Great Strides April 2020

#AloneTogether

Connecticut Food Bank is committed to providing nutritious food to people in need. The current situation with COVID-19 is challenging for many organizations and the Food Bank is working to keep their food distribution safe and active.

Mobile Pantry Schedule: http://www.ctfoodbank.org/ get-help/connecticut-foodbanks-mobile-pantryschedule/

In response to the COVID-19 virus, the way services are being offered is constantly changing and evolving. While the IC building may be closed, the IC staff are hard at work to keep services running and to come up with innovative and fun ways to stay connected. Staff are making daily outreach calls to our members. We are providing resources ranging from where to get food to how to stay healthy while at home. Staff are working on meaningful engagement with our members in order to help navigate through these unchartered waters. Staff are providing education about the latest updates on COVID-19, what it all means, what the facts are and how to cope with this information.

As time goes on and there are less resources available due to social distancing, we want you to know that we are here for you. You can call as often as you would like and staff will be there for you. We welcome any ideas or suggestions of what would be helpful or what you may need. You can always call the main number of the IC (203) 756-5772 for contact information and updates.

Visit www.mhconn.org/alonetogether for COVID-19 information, resources, and #alonetogether activities.

We are happy to announce that Mending Art will also still be available to members through virtual projects and phone interactions. Mending Art Coordinator, Amy Smith, has done a training with all IC staff on how to conduct Mending Art in this new way. Interested members will be given daily or weekly projects to work on.

More to come as we roll this out!

Call a Friend!

Call a warm line: https:// portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/ Programs-and-Services/ Advocacy/Warm-Lines JoinRiseBe Statewide Young Adult Warmline Initiative: 1-855-6HOPENOW 12-9pm daily Advocacy Unlimited Phone Based Peer Support: (888) 770-4478 M-F 9am-5pm Call SAMHSA’s free 24-hour Disas-ter Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990, if you feel lonely or need sup-port.

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Many of you may have already received your 2020 Census paperwork. We have been talking about the Census for months now and while we won’t be able to assist with completing the Census in person, we can help assist you over the phone.

Completing the Census is so important and we don’t want it to get lost in the shuffle during this challenging time. The Census helps to ensure public safety as well as plan new schools and hospitals.

Real estate developers and city planners use the census to plan new homes and improve neighborhoods. All responses are kept confidential and it only takes a few minutes to complete.

Staff will reaching out to see if you need assistance with completing this form. You will need to have the piece of mail that you received that contains your Census ID number on it. Remember, your community is “counting” on you!

Each year DMHAS asks that we reach out to the individuals who receive our services. This is your opportunity to express your opinions about your program, what you like, what you would like to see etc.

Staff are reaching out to members to ask them to rate the IC and provide feedback.

Your answers are kept strictly confidential and your ideas help us to meet your needs improve programming.

If you have not yet completed a survey, please feel free to reach out to staff and we will be happy to assist you.

IC staff has also tried to stay connected by sending out postcards with original art and a handwritten note. You may have found one in your mail already! If not, contact staff. We may need to update your mailing address.

Please remember that “this too shall pass” and that we are all in this together. We are living in a time where history is being made and months and years from now we will be reflecting on how we lived through these unprecedented events. Even though we may be separated physically, we are still connected and are stronger together. We will get through this!

Mondays (6:30-8:30pm) Women’s Group Online: https://zoom.us/ j/808331737 Dial In: 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 808 331 737 Tuesdays Yoga @10am facebook.com/toivocenter Qi Gong @ 6-7pm facebook.com/toivocenter Wednesdays (3:30-4:30pm) Alternatives to Suicide https://zoom.us/j/793918997 Dial In: 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 793 918 997

Thursdays (10-11am) Yoga facebook.com/toivocenter/ Fridays (12-1pm) Meditative Coloring facebook.com/toivocenter/ Saturdays (9:30-11:30am) Qi Gong and Tea https://zoom.us/j/735219697 Dial In: 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 735 219 697 Sundays Men’s Group (6-8pm, biweekly) https://zoom.us/j/809960273 Dial In: 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 809 960 273

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Disclaimer: Articles which show “submitted by” are not written by an IC member.

They are articles that our members came across, were inspired by, and brought in to the Center to inspire and encourage other members.

Often the authors of these articles are unknown. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Independence Center’s members, the staff, or the Editor.

Social isolation can be a reality for many people as we try to flatten the curve and keep the community safe. The IC recognizes this and will begin holding virtual groups with our members. Members will be given information on how they can join the “group” from any type of phone - land line, flip phone, smart phone etc. We will also be implementing video calls and groups. Members are being surveyed now to see what types of devices they have and whether or not they have internet services.

MHC is working hard to make sure that we can assist members with obtaining the technology they need to stay connected. If you have not yet received a call about this and you are interested in how we can help, give us a call!