Social Advocacy
3. Food
Self Isolation can make it hard to grocery shop.
How are you getting the nourishment you need at affordable prices, to survive? Here are helpful links and options for food delivery services and also here is a link to NYC board of Ed. Grab and Go meals where you can pick up three free meals a day Monday Through Friday.
We have some personal stories, food that comforts you by Frank Vitola, who shares his Orgasmic Marinara Sauce, and Florencia’s mom shares her Tortilla de Papas recipe.
A Poem that Frank shared that he’s been thinking about during COVID-19
Don’t Quit
By: John Greenleaf Whittier
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit—
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
What do you do when you are not able to go to the grocery store and many of the shelves are empty? What are some tips to getting the supplies you need?
Delivered to your door:
Mercado.com
Bj’s will deliver to your door and are also offering $25. One year membership.
https://www.bjs.com/membership/innerCircleEnroll?storeId=&marketCode=SFRT2
Imperfect Foods: delivers imperfect foods, saves money and food from waste.
https://www.imperfectfoods.com/
https://www.imperfectfoods.com/how-grocery-delivery-service-works
Misfits Market
https://www.misfitsmarket.com/pages/waitlist
GROCERY DELIVERY:
In NY - Here are some Grocery Delivery Services-Time Slots Are Limited. Once you get your slot stick with it, and complete your order.
Peapod: https://www.peapod.com/
Fresh Direct: https://www.freshdirect.com/
Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/grocery-delivery/new-york-ny
In LA - try Ralph’s
Reliable, and have most of the items you may need. . https://www.ralphs.com/weeklyad?&cid=ps_adw_ogs.brand_t:%2Bralphs+%2Bfood&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyur0BRDcARIsAEt86IDvXnrhVtH3mVREJY3u6j4cpcPKEgMvJafOmfH8XANWbiMUYfish-oaAo98EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
NYC BOARD OF ED “GRAB AND GO MEALS”
Find a Free Meal Location Near You
NYC Free "Grab and Go" meals are available for all New Yorkers.
Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Meals hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, and for adults from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
No one will be turned away at any time.
No registration, ID, or documentation required.
All three meals a day may be picked up at the same time.
No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises.
Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children.
https://www.opt-osfns.org/schoolfoodny/meals/default.aspx#Results
NEED TO FIND OUT LOCAL FOOD AREAS?
FIND SOUP KITCHENS AND LOCAL PANTRIES AND SNAP ENROLLMENT.
MANY OF THESE SITES HAVE SWITCHED TO “GRAB AN GO, “ DUE TO THE
CIVID-19.
https://www.foodbanknyc.org/get-help/
HOW TO GET FOOD IN NYC RIGHT NOW - AND HOW TO HELP FEED:
https://thecity.nyc/2020/04/how-to-get-food-in-new-york-right-now-and-how-to-help-feed.html
SNAP - FOOD STAMPS
If you’re an artist that is really strapped and unemployment isnt covering your food costs, you may be eligible to apply for food stamps through the SNAP program. Some of our artists' friends have received their benefits.
Quick Way to apply for food stamps
https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/
What can you we for others?
Go Grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor
Help go pick up meds for a friend, elderly neighbor or family member
Call in and read a book, poem story to a friend and connect
Donate to:
https://www.feedingamerica.org/
https://secure3.convio.net/fbnyc/site/Donation2?df_id=9716&9716.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&commas=yes
WHAT TO BAKE IF YOU RUN OUT OF INGREDIENTS:
Baking Recipes when
you run out of essentials like butter, eggs or milk. This could be a quick go to, for recipes when you run out of ingredients.
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2020/03/30/what-to-bake-if-you-run-out-of-ingredients
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FRANCESCO’S ORGASMIC MARINARA
SERVES 4 people
Marinara Ingredients;
1 ) 3 Large cans of Cento low sodium crushed tomatoes
2 ) 7 cloves of peeled garlic
3 ) 2 Large onions
4 ) virgin olive oil
5 ) 1 pound of Barilla Rigatoni
6 ) Parmesan Cheese
7 ) Andre Bocelli music
Ok.... we have all the pertinent ingredients ready to make Francesco's Orgasmic Marinara sauce
The essence of the sauce is rooted in LOVE..... Most importantly number 7 ,should be number one should be playing immediately .. with the ingredients laid on the table... the music will create the atmosphere and like I said... Everything must be rooted in LOVE.... so we LOVE the ingredients, we LOVE the music we LOVE the sauce we LOVE the people with us.......
