(Last updated May 15, 2020)
As we’re wishing one another positive vibes, good health and virtual high fives from a safe six feet away, it’s a good reminder for us to consider Mr. Rogers’ approach to disasters:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
Right now, as we all deal with the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, that advice is especially true. People and organizations throughout Northern Nevada and the country are providing resources in a multitude of ways, whether that’s with job opportunities, where you can still pick up dinner or online concerts and drawing classes.
We know you’ll need different resources at different times as you navigate the new normal, so we’re compiling many of those resources right here. We will continue to update this list as long as we’re dealing with this pandemic.
Employment
- The Reno Gazette Journal has compiled a list of local companies that are hiring. To nobody’s surprise, grocery stores are at the top of the list.
- Complete Care Consulting is hiring in-home caregivers.
- Integrity Staffing has temporary jobs with a variety of shift options.
- The state has made it easier to apply for unemployment benefits during this crisis. And the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) Call Center has expanded hours (8 to 8 M-F) for those unable to file online:
- North: (775) 684-0350
- South: (702) 486-0350
- Rural: (888) 890-8211
- Here’s a list of 1,575 remote jobs from 100+ companies that were hiring remotely in February 2020
- Nevada Unemployment Insurance
- IRS Tax Filing Information
- Federal Trade Commission Consumer Resources
- Nevadans, who recently lost their job or had a change in income may be eligible for subsidy assistance to help pay for their health plans. Visit the Nevada Health Link insurance rates page for more information.
Food/Groceries
- Local Yelp community leader Michael Tragash has put together a list of restaurants offering curb-side/takeout, delivery and online ordering.
- Starting Saturday, March 21, Raley's is offering two Senior Essentials Bags for $20 or $35 each. Intended for seniors and at-risk customers in self-isolation or quarantine, their team members will build as many Senior Essentials Bags as they can each day.
- The Nevada Dept. of Agriculture has compiled a list of school and community food access resources during the COVID-19 closures.
- These grocery and drug stores offer online ordering, and some will even deliver your groceries.
Education
- Camp Curiosity is a curated collection of free lessons, videos and activities to engage your kids while they’re not in school based around PBS educational programming from PBS Reno.
- The Discovery Museum has a page featuring learning-from-home opportunities.
- Sierra Nevada Journeys at Home is designed to help homebound families with STEM activities, social emotional learning tips, and activities to do in nature.
- Scholastic Books set up a free ‘Learn From Home’ website, offering free daily courses for kids (pre-K through 6th grade) studying at home.
- Homeschool Hideout has provided a list of 150+ educational shows available on Netflix.
- KidsActivitiesBlog.com has provided an entire list of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings.
- Inner Explorer is offering an easy-to-use mindfulness program for families to come together and handle stress, anxiety, anger and more.
- Author Mo Willems is teaching drawing on YouTube to children stuck at home.
- In the event you can’t access these tools due to a lack of wi-fi, Charter Communications is offering free Spectrum broadband and wi-fi for 60 days to K-12 and college students.
- USDA is making $71.7 million in grants available under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant program. This program helps rural communities use telecommunications-based audio and video equipment to connect teachers, students, medical providers and rural residents with each other and the world. Deadline: April 10, 2020
- Children stuck at home can explore zoos worldwide via webcams. Here’s a good list featuring a few of them.
- Visit "Imagineering in a Box" from Disney and Khan Academy.
- NASA has STEM activities for families who are sheltering at home.
- Delish is offering free online cooking demonstrations for parents and kids every weekday. Find the schedule here.
- Check this out: The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities
- Here's the entire Schoolhouse Rock series in chronological order.
- Joe Wicks, the nation's PE teacher, is sharing free kids' workouts every day on YouTube.
- Check out these daily schedule ideas from Khan Academy Kids.
Staying Healthy
- Talk It Out Tuesdays is weekly interview series where Crisis Support Services of Northern Nevada partners with experts to discuss current issues concerning our mental, physical, and spiritual health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The YMCA has compiled a bunch of on-demand exercise videos for all people of all ages and fitness levels.
- Routine is critical when managing addiction. AA has provided a list of online meetings, websites and tapes provided to help maintain sobriety.
- Yelp has put together a list called Keep Moving (Online) Reno Tahoe, with locations offering online workouts -- many free!
