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Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the #COVID19 pandemic. Qualifying households on Tribal lands can receive a discount of up to $75 per month for service. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: [fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit]fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit. #DigitalDivide #BroadbandForAll

FREE Mental Health Counseling Hotline: (844) 863-9314
Local Branch: www.mentalhealthjc.org

Local Hotline: Harold J. Wagner Warm Line (315) 788-0970


Volunteer Transportation is Available to assist with:

  • Medical Appointments
  • Groceries
  • Food Pantries
  • Pharmacy

Please go to their website for a one-page application. https://volunteertransportationcenter.org/

Jefferson & Lewis County Office                             

24685 Route 37
Watertown, NY 13601
info@volunteertransportation.org
(315)-376-3777 (phone) Jefferson
(315)-788-8021 (fax) Jefferson

(315)-367-3777 (phone) Lewis
(315)-788-8021 (fax) Lewis

St. Lawrence County Office

PO Box 515
6587 US Route 11
Canton, NY 13617info@volunteertransportation.org
(315)-714-2034 (phone)   (315)-788-8021 (fax)

CitiBus Covid-19 Response

  • The health, safety, and well-being of our passengers, employees, and the communities we serve, is of the utmost importance.
  • Buses are being disinfected daily—at night they receive a thorough deep clean and in between runs drivers are also disinfecting.
  • Please follow CDC guidelines by washing your hands, covering your cough, and staying home if you feel ill.
  • Please be aware, service and/or schedule changes may be made on a DAILY BASIS in any emergency.

Announcements

  • As of Monday, March 30, 2020 ALL CitiBus routes are on time and running the normal schedule.
  • We are educating riders and partner agencies about this policy, and about the risks of COVID-19 with signs posted in our buses.
  • Paratransit service continues to operate as scheduled.
  • Trips to Walmart & Target added 3.31.2020

Walk-In Traffic

In response to the Covid-19 Virus CitiBus is suspending walk-in traffic into our main office. Please call with questions—(315) 785-7772

SAMHSA:


National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
National Helpline: (Treatment referral and information 24/7: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
FREE 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 anywhere in the US

Persons with Limited or Lack of Access to Devices and Services:

The following is a listing of helpful resources compiled for emergency assistance:

• Website: https://www.safelinkwireless.com/
• Phone: 1-877-631-2550
• Added Benefits in Response to COVID-19:
o Free Unlimited Talk & Text (used to be 300 min)
o + 5GB Free Data (in addition to your current plan)
• Additional Benefits Expire April 28, 2020

Free Wifi/internet 

  • Charter Communications (Spectrum) and Comcast are giving households with K-12 and college students, and those who qualify as low-income complimentary Wifi for 60 days
  • Families who do not have the service will also receive free installation of the service
  • Both companies are expanding Wifi hotspots to the public within the company’s available regions
  • Call (844) 488-8395 (Charter) or (855) 846-8376 (Comcast) to enroll o Individuals must call company after 60 days, or they will be automatically billed

Unlimited data

  • Charter, Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon are offering unlimited data plans to customers until May 13 for no additional charge

Safelink Wireless

  • Eligibility requirements must be met, which are set by each State where the service is provided
  • To qualify for Lifeline, subscribers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in one of the following assistance programs:
  • Medicaid
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Stamps
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
  • Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

 

 

 

• Website: https://www.verizonwireless.com
• Phone: 1-800-922-0204
• Added Benefits in Response to COVID-19:
o Starting March 18, Verizon is waiving activation fees
o If you’re a Verizon customer experiencing economic hardships because of COVID-19, please reach out. We’ll waive late fees and overage charges for 60 days from March 16 to May 13. We also won’t disrupt your service.
o Additional 15GB of high-speed data: for wireless customers, this data will be automatically applied with no customer action necessary.
o Through April 30, Verizon will offer unlimited domestic calling to customers.
o Starting April 3, Verizon will also offer two months of waived internet and voice service charges for current Lifeline customers and a new affordable internet option for low income households.