First thing to do...
get a deep pot to maneuver with let's say a 10 quart pot would be great....... cover the surface with Virgin Olive Oil all of this must must must be cooked on a low to medium Flame... Second thing put in the garlic until you start to see it turn golden..... Third thing is place your chopped onions in there.... stir with garlic until both are golden...... basically you are sauteing them..... when you see the garlic and onions Golden .... Empty your three cans of tomatoes into pot.. Mind you... All the time the music is playing.... your heart is filled with LOVE the house is filled with the aroma of the Tomatoes The Music is making everybody feel warm and loving... Now you must stir it for the next 3 hours .......the longer you let it cook on a low Flame the better it will become like velvet .......
The LOVE is going to emanate as......Francesco's Orgasmic Marinara Sauce simmers…
THE PASTA
1) BOIL WATER IN POT TO FIT PASTA
2) When it gets to boil
3) Empty box of Rigatoni in
4) Lower flame, between low and medium
5) 11 minutes…..pasta ADente, is ready…….
6) Place in bowl
7) Cover with Orgasimic Marinara, add cheese if you choose
8) Buon Appetito'
Florencia’s Mom shares a recipe:
Her philosophy is “Less is More”
She’s used to going out every day to the market but now she can’t so her cooking style has had to adapt to sticking to Spanish basics. Here’s her recipe for Totilla de Papas
Tortilla de Papas (Spanish Omelette)
Ingredients:
1 cup olive oil
4 large potatoes peeled and cut in ⅛” slices or even thinner
Salt & Pepper to taste
4 eggs
*can do a variation w/onions and/or Chorizo
Method:
Heat oil in skillet
Add potato slices one at a time
Don’t let them stick together…
Let them almost boil, continue stirring
After 10-15min lift and turn potatoes, let them cook until tender.
Drain potatoes, save the oil, put potatoes aside on a plate.
Wipe out the skillet.
Beat eggs in a med-large bowl until foamy.
Add potatoes to beaten eggs
Soak in egg mixture for 15min.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil until smoking, but be careful not to burn.
Add potato + egg and spread on the pan.
Lower the heat and shake pan.
Then take off pan set aside on to dish.
Wipe out skillet, put 2 more tbsp of oil onto the pan
Cook the other side on a lowered heat.
Keep shaping it into a round shape until cooked. Should be juicy inside.
Enjoy eating Hot or at Room Temperature.
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2. Parenting/Caring for Our Children
Agata Nowicka for BuzzFeed News
Children are our hope and future. Parenting kids who would normally be in childcare or at school can be tough co-parenting, or even tougher when you are a single parent, whether or not you are working from home during self-isolation, or unemployed and at home, and trying to work on creative projects.
Here are some helpful links for activity ideas to keep kids busy, engaged, and off of screen-time, some downloadable tools and education resources to keep kids learning, a fun recipe to make with them, and some ways to think about helping other kids by donating old toys….
We hear from some parents in our artist community including David Deblinger, Reiko Aylesworth, Nathan Yungerberg, Jen Ortiz and Angela Lewis, on how they are handling parenting during COVID-19, and we hear from Clemente Ortiz what remote learning is like for him, in our weekly LAB Survival Guide Social Advocacy Podcast Episode 2.
Reiko shared this poem she’s been thinking about a lot lately as a parent...
Good Bones
BY MAGGIE SMITH
Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.
WORKING FROM HOME WITH KIDS & DOWNLOADABLE TOOLS:
https://preparedforsuccess.org/covid19-tips/
https://preparedforsuccess.org/tools/
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/coronavirus-covid19-parents-kids-childcare
Listenwise:
If you haven't used them yet, they have kids listen to NPR segments and answer questions. (They cover the Listening and Speaking standards and prep kids for the listening portion of the CAASPP.)
