Chimera Ensemble takes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and is making every effort to keep our staff and artists safe. While we wait to start up our programming again, we invite you to avail yourself of the resources compiled here. We continue to assess the situation daily as new information comes in, and are incredibly grateful for your support, patience and understanding in these uncertain times.
Resources
Chicago Artist Relief Fund
Please pitch in! This fund was created by Chicago-area artists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They aim to support colleagues in the greater Chicago arts community who are experiencing financial repercussions due to pandemic-related cancellations.
Priority will be given to BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and People of Color] artists, transgender & nonbinary & queer artists, and disabled artists – but we aim to help as many Chicago-area artists in need as possible. Their ability to do that will depend on how much they can raise.
If you’re an artist with resources to spare, please consider contributing to support your colleagues. If you’re a lover of the arts, please consider contributing directly to the individuals who devote their lives to creating for our city.
If you need help with…
Food
CPS: Beginning on Tuesday, March 17 while schools are closed: CPS families can pick up free food boxes at any CPS school, with the exception of Vaughn Occupational High School and Sheridan Math and Science Academy, that will contain three days of breakfast and lunch for every student in the household. Food pick-up will be held outdoors, and Safe Passage workers will be on their normally assigned routes while families are getting meals.
- If you need assistance, please call the CPS Command Center at 773-553-KIDS (5437) or email familyservices@cps.edu
WIC (for moms of babies and kids under 5): Illinois Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
SNAP (“food stamps”): See if you are eligible and sign up now at www.mrelief.com
Local food banks for free food: Find Food
Local resources for free formula for babies: Chicago – Free Formula Locations.docx
Housing
If you have nowhere to sleep tonight: Head to your closest ER, police dept, or to 10 S Kedzie. There, you can call 311 and Catholic Charities will transport you and your family to the Salvation Army Shield of Hope Shelter for that night.
If you need to find a safer or more reliable living situation: Text 773-786-9916 or visit www.connectmenow.org
If you need help making rent or a utility payment this month: Call 3-11 for short-term assistance
If you are facing eviction: Call CARPLS at 312-738-9200
If you are a victim of Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence: Call Illinois DV Hotline at 877-863-6338 or visit www.dangerassessment.org
The kids
Structuring the day: Schools Are Closing for Coronavirus. Now What?
Free activities/resources:
- Virtual Classes for Chicago Kids
- 20 Online Learning Resources for Kids
- 125 Things to Do With Kids During Coronavirus Pandemic, Social Distancing and Quarantine
- Free app to help babies and kids under 5 with their development: Vroom.org
- READ! Get free Ebooks and Audiobooks from Chicago Public Libraries without having to leave home: Libby, by OverDrive – an app for library ebooks and audiobooks
Struggling with a fussy baby and cooped up at home? Call or email the Fussy Baby Network – National network of family support for help!
Mental health
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454 (Free service available 24/7)
Crisis text line: Text “HELLO” to 741741 (Free service available 24/7)
Crisis counseling: You can reach a trained counselor by calling 1-800-985-5990 or texting “TalkWithUs” to 66746. (Free 24/7 helpline which provides confidential crisis counseling)
General counseling: Reach out to your doctor or insurance plan to get started
- If you aren’t able to see someone in person, there are also many providers offering telehealth options as well as apps such as TalkSpace which provide access to virtual counseling! (Paid app, this is not an endorsement)
THE CENSUS!
Why should I spend time doing this?
- The census will determine how over $675 billion in federal funding is allocated, impacting hospitals, clinics, schools, health insurance, childcare, early childhood education, and food assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP.
- 1 million kids under the age of 5 were missed in the 2010 census, including over 35,000 kids in Illinois. We lost ~$1000 per child per year in federal funding!!
How?
- Fill it out ONLINE in under 10 minutes: 2020 Census | United States Census Bureau
- Make sure you count KIDS and BABIES correctly!! Here’s how: Counting Young Children
Accurate information
What’s actually happening?
- The latest: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the CDC
- Family-focused overview: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) by the AAP
How should I talk to my kids about COVID-19?
