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TARC limits service to essential trips only

According to Mayor Fischer, TARC is limiting ridership to “essential services only.”

Essential trips include:

  • Obtaining necessary supplies and services for family or household members and pets, such as groceries, food and supplies for household consumption and use, supplies and equipment needed to work from home, and products necessary to maintain safety, sanitation and essential maintenance of the home; or
  • Engaging in activities essential for the health and safety of family, household members and pets, including things such as seeking medical or behavioral health or emergency services and obtaining medical supplies; or
  • Caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household or residence, and to transport a family member, friend or their pet for essential health and safety activities, and to obtain necessary supplies; and
  • Employment in essential business services, meaning an essential employee performing work for an essential business as identified by the Governor as “necessary to sustain life.”

Additionally, TARC is asking riders who need to make essential trips to avoid riding the bus during peak travel times of 6-9 a.m. and 2-6 p.m. to give more social distancing space to essential workers heading to and from their jobs.

“TARC continues to monitor the developments of COVID-19 daily,” said Laura Douglas, TARC Co-Executive Director. “We are asking our passengers to limit their trips with TARC to ‘essential trips only’ in an effort to help practice the important measures of social distancing. We provide a crucial service to the community and we take that responsibility seriously; we want to continue to serve that role as effectively as possible with the health and safety of both our passengers and our team members top-of-mind.”

Please visit www.ridetarc.org and click on the COVID-19 button for details and updates on how TARC is responding.

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City’s March for Meals ends; more than 83,000 meals distributed

The city’s “Metro March for Meals” effort ended on April 3. The meals pick-up program for seniors 60 year and older began in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Louisville.

Louisville Metro Senior Nutrition, part of the Office of Resilience and Community Services, is focusing its limited funding by returning to its original intent of serving those already deemed eligible through the Meals on Wheels and Senior Congregate Meals programs, as well as an additional 255 people who are currently on the waiting lists for home-delivered programs.

Going forward, there will be no distribution of meals at the seven sites that had been operating through the Metro March for Meals program since March 17, 2020.  More than 83,000 frozen meals were handed out over that three-week period.

Beginning Monday, April 6:

  • The nearly 400 homebound senior clients served by Senior Nutrition’s Meals on Wheels program will continue to receive their meal delivery once per week with a five-frozen meal pack until daily, hot meal delivery can resume. In addition, 255 pre-certified individuals will be added to home-delivery routes over the course of April.
  • Though the nearly 20 Senior Congregate Nutrition Sites across Jefferson County remain temporarily closed, the Senior Nutrition staff will continue working with congregate participants to ensure their nutritional needs are being met  during this critical period.

The city continues to explore options for other resources to serve even more vulnerable residents of our community.

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Local medical staff desperately need donations of masks and exam gloves to fight COVID-19

As COVID-19 spreads, frontline health workers are running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as n95 masks, surgical masks, exam gloves, and face shields to keep themselves and their patients safe. There is a shortage of PPE across the country because so many people have become sick at once. Businesses and members of the public may have some of these items at their homes. Local volunteers have created a website to facilitate donations in Kentucky.

At maskmatchky.com, you can find healthcare organizations across the state that have asked for help. Please consider checking to see if you have these items and give what you can. Instructions for making donations can be found on the website. In this time of crisis, getting this equipment to healthcare providers will be life saving.

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LG&E suspending disconnects until May 1

Louisville Gas and Electric Company, Kentucky Utilities Company and Old Dominion Power announced on March 16 measures to assist residential customers who may be facing financial difficulties in the near-term due to impacts from COVID-19. The utilities, until May 1, will suspend disconnects for residential customers who may have difficulty paying their bill and waive new late fees incurred during this time. Visit http://www.lge-ku.com/ for more information

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Louisville Water Suspends Turn-Offs Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

This is a temporary measure and customers are still responsible for paying their water bill. Louisville Water will continue to work with customers who can’t pay by the due date. For more information go to https://louisvillewater.com/newsroom/louisville-water-suspends-turn-offs-amid-covid-19-outbreak

MSD is also waiving late fees. Both companies stress that it is important to contact Louisville Water at 502.583.6610 or MSD at 502.540.6000 if you are having trouble paying your bill.

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Black Lives Matter Louisville has experience in mutual aid

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted many of the gaps in our social service safety net, and left many people vulnerable to food insecurity and other needs. For many of us, the idea that members of our community face food insecurity is a new reality, and people are stepping up and trying to figure out how to help.

Even before COVID-19, many parts our community were already “food deserts” and there are organizations that have been facing this issue for years. For example, Black Lives Matter Louisville has been bringing  supplies to people in need since 2016. The group pulled on that experience to quickly put out a comprehensive Mutual Aid guide to help people find resources during the crisis.

According to one of the organizers, BLM has an immediate need for volunteers and donors, and they are prepared to train helpers on how to stay safe. One of the best ways an individual can help out right now is to join an established group that has experience helping vulnerable people. Sign up here or Donate Here.