We’re here for you during COVID-19

Categories: Now Offering

In these unprecedented times, we quickly responded to health and safety guidelines and transformed our normal procedures to meet the developing needs of our community. We’re still here for you whether you need assistance or you are able to help. And as we embark on the road to recovery, Federal Hill House will be at the lead.

Our food pantries haven’t missed a beat, staying open throughout the pandemic and serving a surge in families seeking assistance. The Swiss Street Pantry (at 35 Swiss Street) is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-1pm, and our Olneyville Food Center at 261 Manton Avenue is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-2pm. At both of our pantries, staff and volunteers wear facemasks, follow appropriate hand hygiene practices, and follow social distance guidelines. Guest are served at the entrance and are asked to wear face masks and practice social distancing of at least 6ft. If a guest is not wearing a facemask, we will provide one for them. Groceries are pre-packaged into bags that are ready to grab and go.

We are open for child care for ages 18 months to 12 years, following updated guidelines from the RI Department of Health. We have availability in both our Early Learning Center and School Age Child Care Programs (SACC).  SACC primarily serves two local elementary schools where we walk children to and from school: Carl J. Lauro and Asa Messer. We also provide transportation and support for distance learning for Nathanael Greene Middle School.  Walk-ins are also able to enroll.  For more information or to enroll in SACC, contact Ja’Nell Henry at jhenry@federalhillhouse.org. For the Early Learning Center, contact Jaime Ellis at jellis@federalhillhouse.org.

For our youngest program participants, our Parents as Teachers and Providence Talks programs continue to provide support to parents with children age 0-4. Our parent educators now do virtual check-ins, read alouds on Youtube, and provide online educational resources and activity guides. Email Catherine Dugan at Cdugan@federalhillhouse.org if you would like to participate in Providence Talks virtual programming.

Our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) free tax preparation services will start February 1st. Call 401-421-4722 to make an intake appointment, which are scheduled Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am-12pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30pm-8pm, and Saturdays from 9am-1pm. We have adopted a virtual drop-off process where we will take copies of your documents, and a volunteer will prepare your tax return remotely and review with you over the phone. You can stay in your car at drop-off and pick-up, and wear your face mask when a volunteer comes to assist you. For more information about the VITA program, email VITAinfo@federalhillhouse.org.

Our onsite senior services are currently suspended. To help our seniors stay safe at home, we deliver meals, staples from our food pantries, prescriptions, and other needed items to members of the Central Providence Healthy Aging Network (CP-HAN). We also offer regular phone outreach and conversation to help reduce loneliness and isolation.  To join CP-HAN, contact Allori Fernandes at afernandes@federalhillhouse.org.

Would you like to volunteer in the food pantries or help some seniors? We need your help to stock shelves, prepare to-go bags, package meals, make deliveries, and call to check on and chat with a senior. Email Elizabeth Lubera at volunteer@federalhillhouse.org about opportunities to volunteer.

For more information about our ongoing services, please call 401-421-4722.

Related Posts

Be in the Know

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with all that is happening at FHH.