VEP has compiled a list of resources that may be helpful to students navigating the Coronavirus pandemic. If you are able, please have your student complete this short survey about how they are coping.
Food & Clothing Assistance
Food Assistance
FREE Christmas Eve Dinner To Go from the HEART Kitchen
RESERVE YOUR TO-GO MEAL, Individual or Family Size. Reservations required and due by Friday, December 17th. Meal includes sliced ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, dinner rolls and dessert.
Pick up on Friday, December 14th from 9 am to 11 am. Limited walk-up meals available from 10:30 am to 11 am.
Download flyer for more information.
EatFresh Free Cooking Classes
What Is EatFresh?
Eat Fresh is a free community cooking class from the Chester County Food Bank designed to help you eat more fruits and vegetables while building your confidence in cooking!
Classes are free, hosted in English and Spanish, and include a weekly produce box during the six-week session. You agree to attend classes and pick up the weekly produce box by registering for Eat Fresh.
When Does it Start
Spanish classes: January 11, 2022
English classes: January 18, 2022
Who can join?
EatFresh is FREE and open to the community. We welcome anyone and everyone!
How do you join?
Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EFwin22
Where are classes held?
-Spanish classes will be at Ann’s Heart. Only the first and last classes are in person; the classes in between are through ZOOM
-English classes will be held at the Phoenixville Senior Center. The first and last classes will be in person. Everything in between will be through ZOOM
Phoenixville’s new Pay It Forward Cafe (PIFC) Series aims to provide free community meals, while offering the opportunity to give back if you are able. PIFC meals are available to anyone and everyone. If you can make a donation – great! If not, no worries. Meals are lovingly prepared and distributed from our licensed HEART Kitchen, located at 35 Hall Street in downtown Phoenixville. Most meals will be created in partnership with a fellow non-profit or service organization to help support other programs that service our great community. We hope you will help us Pay It Forward and join us at our community table! For more information or, visit Ann’s Heart.
Food Pantry and Meal Distribution Locations, Phoenixville
Phoenixville Food Insecurity Team (PFIT) Members work together to bring awareness of the many pantries, meals and food delivery services available to those in need in the Phoenixville community. Calendars are available monthly.
September Calendar in English
September Calendar in Spanish
Grace Crossing Community Church Joyful Servants’ Food Pantry
248 Church Street, Phoenixville, PA
Food Pantry will be open on Thursdays 10:00 am to 11:00 am, September to December 2021 on the following dates:
September 9th, 23rd & 30th
October14th & 28th
November 4th, 11th & 18th
December 2nd, 9th & 23rd
More information here
Phoenixville Area School District Food Distribution
Phoenixville Area School District is happy to again be able to provide meals at NO COST to all PASD students. This federally funded program allows us to offer students both breakfast and lunch at NO COST. All students who are attending school in person will be able to access the meals through the cafeteria. Meals for virtual students may be picked up on a weekly basis. On Monday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 am, you can pick up 5 breakfast meals and 5 lunch meals for the week for each child who is attending school virtually.
Phoenixville Area School District Virtual Parents/Guardians
You MUST register your child—please send an email to the address below to ensure you are signed up.
WHAT: Federal government is providing NO COST meals for all students!
WHO: Any PASD student—including those who are in virtual instruction
HOW: Send an email to HawleyA@pasd.com to sign up
WHEN: Mondays from 9 -11 am
WHERE: Phoenixville Area High School (1200 Gay Street, across from the football field; just drive up – no need to get out of your car)
WHAT’S INCLUDED? 5 breakfast meals and 5 lunch meals
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? NO COST to any PASD student
WHEN DOES THIS START? August 30, 2021—the first day of school!
BE SURE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO HawleyA@pasd.com to register!
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Mary Jane Weiss at weissm@pasd.com or 484-927-5040.
Adult meals are no longer available but grab and go boxes are available at these locations:
Phoenixville YMCA, 400 East Pothouse Road
Barkley Elementary 320 Second Avenue
Phoenixville Area Middle School 1000 Purple Pride Parkway
Orion Communities, 237 Bridge Street
The Clinic, 143 Church Street
If you cannot make it to one of these locations but you are in need of meals, please contact Alyson Riffey at 484-927-5117.
Chester County Food Bank
To receive food assistance through the Chester County Food Bank, click on this map above to contact your local agency during its listed business hours. All listed agencies are open to the public. If you are unsure of the cupboard closest to you, call the Food Bank at 610-873-6000 to find a hunger relief agency that serves your part of the County.