 

 

 

• Website: https://www.accesswireless.com/ 
• Phone: 1-866-594-3644
• Added Benefits in Response to COVID-19
o Unlimited minutes
o Additional monthly data (amount not specified)
• Additional Benefits Expire June 21, 2020

 

 

 

• Website: https://www.assurancewireless.com/
• Phone: 1-888 321-5880
• Added Benefits in Response to COVID-19:
o Free Unlimited Calls
o Free Unlimited Texts
o Plus an additional 6GB Data FREE
o Additional Benefits Expire May 20, 2020

 

 

 

 

RADIO-ATHON AND BENEFIT CONCERT SUPPORT UNITED WAY’S CRISIS FUND

WATERTOWN — On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, Community Broadcasters, WPBS and Westelcom joined forces to raise funds for the United Way of Northern New York’s Crisis Fund. The Crisis Fund supports the United Way’s purchases of life-essential items for 25 different communities in the North Country, and adds additional grant funding to local, human-service nonprofit organizations.

Community Broadcasters’ radio-athon went from 6AM to 6PM on all eight of their radio stations. Jim Leven, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I’m am incredibly proud of the entire Community Broadcasters team. Their on-air enthusiasm was contagious, and it showed with the volume of calls received for donations! During this unprecedented time in our nation, we are very proud to support United Way of Northern New York.”

WPBS hosted the “Music Across the Border” benefit concert from 7:30PM to 9PM. The concert included 15 local musicians from the United States and Canada, who prerecorded their performances in their own studios and sent the digital files to the television station. Mark Prasuhn, President and General Manager, described the event, “This was an incredibly rare and unique opportunity to reach across our entire broadcast region in the US and Canada to bring joy to our viewers and to raise money for the United Way, who’s helping families and communities survive this pandemic and economic challenge. WPBS is honored to have hosted this event.”

The system to link the donors together with the United Way was provided by Westelcom. “It was an easy decision to support this event,” said Paul Barton, President and General Manager. “We take great pride in developing and providing unique telecom solutions to meet the needs of great organizations, such as the United Way of Northern New York. This is our home, and having the opportunity to support our neighbors and friends is humbling.”

Jamie Cox, President and CEO of United Way of Northern New York, summarized the event, “On behalf of my board, staff and the communities that we serve, we are delighted that we had the opportunity to work with local companies who believe in supporting the areas they serve. Each company put the residents of the North Country ahead of corporate financials. That defines patriotism.”

Sponsors for the radio-athon included McDonalds, The DWI Guys operated by Nave Law Firm, LA Quarry, Logan’s Equipment Inc., Top of the Hill Mattress & Furniture, Fetched Food, Little Caesars, Northern Credit Union, Top of the Hill Sealcoating, Foy Benefits, i2i Automotive Repair, Community Health Center of the North Country, Witherbee & Whalen, Inc., and Blevins Bros Inc.

 

UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW YORK PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPLIES DURING CRISIS

WATERTOWN — United Way of Northern New York (UWNNY) is providing critical need items to nonprofit partners and communities throughout Northern New York. The focus of procurement and distribution is on critical need, low accessibility items such as toilet paper, baby diapers, baby food and cereal, baby formula, paper products, rubber gloves and household cleaners. Human service, nonprofit organizations throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties will be the points of access for the public.

Given today’s COVID-19 crisis, and the unforeseen length of this challenge, UWNNY is focused on providing the highest value to each community. “In normal times, the most vital commodity for human service nonprofits is cash, which allows the purchase of needed items and ability to meet payroll requirements,” said CEO Jamie Cox. “Right now, the curve is a bit inverted, in that most organizations cannot access some of the most important items that each community requires to stay afloat.”  Quickly recognizing the need, United Way of Northern New York created multiple, innovative partnerships to gain quick access to supply chains. In combination with traditional commercial supplier accounts and donated warehouse space from MonthlyBoxer, owned by Alex Morgia, the UWNNY is filling one of the greatest gaps in NNY.

