Whether you need help paying the rent, getting groceries or keeping the kids busy, the Arizona Daily Star's resource guide — updated daily — is here to help.
WONDERING WHAT HAS REOPENED?
• Schools can't open in person until at least Aug. 17, but most districts are starting distance learning before that.
• Arizona gyms, nightclubs, bars ordered to close again.
• Tucson parks remain closed for now.
• Many Tucson restaurants have reopened their dining rooms and many are still offering only takeout and delivery. The Star's giant list tells you which local restaurants are open for which service.
• Hearings and jury trials are starting again at Tucson's federal court, although strict federal health guidelines are in place.
• Tucson churches are in no rush to open, and when they do they're planning a long list of measures aimed at keeping parishioners safe.
• Tucson restaurants cook up creative solutions to raise revenue to make up revenue declines related to COVID-19.
• The Pima County Board of Supervisors amends regulations for a wide swath of businesses reopening during the pandemic.
• Tucson's libraries re-opening, but patrons must wear masks, have temperature checks.
IF YOU NEED A MASK
- New research from the University of Arizona shows which types of masks are most effective in slowing the spread of coronavirus.
- Students in the Fashion Design Program at Pima Community College are making face masks to raise funds for the program after its largest fundraiser of the year — the FashionArte 2020 spring runway show — was canceled due to coronavirus. A student-made mask comes with each $25 donation to the fashion program. Find more information here or call 520-206-4646.
- Here are others ways to make, buy or find a cloth face mask in Tucson.
IF YOU'RE FEELING ILL
- The University of Arizona is opening new antibody testing sites.
- Arizona's health director ordered broader testing of those suspected of COVID-19 exposure.
- Tucsonans have more options for COVID-19 testing.
- People with mild to moderate symptoms specific to the coronavirus can use the Northwest Healthcare's VirtualHealthConnect app to talk with a provider using a smartphone or computer.
- A health clinic on Craycroft Road is offering coronavirus tests to adults who meet CDC criteria.
- Nextcare Urgent Care locations in Tucson are offering curbside appointments for people with symptoms for coronavirus.
- The Pima County Health Department is consolidating its clinics and has suspended walk-in services in response to the COVID-19 virus.
IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB — FOR GOOD OR FOR NOW
- Some unemployed workers in Arizona might need to wait several more weeks get federal unemployment benefits.
- Expect some frustration applying for benefits. Heavy online traffic and call volume to Arizona's Department of Economic Security have caused long waits for people trying to apply. And here's a tip: If you're furloughed and expect to return to work, fill out the box asking if you're looking for work like this: "COVID-19."
- Even if you're furloughed, the $2 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress makes you eligible for expanded unemployment benefits intended to replace your entire salary.
- The state is regularly updating a list of companies in the state that are hiring right now.
- Pima Community College's Small Business Development Center is helping businesses apply for low-interest federal disaster loans.
- This list has resources for applying for unemployment insurance and finding a new job.
- Pima County has a new jobs hotline.
- A new job-matching website is now available to Pima County residents.
IF YOU WORK FOR A TUCSON NONPROFIT
- Tucson organizations that support women and girls are being offered the chance to win a $500 grant through the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona.
- The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona launched a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, offering grants to non-profit organizations that had to cancel fundraising events due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Felicia’s Farm, 3761 E. River Road, has vegetables and eggs to share with nonprofits that work with low-income families with children. The farm donates about 700 pounds of produce and 170 dozen eggs a week. Contact Cathy Lolwing at 520-396-0015. To donate money, go to feliciasfarm.org
IF YOU HAVE TO WORK AND NEED CHILDCARE
IF YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR BILLS
- Use this big list of resources in English and Spanish.
- UA deploying resources to aid students with financial, other needs.
- Lower-income tax filers in Tucson have options for free help.
- TEP customers on track to get credits to help make payments.
- This list include resources for assistance paying for rent, utilities and food.
- Local utilities say they will not customers off for nonpayment during the crisis.
- Gospel Rescue Mission has a free drive-through to help supplement basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
IF YOU NEED FOOD
A food pantry run by University of Arizona students remains open even though campus is closed.
Bookmark this huge list of free meal options for Tucson kids this summer.
Here's where to get free food in Tucson every day of the week.