Listenwise School Closure License Request
SINGLE PARENT COVID-19 RESOURCES:
https://msmagazine.com/2020/04/08/single-moms-and-covid-19-lessons-in-desperation-and-strength/
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-family-single-parents/
LEARNING SPANISH:
https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/salsa-spanish-for-children/#.XpJiIC2ZPUI
ACTIVITIES:
100 ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS TO DO AT HOME DURING SELF-ISOLATION:
https://www.simplebooth.com/blog/100-at-home-activities-for-kids-during-self-isolation/
https://www.enrichmentactivities.org
SOME MORE ACTIVITY IDEAS:
As creators, be creative as creative as you can with your kids...
● Build a fort in your closet?!
● Paint a Mural with chalk
● Build a really big lego city using all your pieces of lego in the house.
● Play “restaurant” for a meal?
● Create a menu, have the kids be the chefs and the waiters, pour the drinks, serve the food.
● Role reversal:
● Have the Parents be the kids and the kids be the Parents for the day or a couple hours?
● Research and draw your family Tree.
● Have an indoor camp-out
● Look at family photos and share memories
● Write a play and perform it with costumes
● Write a short film script and shoot it on your iPhone, then edit and share with their friends.
● Have kids do chores and reward them with coins for “work”
● Record a children’s story with your kids, have them draw the pictures for the story, then edit the drawings to the audio, and send to all their friends. Have them send one back if they want.
● Read an original fairytale book like “Snowhite and the Seven Dwarfs” then watch the original movie, and discuss the differences of the adaptation.
YOGA FOR KIDS
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
30 DAY LEGO CHALLENGE:
MAKE A HOMEMADE MASK:
COOKING AND BAKING WITH KIDS
Find easy recipes like this to make with kids. Bake your favorite cake and decorate it, have them help make a picnic lunch and go on a picnic to the balcony or outside area if you have one.
BAKING WITH KIDS: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2020/04/13/baking-with-little-kids
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2020/03/30/what-to-bake-if-you-run-out-of-ingredients
EASY RECIPE FOR KIDS:
MINI BREAKFAST QUICHES:
PREP: 10 MINS
COOK: 15 MINS
MAKES 6
INGREDIENTS:
● 2 large tortilla wraps
● 4 eggs
● chopped vegetables (optional)
● 3 sausages or chorizo chopped up * for vegetarians substitute veggie or plant based sausage.
● 3 cherry tomatoes, halved, plus extra to serve
● handful basil leaves
● vegetable sticks, to serve
METHOD:
Heat oven to 350F. Using a 12cm cutter (or a small plate) cut circles from the large tortilla wraps – you should get 6. Use the circles to line 6 holes of a muffin tin, pushing them into the holes to make cases.
Beat the eggs and pour into the tortilla cases (you can add some chopped vegetables too, if you like). Top each case with a slice of salami and 1/2 a cherry tomato. Bake for 15 mins until the egg has set. Top with a few basil leaves, if you like, and serve with extra tomatoes and vegetable sticks.
CHILD EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
CREATING STRUCTURE and STABILITY
Write a schedule for the day, and stick to it. Include playtime, rest time mealtimes and physical activity.
https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/structure/building.html
HOME-EDUCATION RESOURCES:
https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/covid-19/64-home-learning-resources-to-keep-kids-sharp/
CHILD MIND INSTITUTE
https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/
TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT COVID-19
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus
PBS Teachers Lounge: How to Talk to Little Learners About Coronavirus
New York Times: Questions Parents May Have About Coronavirus
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children about COVID-19
WAYS TO HELP OTHERS?:
DONATE OLD TOYS:
Go through toys with your kids, and donate old toys, to an organization accepting donations...
Find a Children’s Hospital near you to donate toys:
https://www.childrenshospitals.org/Directories/Hospital-Directory
The Salvation Army:
DONATE NECESSITIES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN NEED:
DONATE TO GOOD+Foundation supporting low-income parents and caregivers:
https://goodplusfoundation.org/give-money
Or Text “GoodPlus” for needed items: 44321
Items such as strollers, diappers, wipes, clothing,
Car seats.
Ways to help a Single Parent:
● Offer to deliver a bag of groceries and drop it off at their front door.
● Offer to read a story or teach Spanish to a friend or family member’s child over Facetime or Video conference?
DINE ONE ONE
Created by company member Lola Glaudini and friends
“Dine11 is a non-profit group I put together with a few friends to help restaurants keep the lights on while feeding the overworked healthcare heroes…It works like this: we raise money (by sending emails, posting on social media, connecting with donors at companies), we use that money to pay for meals cooked at independent restaurants, we bring meals to ERs and ICUs.
