid-Michigan residents struggling with financial challenges. Families and individuals with fears about paying rent, utility bills, eviction, foreclosure, debt or credit impacts should call CAHP to schedule a free virtual appointment to discuss options.

CAHP’s housing counselors offer free, individualized guidance, and work with clients to develop a plan to understand their options and connect with resources, helping them reach their financial goals. CAHP’s office will be closed to the public until April 6, 2020. CAHP will be open remotely during that time and answering phone calls at 517-332-HOME (4663) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

FOOD

UPDATED LANSING SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD LOCATIONS

INGHAM COUNTY FOOD PANTRIES

48906

All Nations Christian Church Food Pantry

1205 E Saginaw Street, Lansing

(517) 371-2222

Catholic Community of St. Jude (serves north Lansing zip 48906)

409 Wilson Street, DeWitt 48820

(517) 669-8335

Cristo Rey Community Center

1717 North High Street, Lansing

(517) 372-4700 x 249

Northwest Lutheran Food Pantry

Saint Stephen Lutheran Church

2900 N Waverly Road, Lansing

(517) 853-0453

Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Saint Gerard

(West of MLK only)

4437 West Willow Hwy, Lansing

(517) 853-8132

Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Resurrection

1601 E Grand River Avenue, Lansing

(517) 371-4380

Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Saint Therese

102 West Randolph Street, Lansing

(517) 482-0765

48910

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

549 E Mt Hope Avenue, Lansing

(517) 485-3613

Bethlehem Temple Church

1518 South Washington Avenue, Lansing

(517) 485-4209

Christ Temple Church

1033 Lenore St, Lansing 48910

(517) 484-0578 or submit request online at www.ctcLansing.org

Lansing Area AIDS Network (Must be HIV+)

913 W Holmes Road, Suite 115, Lansing

(517) 394-3560

LMTS

808 Southland Street, Suite B, Lansing 48910

Hours 9 am – 1 pm, M-F (By appointment only)

Call (517) 483-2604 (allow 24-48 hours for a response)

Mount Hope Presbyterian Church

301 West Jolly Road, Lansing

(517) 393-2211

The Salvation Army South Corps

701 W Jolly Rd, Lansing 48910

(517) 394-6945

South Lansing Ministries

1905 W Mt Hope, Lansing

(517) 853-8073

48911

Lansing Church of God in Christ

5304 Wise Road, Lansing

(517) 882-2335

Our Savior Lutheran Pantry

1515 W Holmes Road, Lansing

(517) 882-7750

Pagans in Need - Lansing

5655 South Washington Avenue, Lansing

(517) 258-4575

Ray of Hope Food Pantry

Capitol City Church of God

6228 Bishop Road, Lansing

(517) 393-5353

48912

Allen Neighborhood Center Breadbasket/Food Pantry

Every Monday, produce, bread and other baked goods are available to Eastside residents

1:00 pm- 5:00 pm (517) 367-2468

Eastside Community Action Center

1001 Dakin Street, Lansing

(517) 853-0414

Salvation Army North

525 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing

(517) 484-4424

48915

Letts Community Center

1220 West Kalamazoo, Lansing

(517) 483-4311

48917 (These pantries are actually in Eaton County)

Calvary Christian Fellowship

5324 Millett Hwy, Lansing 48917

Lunch and a bag of groceries

1st & 3rd Thurs 12 pm-1:30 pm

(517) 372-9673

Lansing Seventh Day Adventist Community Service Center

5400 West Saint Joseph, Lansing

(517) 321-8238

Society of Saint Vincent De Paul - Saint Gerard

4437 West Willow Hwy, Lansing

(517) 853-8132

48933

First Presbyterian Church Pantry

510 W. Ottawa, Lansing

(517) 574-5124

FREE OR LOW-COST INTERNET SERVICE AND OTHER RELATED RESOURCES (DEVICES AND CONTENT)

AT&T’s “Access by AT&T.” Available in 21 states. One family member must be eligible for SNAP.

COVID-19 response: AT&T has committed waive data overage fees in response to Covid-19.
For more information go to: https://gizmodo.com/at-t-waiving-data-overage-fees-for-home-internet-subscr-1842300601

Resources

MEDIA COVERAGE

For more information, please visit lansingmi.gov/coronavirus.

###

The Neighborhood News will be used for daily COVID-19 updates during the Local State of Emergency. *************************************************************************************

Sign up to receive Neighborhood News by email HERE