El Charro and radio station KDRI are helping feed Tucson's front-line workers.
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona has an interactive map that shows were emergency food boxes and community meals are being distributed in the region. The map can be accessed at www.communityfoodbank.
Veggie boxes are available at Tucson Neighborhood Food Pantry, 5707 E. 22nd St. You can get a huge box of veggies for an $8 donation on Saturdays starting at 8 a.m. and until all boxes are sold or by noon, whichever comes first. Value Veggies is a volunteer-operated ministry of God’s Vast Resources and is an annual fundraiser, open six months out of the year. Proceeds stock the Tucson Neighborhood Food Pantry.
- Tucson independent radio station The Drive has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help feed health-care workers and first responders.
- Pima County’s WIC program is helping local families get through the crisis.
- Tucson independent radio station The Drive has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help feed health-care workers and first responders.
- Tucson's Barrio Brewing Co. is donating $25,000 toward grocery gift cards for local restaurant and bar workers displaced by the coronavirus.
- Bookmark this extensive list of free meals.
- This list includes reduced-price meals for people who have been laid off, lost business or are serving the public through the coronavirus crisis.
- In this list you'll find a list of stores offering seniors-only shopping times, including hours.
- This list includes several organizations that provide food assistance.
- Find a huge list of local schools offering free meals for kids
IF YOU'RE NERVOUS ABOUT GROCERY SHOPPING
- Check out this new guide to which local grocery stores and restaurants offer senior hours, curbside pickup and delivery.
- Bookmark this guide to grocery delivery in Tucson.
- STITCHES Tucson, a service group started by Basis North High School students, will deliver groceries, tutor kids and make masks for free. Contact STITCHES, which stands for Serving The Impacted Tucson Communities with Help, Encouragement and Support at stitchestucson@gmail.com , at stitchestucson.weebly.com, or on Facebook or Instagram @stitchestucsonTucson restaurants are temporarily allowed to act as pop-up grocery stores, selling packaged food, fresh produce, paper goods and cleaning supplies.
- If you want to avoid the crowds at grocery and big-box stores, find a bunch of options in this list.
IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT RESTAURANTS
- A gift card incentive program will make one final push to raise money for downtown business.
- These restaurants across Tucson are open for dine-in, pick-up or delivery.
- Some Tucson restaurants are skipping apps and handling delivery themselves.
- A growing number of local restaurants are offering meal kits and family platters. Here is a growing list.
- Many Tucson restaurants and breweries are selling beer and wine for delivery or pickup.
- Chinese restaurants have been hit especially hard because of false rumors that Asians carry coronavirus.
- Take a virtual class in mixology, or just get together (online) with your favorite bartender for cocktails.
IF YOU NEED HELP COPING
- There are some positives from the shutdown, from its impact on the environment to its reminder of what really matters. Let's focus on the good stuff, Star Columnist Tim Steller says.
- Little acts of kindness, compassion and love are more important than ever, writes Chaplain Patrick Sheridan Cunningham, a grief and loss authority.
- Tucson Collaborative Community Care — known as TC-3 — is a group of community partners dedicated to reducing reliance on the emergency medical system. It has been offering expanded services during the pandemic to its clients, like food, medication and wellness checks.
- Kindness rocks spread joyful messages across Tucson. Here's more about rocks, chalk art and other small efforts to spread hope and kindness across the community.
- Consider getting a pet. Here's guide to fostering and adopting animals during the coronavirus crisis.
- This long period of self-isolation is taking a toll on Tucson's mental health, writes Tim Steller, the Star's Metro columnist. His story includes tips and local resources.
- The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, offers immediate counseling to anyone suffering from mental or emotional distress related to the coronavirus pandemic.
- A Tucson psychotherapist shares how to stay mentally healthy.
- Looking for a silver-lining during this time of isolation? Deena Harris of Sun City's Institute of Learning in Retirement says this is a good time to slow down and help others.
- Here's some hope: New numbers from a health tracking firm suggest Arizonans could start going out and socializing by the end of the first week in June.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AT HOME
- Cox is offering customers who qualify for low-cost service a free month of the “Connect2Compete” package. Thereafter, the cost is $9.95 per month. For more information, go here.
