Here’s how to give or get help in Wichita during coronavirus pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic reaches Wichita, several community organizations are offering help to people affected. There also are opportunities for Wichitans to help their community.

If you know of additional resources or volunteer opportunities, please email The Wichita Eagle at wenews@wichitaeagle.com.

A list of restaurant changes is available here, and a list of other closures and announcements is available here.

The United Way of the Plains has been designated as a one-stop-shop to help people, especially those most vulnerable to the coronavirus, get food and supplies. Their hotline phone number is 211. The website, 211kansas.bowmansystems.com, also allows Kansans to search for specific help and needs in their community.

Here are other resources:

Food

Kansas Food Bank regularly updates its list of soup kitchens and food pantries. Go to kansasfoodbank.org, then click on “Need food” at the top followed by “Help agencies in the Wichita metro area.” The list has more than 15 locations as well as requirements for getting food.

Lord’s Diner has eliminated in-person dining but allows anyone to pick up hot meals at several locations. From 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, dinner can be picked up at Evergreen Community Center at 2700 N. Woodland, Friendship Park in Hilltop at 1329 S. Terrace, and Atwater Community Center at 2755 E. 19th St. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every night meals can be picked up at two of the Lord’s Diner locations: 520 N. Broadway and 2825 S. Hillside.

Wichita Public Schools is serving free grab-and-go lunches at 18 locations from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are for children up to age 18, and kids must be present to get food. The sites: Allison Middle, Brooks Middle, Chisholm Trail Elementary, Coleman Middle, Curtis Middle, Hadley Middle, Hamilton Middle, Isely Elementary, Jardine Academy, Marshall Middle, Mayberry Middle, Mead Middle, Mueller Elementary, Pleasant Valley Middle, Robinson Middle, Truesdell Middle, White Elementary and Wilbur Middle.

Our Daily Bread food pantry distributes food via drive-through, and people need only to provide their name and size of household. The Catholic Charities food pantry at 2825 S. Hillside is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas now have a drive-up, to-go food service program for club families from 1-1:30 p.m. and the public from 1:30-2 p.m. at 2400 Opportunity Drive and 4902 S. Clifton.

Meals on Wheels is still delivering and is in need of more volunteers. It is also preparing additional emergency meals to deliver to clients in case service is suspended or delayed. More information is available from Senior Services of Wichita by calling 316-267-0122.

The Roving Pantry operated by Senior Services of Wichita delivers groceries to homebound residents age 60 and over for a fee capped at $5. Residents order by phone and pay for the groceries, which are delivered on a designated day. The group is able to take on more clients immediately. For help, contact Laurel Alkire or Chris Heiman at 316-267-0302.

Medical Care

Ascension Via Christi is offering online $20 urgent care visits where patients can talk to a doctor 24/7 from home. The discount code is “HOME,” and no insurance is required. More information is available at www.getviachristicare.com.

United Way is conducting coronavirus screenings for potential testing through the Sedgwick County Health Department. Appointments can be scheduled by dialing 211.

GraceMed is offering drive-through coronavirus testing in Wichita on the north side of its administration building at 11th and Broadway. Appointments should be scheduled by phone. The clinic’s phone number is 316-866-2000.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has rolled out a Community Care Network that will connect veterans with community providers so they won’t have to travel long distances to VA centers. More information is available from the VA at www.va.gov/communitycare/ and from the third-party provider for Kansas, OptumServe, at www.vacommunitycare.com.

Help for Workers

Unemployment insurance benefits may be available for people who were laid off or had their hours cut because of concerns about COVID-19. More information, including how to apply, is available online at GetKansasBenefits.gov.

Kansas workforce centers remain open, but with limited services to the public. All job fairs have been canceled through April 5. People needing employment and reemployment services can call 877-509-6757 to schedule a time to speak with a representative.

Childcare and Home-Based Learning

United Way is offering tips to parent for home-based education at www.unitedwayplains.org/tips-for-learning-at-home. Topics include developing a schedule, lesson-planning, academic materials, talking with kids about COVID-19 and working while students are home, among others.

Boys & Girls Clubs plan to provide virtual programming soon.

Help for businesses

Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce has a list of resources, including grants and loans, at wichitachamber.org/covid-19.

Wichita Community Foundation has dollars available for Sedgwick County nonprofits affected by COVID-19. Applications can be found at bit.ly/wcfemergency.

Housing

The St. Anthony Family Shelter and Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter remain open. The shelter’s domestic violence hotline, 316-263-6000, is open 24/7.

Utility assistance for people who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic is available through the Stand with Wichita Fund created by the Wichita Community Foundation and The Salvation Army. Call the Salvation Army at 316-263-2769, ext. 148 to apply.

Help Needed

Meals on Wheels is looking for more volunteers. Call 316-267-0122.

Trust Women is looking for seamstresses who can sew cloth masks that will be used for non-clinical and non-coronavirus purposes, allowing N95 masks to be saved. More information is available at https://secure.everyaction.com/OTlJUSCucEm-IwSJNVZD7A2.

United Way of the Plains can connect volunteers with organizations in need of help. Dial 211.

Volunteer Kansas, a Wichita-based charity, is connecting people who need help and people who wish to volunteer or donate through its website, www.volunteerkansas.org.

Donations

Letshelpict.com has a list of needed items and a list of more than a half-dozen organizations taking donations on its website.

United Way is accepting material donations of hygiene products, bottled water and cleaning supplies at 245 N. Water from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations will be distributed to people who have self-quarantined or are vulnerable, such as the elderly. Clothing and food donations will not be accepted; other local nonprofits accepting such items can be found by calling 211. Monetary donations are also accepted online at unitedwayplains.org/pandemicfund.

Our Daily Bread food pantry is accepting non-perishable food donations by appointment only. The most-needed food items are quality meats, soup, breakfast cereal and nutrition bars, canned fruit and vegetables, and canned tuna and chicken. Catholic Charities, which runs the food pantry, is also accepting monetary donations. Their phone number is 316-264-8344, ext. 1504.

Ascension Via Christi is accepting donations of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies. Items needed include isolation gowns, N95 and earloop masks, hand sanitizer, face shields and goggles, surface disinfectants, powered and controlled air-purifying respirators (PAPRs and CAPRs) and non-sterile box gloves. Donations can be delivered between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. Questions about donations should be directed to the Via Christi Foundation at 316-281-5157.

Led by a police officer, first responders in Wichita, as well as health care professionals, educators, engineers and volunteers, are fundraising through GoFundMe for personal protective equipment. The partnership is developing 3D-printed reusable face shields, face masks that can replace N95 masks and a decontamination system to sanitize face shields and masks.

Woman to Woman Ministries said several organizations are partnering for a donation drive. Requested items include distilled and bottled water, antibacterial soap, tissue, paper towels, hand sanitizers, disposable plastic gloves, napkins/Kleenex, disinfectant antibacterial sprays, face masks, bleach, feminine hygiene products, baby diapers and wipes, baby formula and bottles, baby socks and onesies, undamaged canned goods, boxed goods, meat, kids meals, gluten-free and diabetic food, board games, and crayons and coloring books.

More information on donations, partnerships and volunteering is available from Tye McEwen at 316-252-9854 or tyshema72@gmail.com.

Other partner organizations are Pure Life Worship, Urban League, ICTindivisible, ICT Food Rescue, Sunflower Community Action, Izora Elaine Dean Educational Center, Kansas People Action, Shock Shop Barber Shop & Supply, The Center, ICT Response, Bethel Life Center, Quik Cleanups Detail Shop, TripleVision Productions and Appleseed.

This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 8:45 AM.