GOODWILL COVID-19 NEWS & UPDATES

COVID-19 SUPPORT & RESOURCES

COMMUNITY LISTS

• LouieConnect, a partnership with Metro United Way and Family Scholar House and operated by Family Scholar House, offers an interactive look at the many resources available to all nationalities and demographics in respective communities. The resources include safe places and hotlines for COVID-19, domestic abuse, mental health and more. 
• Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Louisville Chamber of Commerce, has developed a COVID-19 resource page featuring a job board, updated legislation, small business help and educational and community resources, which can be accessed here. It also offers its Crisis Support Hub, available here. 
• The Community Asset Registry for the Empowerment of Kentucky (CARE KY) allows you to search for food, housing, transportation, utilities, family and community support and personal safety by county.
• This Coronavirus Response Portal, provided by Senator Mitch McConnell’s team, has been created to assist the following: Workers, employers and small businesses, individuals needing assistance with federal taxes and rebate checks, competitive federal grants and education and Kentuckians living or traveling abroad.
• The Louisville Salvation Army Information Hub provides information on requesting navigation needs, social distancing needs, how to volunteer and more.
• Louisville Urban League community resources include connections to food banks, housing programs, education, employment opportunities, clothing needs and more.
• United Way of Kentucky 211 is a service that connects you to community resources for food, health, housing and utilities and relief for crises, emergencies, disasters and more.
• For many more valuable resources, reference the Kentucky Community Action Partnership member directory, which lists agencies across the Commonwealth that are ready and willing to assist those in need. 
• Additional community lists: Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce resources; Center for Nonprofit Excellence resource list; Kentucky Housing Corporation statewide resource guide; List of resources in Lexington via the Lexington Herald-Leader; Bowling Green community resources; Pulaski County community resources; List of resources for Big Sandy area near Paintsville; Metro United Way COVID-19 response; Louisville Pride Foundation.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

What if I need financial assistance?

TESTING LOCATIONS

Where can I get tested for COVID-19?

• Gov. Andy Beshear said April 23 for the first time that the general public will be allowed to be tested for COVID-19 at testing sites operated by Kroger. Plans include testing for sites operating in Pikeville, Somerset, Madisonville and Paducah, and sites planned for future dates in Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro and Bowling Green. Individuals can register for free here. 
• Testing for individuals who are sick or showing symptoms established by the CDC is also available in Lexington via Walgreens. More information can be found here. Testing begins the week of April 27 and requires preregistration.
• Walmart will begin drive-thru testing at its Bashford Manor location beginning Wednesday, April 29. Tests are available for anyone over age 18 exhibiting symptoms and to all health care workers.
• First Care is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at clinics across Kentucky. For more information and a complete list of First Care locations in the Commonwealth, visit its website here. 
• For a complete list of COVID-19 testing locations across the Commonwealth, reference this link from Kentucky’s official website. 
• The CDC’s online Coronavirus Self-Checker can help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care.
• The Sydney Care mobile application can also help you find a testing site near you.

FOOD RESOURCES

Where can I find assistance with food in the Louisville area?

• For those in need of a meal in the Louisville area, Dare to Care provides an interactive map of all food bank
  locations here.
• For those under age 18, Jefferson County Public Schools is offering free breakfast and lunch at many different locations. Dare to Care Kids’ Cafes have dinner covered for those under 18.
• For Louisville-area seniors, the city is offering those 60 years and older a meal from 10 a.m. to noon each weekday. More information can be found here.
• The Table Café is serving takeout meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information can be found here.
• For restaurant workers in need of relief, the Lee Initiative packs hundreds of to-go meals that affected workers can take home.
• Feeding Kentucky’s regional food banks serve all 120 Kentucky counties through partnerships with local food pantries and shelters. A directory of local food pantries is available here or by calling (502) 699-2656.
• Louisville COVID-19 Match was created to both request help if you are in need of necessities and over the age of 60 and assist those in need by delivering groceries and other essentials. Click here to find a COVID-19 Match.
• PET FOOD: Dog and cat food is available to pet owners impacted by pandemic through The Kentucky Humane Society. 

Where can I find assistance with food in the Lexington area?