Bridges Out of Poverty Virtual Workshop
Friday, October 22nd 9 AM – 12:30 PM
To Register: https://forms.gle/mkpMxLufR5rMjetj7
Questions? wgaynor@chestercountyfoodbank.org
Bridges Out of Poverty is a framework that equips communities, organizations, and individuals with strategies and tools for addressing poverty in a comprehensive way. It brings together people from all sectors and economic classes to reduce barriers and build access to resources for those in poverty in order to build a sustainable community where everyone can live well.
Mobile Home Property Tax Reassessment Help
*TIME SENSITIVE*
United Way Mobile Home Property Tax Reassessment Project
If you live in and own a mobile home in Chester County, please call United Way of Chester County at 610-429-9400 to find out about its Mobile Home Property Reassessment program to help reduce property taxes. Mobile homes depreciate like cars but are taxed like homes. They are 70% over-assessed. Deadline is July 20.
**United Way of Chester County And Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania are hosting in-person appointments on July 8th (West Grove), July 13th (Oxford), July 15th (Oxford), July 16th (Honey Brook), July 17th (West Chester), July 19th (West Chester), and July 20th (Phoenixville) to assist Mobile Home owners file for Property Tax Reassessments. Please call United Way at 610-429-9400 to book your appointment today.** For more information, view this flyer in English or Spanish.
Residents know to bring the following information about their mobile home:
· Manufacturer name
· Model number
· Size
· Year of the home
This information should be on your bill of sale, PA title and/or insurance documents.
| Date | July 8th | July 13th | July 15th | July 16th | July 17th | July 19th | July 20th |
| Day | Thursday | Tuesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Monday | Tuesday |
| Location | West Grove Library | Oxford Library | Oxford Library | Honey Brook Food Pantry | Appleville Mobile Home Park | Appleville Mobile Home Park | Mockingbird Mobile Home Park |
| Addresses | 117 Rosehill Ave, West Grove, PA 19390 | 48 S 2nd St, Oxford, PA 19363 | 48 S 2nd St, Oxford, PA 19363 | 5064 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344 | 1514 Rome Rd, West Chester, PA 19380 | 1514 Rome Rd, West Chester, PA 19380 | 1278 Township Line Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460 |
| Time | 2pm-6pm | 3pm-6pm | 3pm-6pm | 12pm-6pm | 10am-1pm | 10am-1pm | 2pm-6pm |
Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance
Chester County received $34.5 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the PA Department of Human Services to help cover emergency rental and utility bills for individuals and families who have been severely impacted by COVID-19. These rent and utility grants are available to individuals and families in Chester County who are obligated to pay rent and who:
•Qualify for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19;
•Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability;
•Have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Those who are eligible can use the emergency rent and utility funding to pay for outstanding rent, electricity, gas, water and sewer; and energy costs such as fuel oil or propane, over a 15-month period. To apply for funding, residents need to call 211 and request rent and utility assistance.
211 Emergency Rent Assistance Flyer – English
211 Emergency Rent Assistance Flyer – Spanish
Applicant Checklist – English
Applicant Checklist – Spanish
Emergency Assistance Postcard
Coronavirus Testing
The Chester County Health Department and Department of Emergency Services are partnering to expand availability of COVID-19 testing in Chester County. Starting June 8th, PCR (nasal swab) diagnostic testing will be available at multiple locations. This testing is prioritized for individuals with symptoms or who have had a close contact with someone who has COVID-19. No prescription or referral is needed but registration is required. Learn more and register at: https://www.chesco.org/4514/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Nasal-Swab-Testing
Flu Vaccines
The single most effective protection against flu is getting a flu vaccine. It is recommended that all people aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine every year. Health experts have stressed that flu vaccines are crucial this year due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. It’s likely that flu viruses and the Coronavirus will both spread this fall and winter. Both viruses have similar symptoms (cough, chills, fever, body aches). This means getting a flu vaccine this year is more important than ever to protect you and your family.
The Chester County Health Department is offering flu clinics at area schools. Registration is required. Additional measures have been put in place this year to keep flu clinic staff and clients healthy and safe.
You can also schedule a flu vaccine appointment online through the Chester County Health department.