“There are incredible people in the North Country doing extraordinary things,” Cox stated. “The ability to break down traditional silos and create an even greater outcome is quite powerful. That’s also helping us prepare for the next phases of this crisis, which will bring a different set of challenges to the table.”

UWNNY is receiving a significant number of phone calls and emails about food drives for the food pantries. Unfortunately, the challenges of this virus require the food pantries to source goods through known, sanitary organizations that can keep products in a sterile environment through procurement, transportation and delivery.

Support UWNNY’s Crisis Fund, which is used to purchase and distribute critical goods, by going to www.unitedwaynny.org/crisisfund

Lewis County Planning Department

Lewis County Public Transportation routes are active! We have been focused on extensive cleaning and disinfecting of our buses, vans and terminal as recommended by the NYSDOH.
Our drivers are committed to routine hand and respiratory hygiene practices.
March 20th: Fare collections are waved in hopes of avoiding the virus transmission through cash and to alleviate the financial burden to riders.
March 30th: Temporary suspension of the JCC Connector Route and Utica Connector Route. All other routes and services will continue.
Dial-A-Ride hours have been expanded.

Lewis County Department of Social Services

PRESS RELEASE 4-20-2020

Mobile Document Upload

Lewis County Department of Social Services (DSS) is pleased to inform Lewis County residents that a free mobile device application, called NYDocSummit, is available for individuals to use to submit necessary documents at any time. This mobile application provides individuals who have applied for or are receiving DSS benefits to submit documentation to DSS in a simple and fast way. The mobile application is available for download on Google Play for the Apple App Store and can be used to take photos of documents and upload them to Lewis County DSS. During this time of restrictions, having the ability to submit necessary documentation from the comfort of home is essential to continue supporting families in Lewis County. NYDocSubmit.

Many individuals have had their employment and income impacted by COVID-19. Anyone in receipt of SNAP whose employment has been affected, either they are currently unemployed or are experiencing a decrease in hours worked, should report these changes to Lewis County Department of Social Services as soon as possible as it may affect their SNAP benefit amount. A convenient way to report this is to complete and submit an online SNAP change report form found at https://www.mybenefits.ny.gov/. If you are now in receipt of unemployment, you can submit proof of this and other documentation using the free mobile application NYDocSubmit.

 

North Country Library Systems

Hoping to bring some comfort and normalcy to our community!
E-books, Online Programs, Classes, Stories and More!

Jefferson County Public Health Service
Lewis County Public Health
St. Lawrence County Public Health Department

Media Release
Contact: Faith Lustik, Health Planner 315-786-3723

Tri-County Residents Asked to Respond to COVID-19 Survey

April 1, 2020, Watertown, NY–The Jefferson County Public Health Service, the Lewis County Public Health and the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department working with the Center for Community Studies (the Center) at Jefferson Community College ask residents to respond to a survey regarding COVID-19 (Novel coronavirus) impacts.  The health departments will use this data to plan and monitor changes throughout the pandemic.

In the afternoons and evenings of 4/1 and 4/2 (Wednesday and Thursday) surveyors working from home will be contacting area residents to ask questions about the perceptions and impact the COVID 19 pandemic has had on you.  Calls will be routed through the Center where telephone numbers are randomly generated.  People answering the survey will be anonymous to the caller. Also, email invitations will be sent to complete the survey online to a randomly selected anonymous sample of available email addresses in the three-county region. The survey is paid for by Jefferson Community College.

Responding to the survey will help your health department understand the effects on the local community, identify priorities for action, understand key implementation challenges, track progress, and identify gaps.  Results of the survey will be made available to the public through the respective county public health departments.   It is a great way to help out your community and only takes a short time to complete.

For information about COVID-19 please visit your health department’s website:
Jefferson:  www.jcphs.org
Lewis:  https://www.lewiscounty.org/departments/public-health/public-health
St. Lawrence: https://www.stlawco.org/Departments/PublicHealth/

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Faith Lustik at faithl@co.jefferson.ny.us.