• If you are in need of help with food in central or eastern Kentucky, visit God’s Pantry Food Bank here. Eligibility is based on current income and household size.
• The Lee Initiative is expanding to Lexington. More information can be found here.
• FoodChain is offering hot meals in Lexington via its emergency food fund.
• Share Lexington is continuing its food assistance and necessities program. Information can be found here.
• Feeding Kentucky’s regional food banks serve all 120 Kentucky counties through partnerships with local food pantries and shelters. A directory of local food pantries is available here or by calling (502) 699-2656.
• Lexington Rescue Mission offers breakfast and lunch for anyone in need Monday through Saturday. Visit the link for more information.

Where can I find assistance with food in the Bowling Green area?

• Hotel Inc. is offering meals for those who have been affected by poverty and COVID-19. Additional information can be found here.
• Bowling Green City Schools’ food pantries offer sack and hot lunches.
• Feeding Kentucky’s regional food banks serve all 120 Kentucky counties through partnerships with local food pantries and shelters. A directory of local food pantries is available here or by calling (502) 699-2656.

Where can I find assistance with food in other parts of the Commonwealth?

• Information on all 135-plus food banks in the Commonwealth can be found here.
• If you are in need of help with food in central or eastern Kentucky, visit God’s Pantry Food Bank here.
• Living Bread & Soup Kitchen and Feed My Sheep Ministries offer meals for those who need them in Somerset. Contact (606) 379-6270 or (606) 872-0703, respectively. Or contact the Somerset Salvation Army at (606) 679-2001.
• Thankful Hearts Food Pantry Inc., located in Pikeville, is updating its Facebook page regularly with food giveaways.
• For those in Elizabethtown, contact Feeding America at (270) 735-1407. Seniors may contact Hardin County Senior Citizens Center at (270) 982-2909 or Radcliff Senior Citizens Center at (270) 982-2909.
• For additional food bank locations and more, visit Feeding Kentucky.
• For individuals with Humana medical insurance, you can request a meal kit delivery. Humana’s Basic Needs Team will find resources to fill your meal kit, which will include 14 nutritious meals. More information can be found here.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Where can I find assistance with housing in the Louisville area?

• The Coalition for the Homeless has compiled a list of day and overnight shelters for homeless individuals and families in Louisville. View the complete list here. 
• The Healing Place also provides shelter in addition to food and clothing to clients seeking help for addiction.
• A list of more Louisville shelters can be found here.

Where can I find assistance with housing in the Lexington area?

• Lexington Rescue Mission assists with housing issues, among other things, and connects people in Lexington to other community resources.
• The Salvation Army’s Central Kentucky Area Services operate homeless programs with a total bed capacity of 204 and several cribs at 736 W Main St. in Lexington.
• New Life Day Center is a daytime shelter and connecting point for those in need.
• Hope Center Inc. averages 200 clients a night and provides several other services for those affected by the pandemic.

Where can I find assistance with housing in the Bowling Green area?

• The Salvation Army provides a shelter and much more for those in need at 400 W Main Ave. in Bowling Green.
• Hotel Inc. provides access to permanent housing services and solutions. Call to schedule an appointment at the Education and Development Center here.
• BRASS, or the Barren River Area Safe Space, is a regional, domestic violence shelter and program. Its service area covers Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson and Warren Counties.

Where can I find assistance with housing in other parts of the Commonwealth?

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a list of Kentucky shelters and emergency housing.
• A list of regional domestic violence shelters and programs can be found through the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence here.
• The Kentucky Housing corporation offers a statewide resource guide here, which includes a list of shelters by county. 
• Linked here is a comprehensive list of public housing across the Commonwealth, made available by HUD. 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Where can I find employment opportunities in the Louisville area?

• View the GLI, WorkOne and KentuckianaWorks job board for an up-to-date list of job postings throughout Kentuckiana.
• Indeed provides a list of employers currently hiring in the Louisville area here. You can narrow your search with keywords and filters. 
• Large companies looking for help include: Kroger; Meijer; Amazon; Papa Johns; Domino’s; UPS; Facilities Management Services; Sav-A-Lot.
• If you are interested in using extra time to complete free online courses for credit, visit Jefferson Community and Technical College here.
• EssayOnTime.com has compiled a list of online resources for skill-building and at-home learning, for adults and children, as well as credible awareness resources, available here. 

Where can I find employment opportunities in the Lexington area?

• The Lexington Herald-Leader compiled a list of companies hiring during this time here and also allows you to search for local job postings here. 
• Indeed offers a list of employers currently hiring in the Lexington area here. You can narrow your search with keywords and filters provided. 
• Visit the Commerce Lexington job board for a range of available positions in the area.
• Additional opportunities in the Lexington area: Amazon; Papa Johns; Domino’s; UPS; Remedy Staffing.

