COVID-19 Resources for Cape Cod's Businesses, Nonprofits, and Young Adults + Families
Updated October 15, 2020
CCYP is closely monitoring developments with the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health crisis, as well as its impacts on local businesses, nonprofits, and young workers and families on Cape Cod. In an effort to continue serving as a trusted resource for our members and the community at large, we have compiled the list of resources below, which are organized by category. We will be updating this page regularly, so check back as needed and be sure to share the link with anyone in your network who may be in need of support.
Please consider taking 5-10 minutes to complete CCYP's FOLLOW-UP COVID-19 Needs Survey to help CCYP
collect much-needed data on the challenges experienced by young people on Cape Cod during the COVID-19 pandemic, help us track how these challenges may have changed over the last few months, and assist CCYP in planning for 2021 programs, events, and advocacy efforts. Survey participants have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a prize pack of gift cards from CCYP member businesses worth $50+! Complete the survey here.
Public Health Information
- Learn about symptoms of COVID-19, local testing information, and read the latest updates from Cape Cod Healthcare
Food
- Cape Cod Culinary Incubator and American Culinary Federation of Cape Cod have teamed up through the Cape Cod Family Table Collaborative to provide meals for families in need. No income verification is required.
- Comprehensive list of free meal services and pickup sites for the Cape + Islands from EOS Foundation
- Barnstable Schools offers breakfast and lunch to ANY child, regardless of school or town of residence
- Monomoy Schools offers free breakfast and lunch for students beginning March 20, 2020
- Nauset Schools offers free breakfast and lunch for students beginning March 17, 2020
- Provincetown Schools offers food packs to provide three meals per day for students/families beginning March 16, 2020
Housing
- Housing Assistance Corporation of Cape Cod (HAC) has established a COVID-19 Workforce Housing Relief Fund to provide urgent and ongoing assistance with past due rent or mortgage payments and other housing-related expenses for current, year-round Cape and Islands residents. Learn more, apply for support, or donate at www.haconcapecod.org. View this flyer for more info.
- Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) is also available to assist anyone who may need help with housing during the COVID-19 crisis. Contact them directly via phone at (508)771-5400 or visit their website at www.haconcapecod.org to get help with finding, affording, and/or keeping your housing.
Job + Income Needs
If you have been laid off from your job, apply for unemployment benefits here. As of March 18, 2020, the 7-day waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits has been eliminated.
- Wellfleet SPAT has released a new "Community Food Share" program to purchase shellfish from local harvesters while also providing food to local families
- The Greg Hill Foundation has partnered with Samuel Adams to provide grants to full-time restaurant workers in Massachusetts who are dependent on wages plus tips to cover basic living expenses and provide for their families
- The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is providing one-time relief in the form of $500 grants for artists who live, work, create, and/or perform on Cape Cod. Learn more and apply here
- Mass Cultural Council has established a Relief Fund for Individuals to provide $1000 grants to artists who have lost income during the COVID-19 crisis (deadline to apply April 22, 2020)
- Provincetown residents have started a GoFundMe page to raise money for neighbors in need
- For those in need of fuel assistance, call the South Shore Community Action Council at (509)746-6707 or (877)FUEL-AID Monday-Friday 9:15 AM-3:00 PM to do a telephone intake.
Child Care
- Information on Emergency Child Care for "essential workforces" in Massachusetts
- A Baby Center in Hyannis offers free diapers and wipes for drive-thru pickup - call ahead or email for more information
Resources for Small Business
- Check out the archive of CCYP's Virtual Connect + Chat series, featuring local subject matter experts on topics like Crisis Management for Small Businesses + Nonprofits, Remote Working Hacks, Mindfulness in a Changing World, and more.
- Watch CCYP's Video Podcast, Shaping the Cape, for interviews on a variety of important topics, such as hiring and finding a job during COVID-19, leading your team through a crisis, and working from home with kids.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Boston and Citizens Bank are offering small business grants of up to $10,000 to address immediate financial peril, limit layoffs, avoid gaps in employee benefits or insurance, mitigate economic instability and increase the likelihood of business survival.
- Local community advocacy organization Love Live Local is spearheading the Cape Cod Resilience Fund, which will issue one-time grants of $500 to $2,000 to eligible Cape Cod small businesses to supplement day-to-day operational expenses. Preference will be given to year-round, community-minded, brick and mortar businesses located in a downtown area. Applications will become available in early June once there are enough funds to have an impact.
- From Senator Ed Markey's Office: A Guide to the CARES Act (Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) passed Friday, March 27
- Unemployment Insurance Flexibility - as of March 18, 2020, the 7-day waiting period for unemployment benefits has been eliminated.