- Article: How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
- Podcast: Talking To Your Kids About Coronavirus
- Video: Coronavirus outbreak: Talking to kids about proper hygiene, social distancing amid virus fears
More??
Amazing super comprehensive national resource guide by NAMI: COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
For questions about kids’ health in general, your #1 resource is www.healthychildren.org 🙂
If you would like to help out:
Flatten the curve
Best practices: Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Flatten the curve: What does it mean to ‘flatten the curve’ of coronavirus–and would it work?
Donate what you can! (list compiled by WCIU)
Donate blood as there is a huge shortage right now that endangers many lives! Schedule Your Blood Donation With The Red Cross
Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD): For every $1 donated GCFD can donate 3 meals to Chicagoans in need. You can donate on their website here.
My Block, My Hood, My City will be ensuring seniors have access to hand sanitizer, health supplements, toiletries, and food. You can donate or volunteer to help on its website here.
PAWS Chicago: PAWS Chicago is looking for emergency foster homes for our furry friends in the case of triggering events such as quarantining. Learn more and sign up to be a foster home here.
THE CENSUS!
Why are we talking about this?
- The census will determine how over $675 billion in federal funding is allocated, impacting hospitals, clinics, schools, health insurance, childcare, early childhood education, and food assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP.
- 1 million kids under the age of 5 were missed in the 2010 census, including over 35,000 kids in Illinois. We lost ~$1000 per child per year in federal funding!!
How?
- Fill it out ONLINE in under 10 minutes: 2020 Census | United States Census Bureau
- Make sure you count KIDS and BABIES correctly!! Here’s how: Counting Young Children
Support friends/neighbors
If you are part of a church or religious organization, block club, NextDoor/community facebook page, company, PTA, etc: reach out to see if people might need:
- Help provide childcare for healthcare workers, first responders, people working in temp/part-time/gig jobs who can’t take time off or work from home
- Food/grocery delivery or run errands for the elderly
- Volunteer w/ Meals on Wheels! Sign up here
- Emotional support via Facetime or on the phone (social distancing is lonely!)
- Donate baby formula or diapers to those in need
- Don’t be racist! (Good rule of thumb all the time, not just during a pandemic)
Utilize healthcare appropriately
If you’re worried that a family member has COVID-19: PLEASE DO NOT go straight to the ER or doctor’s office (unless your family member is seriously ill, eg. having trouble breathing)
- Follow the steps here: What To Do if You Are Sick
- Tl;dr: STAY HOME, CALL YOUR DOCTOR FIRST!
Try to minimize ER / urgent care visits. See if your concerns can be taken care of by your primary care doctor and potentially by phone/telemedicine visit if those are being offered
Cancel or reschedule any planned surgeries and doctor’s/dentist’s visits if they are not urgent. Try to arrange for medication refills online or by phone instead of going in.
Talk to family members about their healthcare wishes (advance directives) — important for everyone, and especially those who are elderly or have chronic/serious medical conditions!
- If they get seriously ill, who will make medical decisions for them?
- How much medical care/intervention/resuscitation do they want if they are seriously ill?
- Overview: Advance Care Planning: Healthcare Directives
- Forms for Illinois: Advance Directives
- Who would take care of your children if you become critically ill or die?
PLEASE DO NOT steal masks (or gowns or gloves or hand sanitizer or really, ANYTHING) from clinics or hospitals!!
Take care of yourself
If you don’t have health insurance, this is a great time to sign up!
- GetCovered Illinois: https://getcovered.illinois.gov/en
Those 6 months and older who have not gotten a flu shot this season should get one! Try to do so at your local pharmacy or health department to keep clinics/hospitals free
- Super short video: Why It’s Important to Get an Influenza Vaccine Every Year
- More on the flu: What’s the Latest with the Flu: A Message for Caregivers and Teachers
Try to keep yourself healthy to reduce burden on the healthcare system (and protect yourself from COVID-19): try to eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, exercise regularly, sleep 7+ hours a night, take your regular medications as prescribed, refill your regular medications on time, minimize smoking/alcohol/recreational drug intake, wear helmets and seatbelts appropriately
Use this resource as often as needed: What Adorable Affirmation Do You Need Right Now?