Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you and your families safe and healthy during this incredibly difficult time. I am writing to provide you with some important updates about how our community is responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please read below for more information about school meals, Medicaid resources, federal tax relief, and more.  

ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE FAMILIES A WEEK OF MEALS FOR SPRING BREAK

TOMORROW: On Friday, April 3rd, APS will provide a week’s worth of meals to families who come to one of the five grab-and-go meal distribution sites to ensure students have food during spring break. There will be no APS meal service provided April 6-10 during the APS scheduled spring break. Meal services will resume on Monday, April 13th, with an expanded list of sites to include Key and Hoffman-Boston elementary schools. 

Visit the APS homepage to read more.

ARLINGTON COUNTY COVID-19 DONATION STATION

Arlington is opening a drive-thru donation station to collect unused, unopened containers of essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, and certain food to help with the COVID-19 response. DETAILS

WHEN: Friday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Central Library parking lot on 10th Street North

WHAT: Requested items include: Nitrile or vinyl examination gloves; N95 or KN95 masks; Surgical masks; Protective surgical gowns; Homemade masks; Cleaning products and supplies; Non-perishable food items

For more details, please visit Arlington County’s website here.

DON’T FORGET TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS!

Census Day was yesterday, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still have time to get your Census Form in! Filling out the census is easy: you can respond by mail, over the phone, or online here. It only takes 10 minutes.

Right now Virginia is one of the top states in the country for census response rates -- and we want to make sure it stays that way. Fill out the census today to be counted!

You can fill out the census:

          By mail

          ️ Over the phone by calling 844-330-2020

           Online at 2020census.gov

Remember -- there is NO citizenship question on the census. Responses are used only for statistical purposes and cannot be shared with other agencies, including law enforcement or immigration officials.

Take just a few minutes to fill out the census today.

COVID-19 MEDICAID INFORMATION

If you are a recipient of Virginia Medicaid, changes have been made to provide increased services during the COVID-19 pandemic. New COVID-19 webpages have been set up in both English and Spanish to provide information about the new policies.

STATUS OF COVID-19 IN VIRGINIA

• As of this afternoon,1,706 positive cases of COVID-19 infection have been identified in the Commonwealth. Thus far, 17,589 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Virginia.
• Of those cases, 246 patients have been hospitalized and 41 patients have died, including two residents of Arlington County.
• Fairfax County leads Virginia in the number of cases by jurisdiction, with 328 identified cases. Arlington County has 128 identified cases.

RESOURCES & MORE INFORMATION

For more information about coronavirus and ways you can protect yourself from the virus, please see the following resources and links:

• CDC Homepage for Coronavirus
• Virginia Department of Health Coronavirus Homepage
• CDC Guidance for Households
• Preparedness Checklist in the Event of a Pandemic - for Individuals and Families

Arlington COVID-19 Call Center:

Arlington County is expanding its ability to respond to inquiries and questions from the public by establishinga new call center. This additional call center will free up resources to help the County effectively minimize the public health risk posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Community members who cannot find the information they need on theCounty’s website or through other resources, should call 703-228-7999 for assistance, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday.   

Free School Meals for Arlington Children

Meals are being provided free of charge from Monday-Friday (11 am - 1 pm) at the sites as follows:

• Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road
• Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, 3500 S. 23rd Street
• Barrett Elementary School, 4401 N Henderson Rd
• Campbell Elementary School, 737 S Carlin Springs Rd 
• Randolph Elementary School, 1306 S Quincy St 

APS will provide one lunch for that day and one breakfast to take home for the following day. 

Free School Meals for Fairfax Children

For information about the many ways to acquire free or reduced price meals in Fairfax County, please visit their website here.

Federal Agency Resources

USA.gov is cataloging all U.S. government activities related to coronavirus. From actions on health and safety to travel, immigration, and transportation to education, find pertinent actions here. 

Federal Mental Health Resources 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990 (or text TalkWithUs to 66746) – provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by developments related to the coronavirus pandemic.  

Learn more about the Disaster Distress Helpline here.

Federal Coronavirus Tax Relief 

The Internal Revenue Service has set up a website with up-to-date guidance to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.

School Meal Finder 

Families and parents in Virginia can now visit the school meal finder website to find locations near them where local school divisions are offering free school meals —both breakfast and lunch, for pick-up while school buildings are closed due to COVID-19. 

Food Assistance Centers in Arlington: 

Small Businesses Guidance & Loan Resources 

The U.S. Small Business Administration has released further guidance on resources available to small businesses to assist with combatting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click on the following links to view more information:

• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
• SBA Express Bridge Loans
• Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• SBA Products and Resources
• Government Contracting
• Local Assistance 

My office and I will continue to monitor the situation and will share any further updates as we receive them. If there is any way that my office may be helpful to you, please feel free to contact us by email atDelALopez@house.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 698-1049. Additionally, you can always visit my website at www.alfonsolopez.org.

Sincerely,