Resources for Treasure Valley residents and how you can help

Editor’s note: As your local newspaper, we want to help connect people with resources during this time of closures and cancellations. Because of the volume of canceled events and closed facilities, we are replacing our community calendar for the time being with information on helpful community efforts. If you know of a resource we should share about, or a need we should look into, please email newsroom@idahopress.com or join our Facebook group, “Idaho Press Community Group: COVID-19 Resources.”

Grab-and-go’ meals:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County are opening up grab-and-go meal sites. Breakfast and lunch will be available to any child ages 1-18 each day while supplies last. No application is needed. Pickup is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays at Riverfront Park in Garden City, E. 42nd St.; Meridian Elementary School, 1035 NW First St.; Boys & Girls Clubs of Nampa, 316 Stampede Drive.

The Nampa Boys & Girls Club is closed but offering drive-thru sack meals (breakfast and lunch) for kids starting Thursday at the Nampa clubhouse, 316 Stampede Drive, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays.

The Middleton School District, starting Wednesday, will offer grab-and-go food service for families between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The service will run weekdays through March 27 at the front entrance of the Middleton Middle School Annex A.

The Caldwell School District will offer free meals for children from 10-11 a.m. this Wednesday through Friday at schools and parks. The child must be present to receive meals and does not have to be a Caldwell School District student. Adults may buy a sack meal for $4. Locations are listed at caldwellschools.org.

Kuna School District will offer free, grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for children weekdays starting Friday, March 20, until schools reopen. Pick up is from 11 a.m. to noon at Ross Elementary, Reed Elementary and Kuna High School. Children do not need to be enrolled in the district to receive a free meal, but they need to be present to receive it.

Boise resolutions: Boise City Council adopted a resolution that establishes new leave policies related to the pandemic for city employees, keeps at least two city-operated day care centers open, blocks evictions for anyone in city rental properties and waives rent for the month of April. The resolution also mandates that the city will not cut off sewer service to anyone during the coming months, which mirrors similar decisions from Idaho Power and SUEZ to not cut off access to electricity or water to anyone based on ability to pay. Public hearings with significant local interest, like the current proposed luxury housing development near Boise State University that would demolish the affordable Ridenbaugh Apartment complex, will be postponed until gatherings are allowed.

City of Nampa utilities: No accounts will be shut off due to lack of payment for the foreseeable future. Payment plans can be arranged for customers financially impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. In-person payments will not be processed, however billing staff will process payments via website, phone 208-468-5711 or drive-thru drop box located outside utility billing. Questions can be emailed to utility@cityofnampa.us.

Idaho Power will temporarily suspend disconnections for homes and small businesses facing hardship during the pandemic. Customer service can be contacted at 208-388-2323 or 1-800-488-6151.

West Valley Humane Society in Canyon County is reaching out to the public with concerns about how the COVID-19 outbreak will impact animal welfare and people’s ability to adopt a pet or afford their pet’s needs. The shelter is accepting donations at westvalleyhumanesociety.org/COVID.

Idaho Humane Society has launched a Stray Pets online portal that shows animals brought in from the public and humane society officers. These animals are being housed at the Idaho Humane Society.

Meridian Canine Rescue has launched new online training, behavioral support and education resources, and is making available care packages for dogs, such as Boredom Buster and Sleepy Time Kits.

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is donating an initial $100,000 to the COVID-19 Response Fund for Idaho, a new charitable fund that will provide support for low-income, vulnerable Idahoans, and affected families. Donations to the fund can be made online at www.idahocf.org/covid19.

Shopping hour for seniors:

Boise Co-op: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily for shoppers 60 and older. Located at 888 W. Fort St, Boise, and 2350 N. Eagle Road, Meridian.Ridley’s Family Markets: 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. for seniors only. Local stores are at 1403 N. Meridian Road, Kuna, and 430 E. Main St., Middleton.Albertsons: Nationally announced stores will be open from 7 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for vulnerable shoppers.Walmart: Beginning March 24, Walmart stores will open an hour early every Tuesday for customers aged 60 and older. Walmart pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open during this time. Stores are also placing limits on certain items such paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.

Meals on Wheels “curbside” meals at senior centers: Though senior centers in Boise and Meridian are temporarily closed, Metro Meals on Wheels will continue to provide “curbside” meals there. Seniors who rely on the affordable lunch option normally offered at the senior center can still pick up lunch with curbside service offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays at Boise’s Dick Eardley Senior Center (690 Robbins Road, Boise) and the Meridian Senior Center (1920 N. Records Way).

Please sign the lunch sheets. There is also a container for donations. Others who want to help can donate at metromealsonwheels.net.

Caldwell and Nampa senior centers and Meals on Wheels will also continue with meal distribution through a curbside service. Please call 208-459-0132 (if in Caldwell) or 208-467-7266 (if in Nampa) beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday to order. Residents are encouraged to “keep trying” if the line is busy. Meals will be available for pickup at the Caldwell Senior Center, 1009 Everett St., and the Nampa Senior Center, 207 Constitution Way, Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a suggested donation of $4 for those 60 and over, and a $5 charge for under 60.

Meals will continue to be delivered to seniors in Canyon County at the usual time each day. Meals will be placed in a plastic bag with handles and hung on the door of the residence. After knocking or ringing the doorbell, the deliverer will wait to be sure that the meal is taken inside. For more information contact 208-454-8142.

Big Box Outlet Store at 352 Caldwell Blvd. in Nampa is offering free lunch for school-age children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

The food pantry at Canyon Springs High School, 516 N. 11th Ave., Caldwell will still be available to students, according to Caldwell School District’s Facebook page. Please email lvelasquez@caldwellschools.org to arrange a time.