- The Federal Small Business Administration has declared COVID-19 a disaster in Massachusetts as of March 19, 2020 - eligible small businesses can now apply for low interest loan assistance here
- The U.S. Chamber Foundation has launched the Save Small Business Fund to provide $5,000 assistance grants to small businesses and local chambers of commerce impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the U.S. Chamber website, the application process for this fund is now closed due to "overwhelming demand."
- The SBA is offering debt relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by automatically paying the principal, interest, and fees on certain loans
- Complete the Cape Cod Chamber's Survey to help measure the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and report lost business during the crisis
- The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center offers free advising services for small businesses in the area. Visit their website and complete the request form to set up an advising call.
- How to Prepare for Recovery from the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
- Massachusetts Association of CDCs (MACDC) offers resources to address urgent needs for small businesses in the State of Massachusetts
- SCORE Cape Cod is offering remote mentoring services for small businesses via phone, email, and video
Resources for Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit organizations are especially vulnerable during this unprecedented global crisis. Many rely on funding from in-person programs and fundraising events that can no longer take place. In some cases, the demand for services (and associated costs) has increased as more community members find themselves in need. If you work for a nonprofit, see below for resources specific to the nonprofit sector. If you support a nonprofit - or ever have - now is the time to give back if you are able.
- CCYP has developed an infographic showing why supporting Cape Cod's nonprofit sector is more important now than ever
- From Senator Ed Markey's Office: A Guide to the CARES Act (Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) passed Friday, March 27. Nonprofits may qualify for some forms of relief outlined in this legislation.
- The Nonprofit Finance Fund has shared resources for modeling cash flow projections and deficits for nonprofits
Government Resources
Work from Home + Remote Work Resources
If you've suddenly found yourself having to adapt to a remote work or work-from-home arrangement, you are not alone! See below for resources on how to structure your day, access free Internet services, and more.
- Check out the recording of CCYP's Virtual Connect + Chat session on Remote Work Hacks, featuring Fred Bierwirth of Chatham Works
- Office Closed? New to Remote Working? Follow these 7 Tips from Cape + Plymouth Business
Civic Engagement + Running for Office
- CCYP has released a series of non-partisan Voter Guides for the 2020 Election. View the guides on our blog
- CCYP is keeping an updated list of Cape Cod's 2020 Town Meeting dates and locations here
- Run for Something has compiled a list of resources to support candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic
Miscellaneous/Other Resources
How to Help
With so many people now staying home and practicing social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, it can be unclear how to help others in our community during this time of great need. Here are a few ideas to do good and offer assistance to those who need it most:
Donate to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Governor and First Lady Lauren Baker announced on Friday, April 10 the launch of the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, which will help support essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations across the state, including Massachusetts residents and immigrants facing homelessness, food insecurity, and loss of critical services as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Donations can be made online by visiting MACovid19ReliefFund.org.- Donate to your local food bank. Donations to many food banks across the country are down significantly, while community need has simultaneously increased. If you have extra food or are making a trip to the store for essentials, consider dropping off a donation of non-perishable goods to a local food bank - just be sure to call ahead and practice safe social distancing (staying at least 6ft from others) when you go!
- Donate to the Cape Cod Resilience Fund, spearheaded by Love Live Local. The fund will issue one-time grants of $500 to $2,000 to eligible Cape Cod small businesses to supplement day-to-day operational expenses. To donate or learn more, visit lovelivelocal.com/resilience.
- Support small businesses, especially those that employee hourly or tipped workers. Restaurants, retail, and small business in general have been especially hard hit by state-mandated closures. Lots of businesses are adapting by developing modified menus and products for pickup or delivery - consider taking advantage of these opportunities to show your support and keep our small businesses afloat during this difficult period! Take a look at our list of Local Delivery/Takeout Options above for a great place to start, and for retail check out the many local online shopping options compiled by our friends at Love Live Local.
- Support hourly, tipped, and low-wage workers directly. For those that rely on tips, hourly wages, or gig-based work to make their living, times are especially tough right now. Consider making a donation to restaurant worker support funds like the one started here in Massachusetts by The Greg Hill Foundation. Check out the Cape Cod "Virtual Tip Jar" to tip direct to your favorite local service worker. And if you get pickup or delivery, remember to tip generously!
- Check in, Say Hello, and Show Gratitude. Now, maybe more than ever, it's important that we find ways to connect with each other as a community. Send a letter to a loved one, make an unscheduled phone call to a colleague or friend (yes, you can do that!), leave a note in your neighbor's mailbox, say "thank you" (virtually or via a letter) to healthcare and other workers on the front lines of the pandemic. The humanity we show to each other in times of need is what makes us great as a community.