Where can I find employment opportunities in the Bowling Green area?

• Indeed provides a list of employers hiring in the Bowling Green area here. You can narrow your search with keywords and filters. 
• Job announcements can be found on the official municipal Bowling Green website here.
• Bowling Green Chamber partners offer even more listings here, sorted by type and category.

Where can I find employment in other areas of the Commonwealth?

• The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s COVID-19: Who’s Hiring? Report is an continuously updated list of job opportunities in Kentucky, sorted by region.
• The Kentucky Career Center offers a list of employers that are urgently hiring in Kentucky. Its COVID-19 resources also include training opportunities here. 
• For government employment, visit the Commonwealth’s official website here and navigate to “Search Current Openings.” You can also look into its training opportunities here. 
• Search for a specific job posting by way of the Kentucky Job Network here. 
• Large retailers and chains looking for help include: Kroger; Walmart; Amazon; Papa Johns; Domino’s.
• Search Indeed and Glassdoor for employers currently hiring in Kentucky, or enter keywords specific to careers you are interested in. 
• EssayOnTime.com has compiled a list of online resources for skill-building and at-home learning, for adults and children, as well as credible awareness resources, available here. 

VOLUNTEER/DONATION OPPORTUNITIES

Where can I volunteer?

• Visit Dare to Care Food Bank to request food or volunteer your time at distribution centers or kitchens near you.
• Metro United Way provides multiple volunteer opportunities via its COVID-19 response guide here. Additional donation opportunities are available as well. 
• The Louisville Salvation Army lists volunteer opportunities here, or for statewide volunteer opportunities, visit this link and find your nearest Salvation Army. 
• Louisville COVID-19 Match was created to both request help if you are in need of necessities and over the age of 60 and to help those in need by delivering groceries and other essentials. Click here to find a COVID-19 Match.
• The Hope Center in Lexington is looking for volunteers to serve meals, share expertise and more. Visit this link to learn more. 
• If you would like to volunteer your time to general causes associated with the novel coronavirus pandemic, please email us at contactus@goodwillky.org. Our Communications team will direct you to someone in need of assistance.

Where can I donate my personal protective equipment (PPE)?

• The National Guard has headed up a donation drive for gloves and other medical gear. If you have items to donate, contact (502) 607-6844.
• To donate PPE through Team Kentucky by way of the Kentucky State Police, complete this form and select a drop-off location. 
• Kentucky Emergency Management is seeking companies to sell or produce PPE. Fill out this form if you can help.
• UK Healthcare is looking for donated cloth masks to use to cover its existing supply. Learn more and about how to donate or create the masks here.
• To purchase PPE from companies that are manufacturing or selling items to the general public, visit GLI’s Crisis Support Hub here. 

How do I make a face mask?

• Threads Monthly offers 41 different face mask sewing patterns that have each been approved by 64 hospitals. View the list and print off instructions here. 
• To view how to make a mask with fabric and shoestring, watch this video.
• Reference this guide to create a face mask from a handkerchief and hair elastics. 
• For creation using just a T-shirt sleeve, follow these instructions. 
• If you need to create a face mask with a bandana, reference this video.  
• For additional instructions on how to create a mask at home, please refer to this link or these documents: Easy face mask with darts; Easy face mask with darts and filter.

Where can I donate other items?

• Metro United Way, through its COVID-19 response guide, has several postings for needed donations – anything from hand sanitizer and clothes to sketches and instructional dancing videos. Peruse the board to find something you can contribute.
• The Salvation Army welcomes monetary donations or the donation of goods. Click here to visit the national site, which will lead you to a more direct donation site.
• Click here to donate to the Team Kentucky Fund and/or the One Louisville Fund, which provide assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The American Red Cross is in need of donations. To donate blood or plasma – especially if you have fully recovered from novel coronavirus – visit American Red Cross here.
• If you had a positive novel coronavirus test and have since tested negative, here’s information on how you can donate plasma to Norton Healthcare for experimental research. 

UTILITY PAYMENT RELIEF

What if I need assistance paying my utilities?