- Comcast has expanded its “Internet Essentials” low-income internet package, offering 60 days of free service, with a cost of $9.95 per month thereafter. For more information, go to internetessentials.com. Comcast has also opened all of its Xfininty WiFi hotspots for free. For a map of hotspots, go to wifi.xfinity.com.
IF YOU'RE A PARENT
- Here's what you need to know about home schooling during the pandemic.
- Arizona issues guidelines for school districts on reopening classrooms during virus pandemic.
- TUSD forms reopening plan as parents seek choices for returning kids to school.
- A slight majority of Arizonans say they're willing to send kids back to school, a new survey shows.
- Go to This Is Tucson to search our updated summer camp guide.
- Wondering how you'll guide your kids through this long, hot summer stuck at home? Don't miss this giant guide of fun and educational Tucson resources.
- Arizona childcare centers are facing financial collapse, as less than one third remain open.
- Bookmark this huge list of free meal options for Tucson kids this summere.
- Don't skip well-child checks and vaccinations, even if you're nervous about taking your kids out in public. Fears of heading out of the house mean many even, a trend that has peditricians worried.
- If you're expecting, bookmark our list of resources for couples expecting and giving birth during the pandemic.
- Here are four ways to remotely thank the teachers in your life.
- The University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 to commemorate Earth Day with a virtual EarthFest.
- These eight organizations are taking storytime online.
- A local nanny agency is offering help with home-schooling and errands.
- Check out these adorable Tucson-centric coloring pages from This is Tucson and artist extraordinaire Chiara Bautista, plus pages from other Tucson artists.
- Bookmark our growing list of resources for families.
- A local nonprofit — Make Way for Books — has launched a bilingual app for families to access books and activities and to tune in to storytime online.
- Steer clear of city parks. Playgrounds and other equipment are temporarily closed to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
- Here are six free educational resources to keep kids busy.
- Get tips for talking with kids about the outbreak.
- Encourage the kids to enter the Postal History Foundation's 13th Annual Tucson Birthday Stamp Design Contest for Kids.
- Look for wildflowers.
- If you're pregnant, here are some tips on staying safe and healthy from Nancy Mellberg and Teresa Wilson, registered nurses in the Nurse-Family Partnership at Casa de los Niños.
IF YOU WANT TO EXERCISE AT HOME
- Coronavirus isolation in Tucson opens a virtual world of fitness, art, culture.
- Here are 11 at-home fitness classes.
- These businesses offer at-home workouts, meditation and stress management exercises
IF YOU NEED AN ARTS AND CULTURE FIX
- Throughout Tucson, folks who teach music are taking their lessons to a virtual realm, holding classes and one-on-one instrument lessons with students of all ages now that schools and public spaces have been closed.
- Nearly a month after turning off the lights and closing the doors in reaction to the coronavirus health crisis, Club Congress at Hotel Congress is back in the concert biz — virtually.
- North Fourth Avenue's popular Made in Tucson Market can now be found online.
- Here are some Tucson titles, and actors with Tucson ties to check out on your next streaming-service binge.
- The doors are closed for live performances, but some Tucson musicians aren't letting the coronavirus stop the music.
- Reid Park Zoo's #BringingTheZooToYou, on the zoo’s website, reidparkzoo.org, and social media platforms, includes behind-the-scenes videos and photos, downloadable activity pages and animal facts.
- Tucson Botanical Gardens has a live cam of their butterfly exhibit. Visit tucsonbotanical.org.
- Toy store Mildred & Dildred is hosting virtual story times at facebook.com/mildredanddildred
- The Loft Cinema has made its Arthouse Cinema available for streaming. Buy a virtual ticket for $12 at loftcinema.org and get a link and password to stream the film.
- These six local businesses offer take-home crafting and painting.
- Don Guerra of Barrio Bread fame is teaching bread-making lessons online. Learn to make sourdough bread from scratch for $30, or take a free pizza crust-making course. Go to breadlessons.com for more information.
- Read one of our recommended books about or based in Arizona.
- Get outside— responsibly — with this guide to social distancing in the great outdoors.
IF YOU NEED CLEANING AND DISINFECTING SUPPLIES
- Tucson's Thunder Canyon Brewery has teamed up with Elgin Distillery to use their equipment to make much-needed hand sanitizer, a trend seen here and elsewhere.
