COVID-19

Important Information for You and Your Loved Ones

Your Meeting Cares Committee, in concert with the new Faith in Action Committee, is committed to support Goose Creek Members and Attenders at this very difficult time.  Each member of Meeting Cares promises to be a CONFIDENTIAL “listening ear” for people in need and those who know of members and/or attenders experiencing hardship.  Members of the Faith in Action Committee also embrace the need for confidentiality. 

This section of the Goose Creek website provides important information as well as useful resources. As you know, each day brings new information as well as unforeseen challenges.  We will keep this site as current as possible. If you know of resources or are willing to help others with food buying, transportation or other needs, please let one of us know.  We already have a small list of helpers.  

The Meeting Cares Committee will forward requests for financial assistance to the newly formed Faith in Action Ad Hoc Committee.  Checks for specific needs will be made out to the billing entity such as the electric company. If you have a need or know of a need please contact Sue McCollum or Ann Travell. Don’t know their contact details? Send an email to gcmmlincoln@gmail.com.

Please know that we are all in this effort together.  Remember, confidentiality is a must.

Support Mobile Hope!

The Meeting Cares committee is conducting our annual Back-to-School gift card campaign for Mobile Hope a little differently this year. Even though school will only be held on-line in Loudoun County, our homeless youth continue to need food, supplies and other services provided by Mobile Hope. We are dedicating August as our time for gifting to this organization. Please consider going on-line or mailing your donation to Mobile Hope. Thank you on behalf of our homeless youth.

Resources

Dealing with Stress
The coronavirus has taken an emotional toll on just about everyone, even the most resilient. It has forced us to distance from the people we love and learn to cope with daily living in new ways. Add this to the underlying tension we experience with our daily dose of news, concerns about environmental shifts, and worry about jobs, food, and our children’s education. It’s no wonder we feel stressed in the face of so much uncertainty. Click here for advice on how to deal with stress.

Loudoun County Referrals

For anyone in need of critical services such as health care, child and elder care, employment, food, housing and public benefits, please contact the Loudoun County Information and Referral program by phone at 703-777-0420 or online at: https://www.loudoun.gov/5287/Information-Referral . They will connect you with the appropriate county and community services.

Food Pantries in Loudoun County

For immediate food assistance, go to FOODPANTRIES.ORG at https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/va-leesburg to obtain a list of food banks, congregate meal locations, and grocery services near you. 

List of local food pantries

Loudoun Hunger Relief (Social Services Organization)
750 Miller Dr. SE A1, Leesburg
703-777-5911 Dulles

South Food Pantry (Food Bank)
24757 Evergreen Mills Rd., Dulles
703-507-2795

Community Church (Church – located in Virginia Academy)
19790 Ashburn Rd., Ashburn
571-209-5000

Tree of Life (Food – closely connected to the Purcellville Baptist Church)
210 N. 21st St. Unit D, Purcellville
703-554-3595

New Jerusalem Lutheran Church
12942 Lutheran Church Road, Lovettsville (Open by appointment only)
540-822-5576

Loudoun Meal Connection – Loudoun Meal Connection is a program with a simple mission. They want to enable Loudoun County Residents to purchase a meal voucher from a local restaurant and donate it to a charity to pass to someone in need.” For more information, visit https://bit.ly/LoudounMealConnection, or search for “Loudoun Meal Connection” on Facebook.  

Loudoun County has launched an interactive map to help residents find food assistance sites, including food banks, pantries and non-school meal distribution sites. The searchable map also links to webpages for the various sites. The map will be updated as food assistance sites make service changes.

• View the map.
• For LCPS meal distribution sites, see this map.
• For stores and pharmacies offering special shopping hours for our vulnerable population, see this map.
• For learning where to find fresh local food, view this guide from PEC.

COVID-19 Testing News

COVID-19 test kits remain in short supply, but a new testing site is close by. According to the Loudoun Times-Mirror, testing is available by appointment at the Loudoun Medical Group’s Cornwall Urgent Care location at 211 Gibson St. Testing is only accessible for those meeting certain requirements and appointments must be made through your primary care physician. If you fear you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms of fever, persistent cough, and shortness of breath, call your doctor. Many are able to do virtual visits, so you won’t even need to leave your home.

For up-to-date COVID-19 news, here are a list of resources:

The Virginia Department of Health: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/

The New York Times (free access to COVID-19 news): https://www.nytimes.com/

The Atlantic (free access to COVID-19 stories): https://www.theatlantic.com/category/what-you-need-know-coronavirus/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Virginia Unemployment Application Process:

Applying for Benefits. If you are totally or partially unemployed and wish to apply for benefits, call the VEC Customer Contact Center or complete an on-line application through the Internet. Go to www.vec.virginia.gov, select “Unemployed”, and then click on “Unemployed: File a Claim Online”. The Customer Contact Center telephone number is 1-866-832-2363 (Available 8:15am to 4:30pm, Monday – Friday.

Are You Eligible for Unemployment in Virginia?

1. You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, as defined by Virginia law.
2. You must have earned at least a minimum amount in wages before you were unemployed.
3. You must be able and available to work, and you must be actively seeking employment.

Unemployment benefits are claimed on a calendar week basis beginning on Sunday and ending at midnight on the following Saturday.

How much unemployment will I get in VA?

Weekly unemployment benefits in Virginia range from $54 to $378 per week and are based on your wages. The more you made, the higher the payout. To get the maximum, a person must have earned, during two quarters of their base period, at least $18,900.01, which means an annual salary of $37,800.

More questions can be answered by going to the following

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/collecting-unemployment-benefits-virginia.html

Maryland Unemployment Application Process:

When should I file for unemployment?

Promptly file your claim, in the first week that you lose your job. You must serve an unpaid “waiting period,” equal to one full week of unemployment benefits, before you receive payments. A delay in filing may cost you benefits.

How do I file for unemployment in MD?

You can file your claim via the Internet at mdunemployment.com or by telephone using one of the telephone numbers listed on the Unemployment Insurance Home Page under “Claim Center Telephone Numbers.” If you move after establishing a Maryland claim, call the Claimant Information Service to have your address changed.

How long does it take to receive unemployment benefits in MD?

Your claim is effective on the Sunday immediately prior to the date that you file for benefits, and remains in effect for one year. You can receive up to 26 weeks of total unemployment insurance benefits if you meet all the requirements of the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Law.

How long will it take to get my unemployment benefits after I file?

The federal Department of Labor’s website says that you can expect your first unemployment check two or three weeks after you apply, as long as you submit all of the required information, and no follow-up is necessary.

How do I find out if my unemployment was approved?

You can check your claim status online at Unemployment Benefits Services or call Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321 and select option 2. We use information from you and your last employer to determine if you qualify.

For more information go to the following:

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/collecting-unemployment-benefits-maryland.html

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has prepared “An Easy Guide for Congregations”, a one page .pdf file available for download here.