• The Kentucky Public Service Commission has ordered as of March 17 that all utilities under its jurisdiction suspend all disconnections for late payments, as well as late payment fees. This came after several major utility companies, such as LG&E and Louisville Water, suspended their disconnections in recent weeks.
• Income-eligible residents in Louisville, and other areas of the Commonwealth (see below), seeking utility assistance can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through April 30 by mail or using drop boxes at six locations. Learn more here or call (502) 991-8391.
• Assistance with utility payments can also be found through Neighborhood Place, a partnership of Louisville Metro agencies and community residents that deliver services in a new way. Community Ministries is also providing support in Louisville.
• Additional resources in other parts of the Commonwealth: Legal Aid Society resources; City of Lexington emergency financial assistance; Lexington Salvation Army; Warren RECC energy assistance; Community Action of Southern Kentucky LIHEAP; Big Sandy Area Community Action (Paintsville); Bell County LIHEAP; Harlan County LIHEAP.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL HEALTH TOOLS

What if I need assistance with mental and emotional health?

• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides a COVID-19 mental health resource hub here, which includes videos and downloadable content for individuals, veterans, health care providers, businesses and more.
• The Salvation Army has introduced an Emotional and Spiritual Care hotline in response to the pandemic, which can be reached at (844) 458-4673 by anyone in the U.S. More information is available here. 
• Visit Centerstone to call or chat with a health care professional regarding emotional counseling, behavioral counseling, psychological care and/or drug or alcohol addiction.
• LouieConnect, provided by Metro United Way, offers an interactive look at the many resources available to all in need. The resources include hotlines for COVID-19, domestic abuse, mental health and more. 
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this guide to managing stress and anxiety.
• Guidance for easing stress and bettering your mental health amid the pandemic can also be found via Rehab4Addiction, which offers important information and tips to try. 
• John Parrott, founder of Relax Like a Boss, offers this resource to explain the struggles of anxiety and how to ease it during this challenging time, which can be found here. 
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides eight steps you can take to prevent this stressful time from derailing your mental health here.
• “How communities can prevent panic in uncertain times,” provided by PublicHealthDegrees.org, details how to manage anxiety during the pandemic, and precautions to take during a lasting public health crisis.
• Gather tips from experts on what to expect from your first virtual therapy session, as well as resources to help individuals find an online counselor here, via OnlineCounselingPrograms.com.
• FingerprintForSuccess.com offers this resource for battling loneliness during the pandemic. It shares ideas about anxiety and coping up with it and is available here. 
• EssayOnTime.com has compiled a list of online resources for skill-building and at-home learning, for adults and children, as well as credible awareness resources, available here. 
• Fingerprint for Success published an article about entitled Loneliness – the workplace anxiety of the ‘New Normal.’ 
• Additional resources: 60 Digital Resources for Mental Health via Social Work License Map; How to deal with addiction during the pandemic; Volunteers of American Mid-States; Kentucky Counseling Center; Center for Behavioral Health; The Healing Place (Men); The Healing Place (Women); 10-Minute Nourishing Breath Meditation; Self-Compassion Break.

What if my emotional health is linked to abuse?

• The Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence is still offering assistance amid the pandemic. Its domestic violence programs are open and ready to serve survivors. Visit the KCADV website here, or contact (800) 799-SAFE. 
• The Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs is also operating during this difficult time. If you are in need of help, would like to get involved or if you’d like more information about how operations have changed due to the pandemic, visit the KASAP website here. 

What if I need assistance with physical health?

• If you find yourself becoming less active as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the YMCA has provided a variety of free online health and fitness classes for children and adults. Classes range from yoga and Pilates to weightlifting, a fitness boot camp and even tai chi. This time of isolation presents a unique opportunity to learn a new exercise. Visit this link to peruse the YMCA’s health and fitness video catalog. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Health care professionals at the Kentucky Poison Control Center provide advice and answers to questions regarding the pandemic via the COVID-19 Hotline at (800) 722-5725.
• American Red Cross first aid, health and safety training
• Guide to novel coronavirus for cancer patients
• Comprehensive asbestos exposure information & legal claims
• Mesothelioma cancer and coronavirus: five things for patients to know
• Mesothelioma treatment options, free treatment guide
• COVID-19 information for all nationalities 
• Supportive services for veteran families
• Kentucky Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition benefits
• Metro United Way guide to weathering unemployment
• Protecting your finances during the pandemic
• Overview of virtual veterinarian visits for pet owners
• How to keep your dog safe at home
• ATT low-cost internet
• ATT low-cost cellular service
• Apply for a free government cell phone
• Charter affordable internet, free for 60 days
• Appalachian Wireless low-cost cellular service

If you know anyone affected by COVID-19 and in need of these resources, please share this portal. If you are able to offer services or have additional resource suggestions to be added to this comprehensive list, please email us or contact us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.