Dine11 LA is up and running
Dine11 NYC launches this week (first delivery is Friday).
Dine11 SF launches next week, beginning Monday” -Lola
After doing the first crowd-sourced funding with friends, Dine11 aligned with March On and Future Coalition, to join on as their non-profit fiscal sponsor. People can now make a tax-deductible donations to Dine11. Every dollar raised, (minus bank processing fees) helps coordinate purchasing food and getting it delivered to healthcare workers in ERs and ICUs across Los Angeles. The goal is to deliver up to three to four meals a day to facilities in need. More hospitals and restaurants are being added daily as funding continues to come in.
The response from the health care workers, as well as the restaurant staff, has been resoundingly positive. One grateful nurse wrote: “Thank you for all of the delicious food, it gives us nourishment but really boosts morale.”
Donate now: dine11.org
Email Lola if you are in LA and want to get involved...email her if you’re elsewhere and she’ll connect you to those who can help.
Unemployment and Financial Aid
Money. We need it to survive. To pay rent and eat, to stay healthy.
How do we as artists get through this time of economic crisis? How can we help others around us who may also be struggling financially from loss of work?
In this post we are providing some helpful links for filing for Unemployment, some links to apply for financial aid, some useful articles for figuring out how to pay bills, some ideas of how to help others around you who may be struggling from loss of work, and highlighting a personal story in a short podcast interview with LAB member, Sidney Williams, on how loss of work is affecting his daily life.
HELPFUL LINKS:
UNEMPLOYMENT:
Everything you need to know if you've recently been laid off and are applying for unemployment benefits
https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-know-applying-unemployment-benefits-2020-3
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/helpnownyc/get-help/individuals.page
https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/Find-Unemployment-Benefits.aspx
https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus
PART-TIME UNEMPLOYMENT
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-are-partial-unemployment-benefits-2062054
FIND HELP
ACTOR’S FUND
SAG - AFTRA
https://www.sagaftra.org/pteoe-unemployment-assistance-webinar
https://www.sagaftra.org/news-events/news/covid-19
NYC GOV. RESOURCES
https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/city-agency-service-updates.page
PAID LEAVE RIGHTS
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
will provide grants to restaurant industry employees who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19, financially, whether through a decrease in wages or loss of employment.
https://rerf.us/apply-for-aid/
HOW TO PAY BILLS
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/financial-assistance-coronavirus-crisis/story?id=69689211
CARES ACT
https://taxfoundation.org/cares-act-senate-coronavirus-bill-economic-relief-plan/
RECORDING ARTIST RESOURCES
https://www.bmiresource.center/
FILING FOR CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT
https://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/UI_Online.htm
https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/UI-Calculator.htm
WHAT CAN I DO NOW?
DONATE TO THE FRONTLINESNYC.ORG: https://www.feedthefrontlinesnyc.org/
DONATE TO ACTOR’S FUND: https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2?df_id=2857&2857.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T
CALL A FRIEND THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY LAID OFF AND CHEER THEM UP
DONATE OR SEND SOME FOOD TO A FRIEND WHO IS UNEMPLOYED AND IN NEED
Personal Story:
We are offering a slice of life from a member of LAB that relates to The Unemployment Financial Aid post.
Sidney Williams
Actor, Lab Member, and former bartender at Buvette (his side-hustle).
https://ilovebuvette.com/about
Most recent performance in: A Peregrine Falls
Dear Friends,
Recently, I began a home-based therapy company Dwellness In-Home Psychological Services to provide individual, family, and couples therapy across the lifespan. In our work, we have experienced the privilege of bringing therapy into the homes of our clients, and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to continue to do so through telehealth during this critical time. Given recent closings of schools and businesses, as well as the directive for social distancing, there is undoubtedly increased anxiety amongst the community and we are eager to be of service. I wanted to let you know about a couple of ways in which we are hoping to support our community.
At this time, Dwellness therapy will have open daytime spots for single pro-bono coaching sessions via phone or video conferencing. Our therapists can provide support around:
● Self-care (individual or family unit)
● Stress and anxiety management
● Behavior management for oppositional children
● Perinatal/postnatal support
● Coping with social distancing
● Strategies for mood elevation for “stuck-at-home ‘blues’
These coaching sessions will be scheduled on a first-come, first serve basis, and can be scheduled through Dwellness’ Calendly profile.