- Tucson's Reed's Compounding Pharmacy is doing its part to help keep the coronavirus at bay by mixing its own, high-quality hand sanitizer.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DAILY LIFE DURING THE CRISIS
- Advice from a wedding planner on getting married during the pandemic.
- Tucson International Airport has joined many other airports by requiring passengers and other airport visitors to wear face coverings.
- The fate of the Arizona Wildcats football season remains unclear, but here's what you need to know if you're a season ticket holder.
- If you're on a coronavirus purge at your house, here are some ways to get rid of your stuff.
- We're staying home and we're doing our best to stay 6 feet away from everyone we meet, but here are tips for when going out is required.
- Arizona Motor Vehicle Division is limiting office visits to people with appointments. A statewide customer service line, 602-712-2700, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for people who need to access MVD services remotely or need to schedule appointments.
- If you run out of toilet paper, think twice before flushing other types of paper.
IF YOU HAVE CABIN FEVER
- Check out a drive-in movie.
- Escape coronavirus cabin fever with one of these Arizona road trips.
- Here's a guide to which parks, pools, gyms, recreation areas have reopened.
- Tucson's fishing holes offer social distancing, fresh air and a bonus: dinner!
- Tucson movie theaters prepare reopening plans amid COVID-19.
- Drive-in movies make a comeback in Tucson during virus pandemic.
- Little Free Libraries are helping Tucson neighborhoods in all sorts of ways.
- Is it safe to ride your bike during the pandemic? We break it down.
- Read a book! Take our #ThisIsTucson summer reading challenge for grownups.
- Avoid big crowds at these low-profile hiking trails.
- Now is a great time to grow food, learn to conserve at home writes Lisa Shipek, executive director and co-founder of local nonprofit Watershed Management Group.
- Neighbors in Tucson's Sam Hughes create chalk art, 'bear hunt' for kids on walks.
- Taking these simple steps now can improve Tucson in the future.
- Check out these 27 free things you can do from home this month.
- Here are six important life tasks you can complete from home.
- It's possible to maintain social distancing at Sabino Canyon.
- Use Tucson's Loop to cycle, hike back in time.
- Destress with these coloring pages from Tucson artists.
- Try one - or more - of these iconic Tucson recipes.
- Don't head south. Sonora has widespread beach closures, roadblocks and curfews, and state and local law enforcement officials are cracking down. Also, travel restrictions along the border remain in place.
- Go on a social-distancing scavenger hunt to see Tucson murals.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP
Here are four Tucson organizations that stepped up to provide support during the pandemic.
A gift card incentive program will make one final push to raise money for downtown business.
The Star has teamed up with the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona to raise money for local theater artists.
- Tucson diocese collecting food at various churches to help those in need.
- These T-shirts honor Tucson's front-line workers, help kids.
- Tucson Boys & Girls clubs need activity supplies; back city's essential workers.
Buy Local is a new partnership connecting us to Southern Arizona businesses through an online marketplace. Go to tucson.com/giftcards to see who is offering gift cards.
- "I challenge you to consider one daily act of service, and I promise that you will be as blessed as those you serve," writes Jim Click Jr., president of the Jim Click Automotive Team and president of the Click Family Foundation.
- Don't need your stimulus check? Donate it to a needy family.
The Christian Tax Credit Alliance a collaborative nonprofit group that supports the efforts of seven Tucson-based nonprofits that serve the needs of the most vulnerable needs help helping others.
The Gospel Rescue Mission welcomes donations for Blessings to Go drive-through emergency food boxes. Needs include nonperishable food staples such as canned goods (meat, vegetables and fruit), peanut butter, juice, pasta, rice and beans, as well as bottled water, paper towels, toilet paper, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and diapers. You can drop off at the drive-through, donate online at grmtucson.com or send a check to Gospel Rescue Mission, 4550 S. Palo Verde Road, Tucson, AZ 85714.
Can your homemade mask really help a local medical professional? Here's what you need to know.
- Direct your Arizona taxes toward a local nonprofit. Here is a helpful guide.
- Share random acts of kindness and your stories of enduring social isolation with other Star readers.
- Here are the latest requests from nonprofits across Tucson.
- The Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation has established a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. You can donate to it here.
- Bookmark our list of immediate, actionable ways you can help your fellow Tucsonans.