General Resources
Chester County Department of Human Resources Resource Guide
Comprehensive guide to regional services, covering mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, food assistance, housing, utilities, employment and financial resources can be found at https://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/54524/DHS-COVID-Community-Resource-Guide
Chester County Health Department
Latest statistics, advice & local information for Chester County & Delaware County can be found at www.chesco.org/coronavirus
Phoenixville Jaycees
Phoenixville-centric resources page: www.inthistogetherpxv.com
Centers for Disease Control
Latest guidelines & advice from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Phoenixville Area Covid19 Makers
Collection of local makers supporting local medical needs by creating and distributing cloth face masks and 3D printed face shields. Information can found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/19460covid19/
American Red Cross
Information from the Red Cross on fire safety, winter storm preparedness and information for families separated due to migration.
Fire Safety (Spanish)
Fire Safety Checklist (Spanish)
Winter Storm Preparedness (Spanish)
Family Separation/Migration (Spanish)
Immigrant Services: Census & Rights, Voting
Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC)
Completing the 2020 Census strengthens our community by allocating funds for services such as hospitals, senior centers, jobs, roads, schools, and businesses. It also allocates funds for programs such as food stamps, Head Start, school lunch programs, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Please watch this informational video from PICC to learn why everyone, especially immigrants, should complete the 2020 Census: http://paimmigrant.org/2020/04/2020-census/.
Additional information on immigrant rights and services can be found at PICC’s website: http://paimmigrant.org/.
Voting by Absentee or Mail-In Ballot
Pennsylvania’s primary election date is June 2. Voting by mail is a convenient, secure and safe option as we work toward overcoming a global pandemic. Requesting a mail-in ballot (a new option available to Pennsylvania voters for the first time this year) takes just a few minutes. Those interested can learn more and apply here: VotesPA
Drop boxes for mail-in ballots will be available at multiple Chester County libraries and the Chester County Government Services Center, starting on October 13.
Drop boxes: 10 drop boxes for ballots will be placed at public libraries beginning Oct. 13. Hours of operation for these drop boxes are: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Libraries: Avon Grove, Chester County (Exton), Coatesville, Downingtown, Easttown, Henrietta Hankin* (Chester Springs), Honey Brook, Kennett, Oxford*, Parkesburg, Phoenixville, and Spring City. (NOTE: the West Chester Library is NOT to be included).
West Chester Government Services Center: An additional 24/7 ballot drop box location will be available at the West Chester Government Services Center at 601 Westtown Road.
*The Hankin (Chester Springs) and Oxford branches will serve as satellite election centers to assist voters in obtaining their ballots and the safe and expedited return of ballots. They will be able to perform all Voter Services activities.
All Ballot Drop Boxes will be staffed and secured while in operation. Drop boxes will be taken back to West Chester each night by employees with body cameras.
All of this information and more can be found on the Chester County Election Portal: https://chesco.org/156/Voter-Services
Employment & Business Support
PA CareerLink (United Way Financial Stability Services)
PA CareerLink Day: The Department of Labor and Industry has declared Thursday, August 12th as PA CareerLink Day – Join the Workforce in PA. The purpose behind this designation it to reconnect with job seekers and employers as many of the CareerLink offices throughout the Commonwealth have re-opened their doors.
PA CareerLink® Chester County will be holding a Partner Resource Fair. Our partners will have display tables set up and be available to meet with job seekers and employers and provide more details on their services and programs. This resource fair will run from 11:30 am to 2 pm.
In an effort to attract more job seekers to this event, we will kick the day off with an Employer Panel Event beginning at 9:30 am thru 11 am. This event is an opportunity for job seekers to learn first-hand from employers what they are looking for in the next new hire(s). A group of employers will provide their perspective on the interview process, the state of the labor market, interview best practices and recommendations for job seekers as they navigate today’s job market and much more!
For more information, download these flyers: Employer Panel, PACL Day – Partner Resource Fair
Immediate Job Openings: PA residents who have lost their job due to Coronavirus-related business closures can access job openings from employers across the state who are in need of hiring thousands of critical roles. Access these jobs through PA CareerLink.
Resource Library: The PA CareerLink Chester County and United Way FSC office is currently CLOSED. JOB SEEKERS and EMPLOYERS may continue to access services remotely. Remote services are detailed on the COVID-19 Resource Library Page. To access any of their services, please call 610-280-1010 and leave a message. Someone will return your call ASAP. UC Claimants should direct ALL UC inquiries directly to the Unemployment Office. Due to the high volume of phone calls and UC Live Chat requests, the best way to currently receive assistance from UC is through email at: uchelp@pa.gov. For more guidance UC claimants should visit the UC webpage for more information.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
As of 4/18/2020, Pennsylvania’s self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others not eligible for regular unemployment compensation (UC) can begin filing claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. PUA is included in the new federal expansion to unemployment benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Anyone collecting PUA benefits is also eligible for the extra $600 per week from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program. You don’t need to do anything to receive the extra $600 – it will be paid automatically.