Additionally, Dwellness will be providing short-term low-fee teletherapy for people whom therapy at market rate may be cost prohibitive, as well as ongoing home-based therapy and teletherapy. Our clinician’s can offer support around any of the aforementioned coaching topics and more. If interested, please contact info@dwellnesstherapy.com or visit our website dwellnesstherapy.com. Please feel free to share this with your colleagues and friends, as we are hoping to support as many people as we can.
Warmly,
Jamie
4. Homelessness During COVID-19
The current COVID-19 outbreak in NYC is dramatically impacting the lives of every person in our city, however, we must remember that homeless New Yorkers are particularly vulnerable, with higher rates of serious underlying health problems, with little or no access to quality health care, and have no way to self-quarantine. They are constantly exposed to the environment, with limited access to bathrooms and running water needed to even just wash their hands.
We’ve put together some articles as a resource for some information about how serious this issue is, and some ways you can help, if you find the time, and wish to do so, for this disparaging community. We also interview LAB friend Pete McCabe who volunteers with The Ali Forney Center in NYC, that focuses on providing assistance for LGBTQ youths from the harms of homelessness and to empower them with the tools needed to live independently.
HOMELESSNESS IS A SHARED EXPERIENCE IN THE NEW YORK METRO AREA
Chances are you have walked by or shared a train car with someone who is homeless, know someone personally who has been homeless or even experienced homelessness yourself.
In March 2020, there were 60,923 homeless people, including 14,097 homeless familieswith 20,939 homeless children, sleeping each night in the New York City municipal shelter system. Families make up more than two-thirds of the homeless shelter population.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS HOMELESS, OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS:
ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES/HOMELESS HELP:
Programs and information for families in hardship and experiencing homelessness. Family Hardship Support. 100% Free Membership. Types: Family Resource Guidance, Benefits Assistance, Housing Assistance.
https://unitedfamilynetwork.com/e/10?requestid=aob-AYUF6G&destinationid=1346903287&
HOUSING ASSISTANCE:
Section 8 rental housing assistance application: www.my-section-8-housing.org/
ARTICLES:
She’s 10, Homeless and eager to Learn. But She Has No Internet.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/nyregion/new-york-homeless-students-coronavirus.html
Mayor De Blasio Unveils ‘Outreach NYC’ Program To Address Homelessness
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/11/14/outreach-nyc-homeless-program/
Officials look for answers to NYC’s homelessness crisis as it stresses shelters and subways amid COVID-19 pandemic
Governor Cuomo And Mayor De Blasio Agree: Subway Homeless Must Go
https://gothamist.com/news/governor-cuomo-and-mayor-de-blasio-agree-subway-homeless-must-go
How can New York City protect the homeless from coronavirus?
https://ny.curbed.com/2020/3/13/21178079/coronavirus-nyc-homeless-services-covid-19
ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED SUPPORT & VOLUNTEERS:
THE ALI FORNEY CENTER:
https://www.aliforneycenter.org/about-us/
THE BOWERY MISSION:
https://www.bowery.org/get-involved/
COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS:
https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/covid-19/
MONDAY NIGHT HOSPITALITY:
GO AND HELP MAKE TO GO MEALS OR FOOD DELIVERIES
https://www.mondaynighthospitality.org
TREVOR PROJECT:
VOLUNTEER:
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-involved/volunteer/
DONATE
https://give.thetrevorproject.org/give/63307/#!/donation/checkout
GOOD SAMARITANS:
Suicide Survivor Support Group
NEW YORK CARES:
https://www.newyorkcares.org/coronavirus
SPY - Los Angeles
http://www.safeplaceforyouth.org
DONATE:
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/safeplaceforyouth?code=home%20page
Virtual Concert COVID-19 FUNDRAISER:
LAB Survival Guide Podcast #4: Homlessness
Personal Story: LAB friend Pete McCabe who is an actor, writer, dramaturg, and volunteer for The Ali Forney Center NYC, shares some personal experiences and knowledge from his work with the Center during COVID-19. The Ali Forney Center’s mission is to protect LGBTQ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.
(*coming shortly)
