People & Pet Care

Safety:

There has unfortunately been an uptick in domestic violence as a result of COVID and isolation. If you are a victim of domestic violence and need assistance, please call the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-800-33HAVEN (1-800-334-2836). 24/7 call coverage, and callers need not be in the state of Georgia to use this service. You may also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233). If you can’t call safely you have the option to send a text to 1-866-331-9474 and enter LOVEIS.

Health:

Many insurance companies are providing coverage for tele-health virtual doctor, mental health and physical therapy visits, and some are even waiving cost sharing:

AHIP List of Insurance Provider Special Benefits

Virtual medical care:

Doctor on Demand (NATIONAL)

NP2ME is offering discounted tele-health appointments to food service workers and COVID-19 testing. Call (470) 231-2305 for intake. (METRO ATLANTA, GA)

State of Georgia’s COVID Hotline: 1-844-442-2681 – Please remember to call hospitals before you go.
Emory University Hospital, Emory Decatur Hospital, Dekalb Medical Center, Emory University Midtown Hospital:

• COVID-19 screening line: 404-712-6843.
• Phone assessment will take place with nurse to determine next steps.
• No doctor referral is needed.
• Call if the following symptoms started within the past two weeks: cough, sore throat, & fever.

Grady Hospital

• 24/7 COVID-19 Public Health Hotline: 1-866-782-4584.
• Patients experiencing symptoms or those who have been exposed to someone with the virus may come in to be evaluated, but patients must be seen by a physician prior to arriving to Grady. This first appointment with a doctor does not need to take place at Grady.

Health Insurance

Healthcare.gov
This is the federal website and phone bank for enrolling in Affordable Care Act exchange plans.1-800-318-2596TTY: 1-855-889-4325 (www.Healthcare.gov)

Insure Georgia
A nonprofit health insurance agency that started out as an ACA navigator organization. Also has information on whether people are a good fit for Medicaid or Medicare.1-866-988-8246. (www.InsureGA.org)

HealthSherpa
A privately run website that presents ACA plans in a way some agents find easier to navigate than the federal site. (www.healthsherpa.com)

Mental Health

Regardless of whether you have symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19, the social distancing, sea change and worry over what’s next can take a toll on mental health. Below are some resources in case people need to reach for a lifeline in all the chaos (sourced from garestaruants.org).

Free QPR Suicide Prevention Training for Food Service Workers (NATIONAL)

Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety (NATIONAL)

Care App Free Resources (NATIONAL)

Metropolitan Counseling Service (METRO ATLANTA, GA)

Career Coach Paula Randler is offering 45 minute sessions. (METRO ATLANTA, GA)

Care and Counseling Center of Georgia (DEKALB COUNTY, GA)

Waters Edge Counseling (SAVANNAH, GA)

Family Recovery of Southwest Georgia (ALBANY + VALDOSTA, GA)

The Family Center (COLUMBUS, GA)

Elderly

Open Hand: Atlanta organization that delivers balanced meals to food-insecure senior citizens needs volunteers. Open Hand typically makes 4,500 meals a day, and adding additional volunteer shifts will help them make more. If you can’t volunteer, they’ll gladly accept monetary donations as they are unable to accept food donations at this time.

Meals on Wheels Atlanta: This nonprofit also delivers food to the elderly and is accepting donations via Cash App ($MOWATL) and Venmo (@MOWATL).

Pets

Temporarily house or adopt a pet as shelters have also taken a financial hit during this pandemic:

Atlanta Humane Society: https://atlantahumane.org/

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue: https://www.angelsrescue.org/

Food

Meals are being provided to children while schools are closed through Goodr and Atlanta Public Schools. Meals will be delivered at five locations. You can find more information here.

You can also find information on student meal pick-up by district here.

Personal Assistance

MyPandaApp (Personal Assistant on Demand App): will provide assistance to those who need help with errands, including food/grocery/alcohol delivery, prescription pick-up, and more. During the pandemic, MyPanda will continue to provide services that are in compliance with local shelter-at-home orders. By having one personal assistant (Panda) run essential errands for multiple families, social contact is kept to a minimum, and all Pandas adhere to CDC guidelines of remaining 6 feet from others, wearing gloves, and washing hands often and between deliveries. MyPanda also has job openings for those who would like to be of service to others, including those who may be unable to work their regular jobs because of COVID-19.

Entertainment

Live streaming of zoo animals at 3pm EST: https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/

Museum Tours: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/03/17/museums-tour-virtually-closed-for-coronavirus/5067867002/

Go to B&F Video Resources