- Sesame Street has put together a series of virtual running races, that can be done anywhere, anytime.
- If you need someone to talk to, Crisis Support Services of Northern Nevada is available 24/7.
- Nevada Health Response
- Nevada Health Link
- VA Resources
Community Support
- WASH-OE Hands is a Facebook group where Washoe County residents can come together to give advice and share information in real time.
- Reno Sparks Mutual Aid is group of neighbors helping neighbors during the crisis.
- Washoe Schools Meal Information
- The United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra has also set up The United Way Emergency Assistance Fund to support nonprofits that offer basic assistance and human services to individuals and families.
- Nevada Legal Services is offering YouTube live events on issues such as the eviction moratorium, unemployment benefits, and more. Click here for their calendar of events.
Inspiring TED Talks
- The Happy Secret to Better Work
- What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness
- The Hidden Power of Smiling
- How to Be Happy Every Day: It Will Change the World
- The 5 People You Need to Be Happy
Entertainment
- DJ Funn is offering free driveway disco parties to make staying home more fun. If you want to pay, he asks that you make a donation to the Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation.
- The Reno Fire Department created a video of Reno Firefighter Otuafi reading Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete. It's awesome!
- Check out this video from UNICEF of people dancing around the world while practicing safety around COVID-19.
- Take any of eight virtual tours of gardens around the world, including Monet’s Garden in Giverny, Keukenhof in Amsterdam, Kew Gardens in London, and botanic gardens in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Hawaii.
- Andrew Lloyd Weber is offering online Broadway shows for free.
- Washoe County Library is offering virtual story times featuring some of your favorite Washoe County Library Story Time stars, every day at 11 am.
- Sierra Arts Foundation is offering free Senior Care Concerts through the magic of Facebook Live.
- Elton John will host the "Living Room Concert For America" with performances by Mariah Carey, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and Billie Joe Armstrong on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT live on FOX. The concert will benefit Feeding America and First Responders Children's Foundation.
- The Paris Opera is screening its performances online for free.
- Google has opened an interactive Frida Kahlo exhibition.
- Google Earth is offering tours of 31 national parks.
- Watch the live Jelly Cam from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- This story from CNN has a compilation of entertainers giving free performances from their homes.
- The Metropolitan Opera has a nightly live stream. Here’s the schedule.
- Watch Stella jump into piles of leaves.
- Audible has made hundreds of stories completely free for as long as school is closed.
- Virtually go on a ride in Disneyland or Walt Disney World -- without the lines! This page has a pretty good list to start, but feel free to go to YouTube and type in any ride's name to experience a POV ride.
- Amazon just made all of its kids shows available to stream for free.
- Note-Able Music Therapy Services has created a line-up of fun-filled music broadcasts for anyone to watch and enjoy!
- We love this round-up of free Broadway shows, museums, aquariums, zoos and other experiences offering virtual viewing.
- Here are 16 Creative Drawing Hacks for Kids.
- How about 111 fun, at-home activities? Some of these are true boredom busters (mostly for the kids, but if you want to have a fashion show, you do you!).
- Penguins are still roaming around the Shedd Aquarium.
- Tour Famous Museums from Around the World
- Virtual Tours of National Parks
How You Can Help
- Adopt or foster an animal from the Nevada Humane Society or the SPCA of Northern Nevada. You get a dog or cat to keep you company, while helping out two great organizations.
- Carson City’s Sierra Place is asking young people to draw pictures and write letters and cards to send to their senior residents. This is multi-generational way for them to stay connected while they’re physical distancing themselves to stay safe. Send your cards and letters to Smile Club, 1111 W. College Parkway, Carson City, NV 89703. We’re guessing other senior centers will also appreciate this gesture.
- If you are a healthcare provider, behavioral health professional or health care administrator, you can join the Battle Born Medical Corps and help expand Nevada’s medical care capacity
COVID-19 Updates
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there, so here’s where you can find vetted information from official sources.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides regular updates as well as guidelines on travel, schools, business, community and more.
- The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has created a website to share information on how COVID-19 is impacting the state.
Things are changing fast and we’ll work to keep this list as current as possible. Please let us know what else you’re finding out about out there so we can continue to share the positive as we all navigate these unprecedented times together.