Apply here.
**The PA Department of Labor and Industry is now asking individuals who have not received their PINS to fill out this form in order to be prioritized in the system. Once approved, applicants will receive back payments for the weeks they were not able to file. **
Open Hearth Mobile Workforce Services
Contact: Ann Marie Barr, Mobile Workforce Navigator, 610-331-4101, abarr@openhearthinc.org
PA Business Resource Page
Full list of guidance for businesses during the various reopening stages within PA can be found on the COVID-19 Business Resource page.
Housing
Open Hearth
VEP partners with Open Hearth. Their staff provide community support in areas of Housing, transportation and financial planning. https://www.openhearthinc.org/
Evictions
In response to the coronavirus emergency, many courts are closed and no evictions are being processed at this time. As a result, landlords may attempt to remove tenants illegally for nonpayment of rent or other reasons. Legal Aid of Southeastern PA can help you to file an emergency petition with the courts.
What to do if you’re illegally locked out:
(1) Call the police. Show them proof that you are a tenant.
(2) Call Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) at 877-429-5994 or www.lasp.org.
Transportation
Transit Map: https://gis.penndot.gov/transitmap/
Social Services
Maternal and Child Health Consortium
Family Benefits Specialists continue providing assistance to individuals with Health Insurance and SNAP Benefits Enrollments over the phone. For assistance, please watch this informational video.
Mental Health
SAMHA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are keenly aware that social and physical distancing is causing great distress. Our mental health is just as critical during this time. 24/7 Availability. Call 1-800-985-5990. Text “TALKWITHUS” to 66746. For Spanish speakers, Text “HABLANOS” to 66746.
Drug and Substance Abuse Support
If you need assistance, call 1-800-GET-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or www.ddap.pa.gov
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone & online meetings: www.virtual-na.org
Full text of NA Book: https://spiritualprinciples.org/tag/na-basic-text/
Alcoholics Anonymous
Email, chat, audio & forums meetings in a variety of languages: http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php
Fellowship Health Resources (Phoenixville)
Psychiatric Rehabilitation – All face to face programming was suspended on March 17, 2020 until further notice. We are actively working to provide telehealth support to psych rehab individuals until the national crisis abates.
Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation – This program was modified to telehealth on March 18, 2020 until further notice. We are planning to provide telehealth to our individuals until the national crisis abates.
Outpatient Services – The program stopped providing primary services face to face on March 19, 2020 until further notice. We have begun to provide telehealth support, including individual therapy and medication management, to individuals until the national crisis abates. FHR will continue to provide face to face services once a week to administer Long Acting Injectable (LAI) medications, as well as support Clozaril Blood Work. Other programs under this license are also impacted by the crisis:
Mobile Mental Health Treatment – Has started providing telehealth, therapy and medication management, as of March 18, 2020. FHR MMHT will continue to provide face to face, in home appointments for individuals receiving Long Acting Injectable (LAI) medications only.
Decision Support Center – Certified Peer Specialist will participate in Peer Support Outreach calls to individuals that participate in the Decision Support Center.
Blended Case Management – As of March 18th, 2020, telephonic and video based only services will be provided as often as possible in order to mitigate COVID-19 spread. The program is prepared to provide limited community outreach services in situations where face-to-face engagement is clinically unavoidable. However, screening, social distancing, hygiene, and, as appropriate, use of personal protective equipment protocols will be rigidly enforced during any in-person encounters. We continue to collaborate with our community partners throughout this time to ensure ongoing quality care for our individuals. Hospitalization procedures and on-call services will continue to be available telephonically at this time.
Peer Support Services – This program was modified on March 18, 2020 to provide Telehealth services. The program is attempting to provide telephonic and video-based services at least once a week to each member or as clinically necessary.
Creative Health Services (Phoenixville)
Open for telehealth and in-person appointments: https://creativehs.org/
Phoenixville Communities That Care Be Kind
Calendar with daily actions to help you start your New Year on the right track to being a happier person.
Entertainment
Chester County Community Foundation
During these difficult times, many nonprofits, arts organizations, museums, and local governments are providing resources to educate and entertain the public. The Chester County Community Foundation has compiled a full list of local and international resources (virtual museum tours, art classes, exercise classes, musical performances, and much more) can be found by clicking here.