Davalee Meade, a paramedic with Woodburn Ambulance Service administers a COVID-19 test during a free drive-through testing clinic on Tuesday, August 25. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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As Marion County enters the sixth month of the pandemic, local organizations are still seeing high demand for food and other services. Salem Reporter put together a resource list for those needing a meal, rental assistance or Covid testing.
FOOD
Marion Polk Food Share is offering meals through its regular food banks as well as food boxes that can provide enough groceries for meals.
People are eligible for meals if they meet USDA income guidelines. A household of one making less than $38,280 would qualify, and a household of four making less than $78,600 would also qualify. People don’t to prove income or citizenship when picking up boxes.
A full list of meal sites is available on the Food Share’s website.
Ian Dixon-McDonald, vice president of programs, said food bank sites typically see about 10,000 visits a month, but since the pandemic started that number has doubled.
The food bank got extra help from the federal Farmers to Families Food Box Program. President Donald Trump announced on Monday his administration would provide an additional $1 billion to keep the program going through October. The list of distribution sites for that program is on the Food Share’s website.
HOME Youth Service, 625 Union St. N.E., is providing meals, basic needs and educational support to youth needing shelter aged 11 to 18. The drop in is open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The Salem-Keizer School District is continuing to offer grab-and-go meals at some schools until Sept. 4. After that, the district plans to launch a meal program limited to enrolled students that will be offered at most schools.
A list of summer meal locations is on the Salem-Keizer website.
Seniors can get meals delivered on weekdays through the Meals on Wheels program administered through Food Share, with the option of having frozen meals delivered Fridays for the weekend. Seniors over 60 who are homebound can call 503-364-2856 to see if they’re eligible to receive meals.
United Way is offering food boxes for home-bound seniors, medically fragile people and families with food insecurity. Those interested in getting a box can contact Center 50+ at 503-588-6303.
Marilyn Daily-Blair, director of Center 50+, said the senior center is distributing 180 boxes from its location and United Way is giving out another 450 twice a month.
CRISIS LINE
Northwest Human Services has a crisis and information hotline that handles thousands of calls a year at 503-581-5535. The health provider also operates a resource website called Mid-Valley Resources that offers more than 300 local resources to find healthcare, counseling, suicide intervention, housing, homeless services and emergency financial help.
The Marion County Psychiatric Crisis Center is available around the clock for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis by calling 503-585-4949.
HELP WITH RENT AND BILLS
The Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency is offering millions in rental assistance for those impacted by the pandemic.
The program offers lump sum rent payments to landlords going back as far as December 2019 and up to December 2020. There is currently no cap on the amount of money offered through the program, but Ashley Hamilton with The ARCHES Project said that could change.
The number of monthly payments offered depend on a household’s median income at the time of enrollment.
LINK: Covid rent relief
Applicants need to prove they’ve been impacted by Covid, either through lost income or illness, live in Marion or Polk County and must be making less than 80% of the median income.
Low-income families who have been impacted by Covid can also apply to get money to help pay utility bills through both the Oregon Energy Assistance Program or Energy Assistance Stability Coronavirus Relief by applying online. The minimum payment for coronavirus relief program is $500 and it goes up to $1,500 depending on the account balance.
Oregon Energy Assistance is available for Portland General Electric and Pacific Power customers who make below 60% of the state median income. The amount of assistance received depends on income level.
Salem is also offering an emergency utility assistance program that offers households up to $500 for past due bills. Contact 503-588-6099 if you’re unable to pay your utility bill or past due balance.
TESTING SITES
If you’re experiencing symptoms of Covid, such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath, the Oregon Health Authority advises people to contact their healthcare provider or a telehealth program to find out if they should be evaluated for testing.
The Oregon Health Authority has an online database that lists Covid testing sites nearby. All the sites are by appointment only and some require a doctor’s order.
Covid tests are free for those with the Oregon Health Plan and most insurance providers will waive the deductible or co-payment for testing, according to OHA.
Alluvium, a mobile testing clinic, and Woodburn Ambulance, are offering free pop-up testing events in September in Woodburn. A list of testing dates is on the Alluvium website.
UPDATE: This story was updated to include Northwest Human Services hotline number.
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Have a story tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected] or @daisysaphara.
