Show All Answers

1. Distance Learning

• State hotline for school and child care questions: Available at 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Discounted Chromebooks for low income families: MAA can help families purchase two different types of Chromebooks (see below for product details) at a 75% discount. We do this by using a tool called the K-12 Education Tax Credit. MAA makes a no-interest advance to you for the 75% covered by the tax credit, and then state dollars automatically repay the advance when you file your taxes at the end of the year. These are extra dollars—you will still get your regular refund. Limit one per household.See if you qualify at Minnesota Afterschool Advance 
• Online subscriptions: A large number of online education services are offering free subscriptions to their services amid the COVID-19 outbreak. View a list of online education services
• Learning Lift Off: Site for learning resources and ideas for educational success. View a resource list from Learning Lift Off 
• MN Parents of COVID-19 Support: View the Facebook group
• Kids Activities Website: Listing of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings. View the Kids Activities resource list
• Comcast Internet Essentials: Internet Essentials is a program for families and other low-income households who currently do not subscribe to Internet at home. Xfinity Internet customers are not eligible for Internet Essentials. Learn more about Internet Essentials
• Hennepin County Library: Hennepin County Library is closed, but offers online services such as audiobooks. Physical materials are not due before April 28 and no new fines will accrue before then. Learn more about the library’s response
• Anoka County Library - Brainfuse HelpNow!: Homework help, skills building, writing lab, etc. 
• Spectrum Free Internet: Students who do not have internet access during the school shutdown can call for free internet from Spectrum.

  Spectrum is also offering 60 days of free internet service to new clients with all service fees waived. Call Spectrum at 844-488-8395.

• Xfinity Free Hotspots: Until further notice, all Xfinity WiFi Public Hotspots are now open to everyone on the “xfinitywifi” SSID. Public hotspots can be found in small/medium businesses and outdoors in commercial areas. Non-Xfinity subscribers need to accept Terms and Conditions to access the network and repeat when requested to continue to receive free unlimited access. Learn more about Xfinity’s free public hotspots >
  
  
  

2. Food Assistance

• Fridley Public Schools: Providing meals for kids during school days during the stay-at-home order. View the interactive map to find a pick-up location closest to you.
• Anoka-Hennepin Schools: View more details from Anoka-Hennepin Schools
• Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP): CEAP continues to serve neighbors who ask for help with groceries and basic needs through a “drive up” service. They have prepacked groceries assembled in boxes along with bags of produce and bread. Assortment is still both shelf stable and fresh at this time.View CEAP’s website
• Free Meals: Minnesota restaurants and organizations are swiftly adapting to the situation, offering free meals to those who need them. View a list of food services in Minnesota
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Support: SNAP provides nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. Learn more about SNAP
• Metro Meals on Wheels: View the Meals on Wheels webpage
• Lutheran Social Services: A variety of nutritional meal programs for older adults. Learn more about LSS meals
• MN Department of Human Services – Food & Nutrition Assistance Links: Minnesota’s food programs help people with low incomes get the food they need for nutritious and well-balanced meals. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP), and various other food programs and services, such as employment and training. With proper nutrition, children learn more easily, adults work more productively and seniors are healthier. View more about food and nutrition services
• Food sites for children: View interactive map 
• SACA (Southern Anoka County Assistance): View website
  • Call to make an appointment
  • Parking lot / drive-up delivery model.
  • Food delivery is still available, but currently over capacity. 
• Salvation Army: View website
  • Call to make an appointment.
  • Serving food shelf customers via a drive-up model.
  • Drive up to the food shelf side entrance for food pick-up.
• ACBC (Anoka County Brotherhood Council): View website
  • Operating during regular hours. 
  • Currently using drive-thru for food pick-up.
• Centennial Food Shelf: View website
  • Curbside delivery method, with client completing a checklist ordered.
  • Volunteers deliver orders to clients in their cars.
• NACE (Northern Anoka County Emergency): View website
  Limit of five people in the intake room at any time.
  • Food is handled by volunteers only.
  • Food is delivered to clients in their cars.
• Find food shelves and free meals near you: hungersolutions.org. If you don’t have internet access, call 1-888-711-1151

3. Grocery and Food Delivery

• Hy-Vee: Hy-Vee has next-day curbside pickup or delivery. Learn more about Hy-Vee Aisles Online
• Cub Foods: Cub has grocery delivery and store pickup options.Learn more about Cub Food’s grocery services
• Target: Target offers same- day delivery through their Same Day Delivery Partner, Shipt, as well as order pick-up. Learn more about Target’s grocery services
• Walmart: Walmart offers delivery and pick- up options.  $30 minimum is required.  Pickup is free, and the delivery fee varies based on the time of your order pickup. Learn more about Walmart’s grocery services
• InstaCart: A popular same- day grocery delivery service that delivers from the follow stores: Costco Wholesale, Cub, Aldi, Total Wine, CVS Pharmacy, Sam’s Club, Petco, Fresh Thyme, HyVee, and more. Visit the InstaCart website
• Help at Your Door: Help At Your Door Grocery Assistance provides access to nutritious food, companionship, and a helpful hand in your kitchen for older adults and people with disabilities.  Grocery Assistance includes: orders can be placed over the phone or online, delivery of grocery items and help with putting items away, and EBT payments/ SNAP benefits are accepted. Visit the Help on your Door website
• Let Metro Mobility and Transit Link Pick Up Your Groceries: Stay home and stay safe. Metro Mobility and existing Transit Link customers can now order groceries and household essentials online from a store that has online shopping and local pick up. They will pick up your order and deliver to your house for free. You can book same day or in advance, for groceries and household essentials, You’ll receive your delivery within 60 minutes of scheduled pickup time.
  
  Just tell the store Metro Mobility or Transit Link is picking up and provide us your order number for pick up. Four-bag limit remains in effect. Pickups must be scheduled at a commercial location and drivers will verify your photo ID at drop-off.
  • Contact Transit Link at (651) 602 - 5465
  • Contact Metro Mobility at (651) 602 - 1111
  • Clients can call Transit Link reservations for questions at 651-602-5465. For travel in Anoka County, the prompts are 1, 1 and 1. Or, by calling the Anoka County Transit Office at 763-324-3106.

4. Health Care Resources

• State hotline for health questions Call 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• MN Healthcare Resources
• MN Department of Health
• Center for Disease Control
• Senior Community Services: Health insurance counseling, caregiver services for seniors
• Senior Linkage Line: The Senior LinkAge Line^® is a free service of the state of Minnesota that connects older Minnesotans and their families with the help they need.
• United Way More Health and Human Services or call 2-1-1

5. Housing Assistance and Resources

Renters

• Tenant Resource Center: Supports Hennepin County residents who are at risk of eviction or homelessness with emergency assistance, legal assistance, mediation and more.
• HOME Line: Information about the executive order suspending evictions. HOME Line’s tenant hotline provides free and confidential legal advice for Minnesota Renters
• Law Help MN: A fact sheet on court changes during the pandemic. View the Law Help MN fact sheet 
• Minnesota Multi-Housing Association: Guidance for apartment owners and renters.
• National Multifamily Housing Council: Coronavirus preparedness for apartment firms.

Homeowners

• Federal Housing Finance Agency: Mortgage help for homeowners during COVID-19 and information on the 60-day suspension on foreclosures for FHA-issued mortgages.
• Office of the Attorney General: General information on foreclosure and tips if you fall behind on payments.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Resources for property owners, homeless service providers and HUD-assisted residents.

6. Legal Assistance

If you need legal assistance with housing, finance, work, benefits, or another matter:

• Apply for free legal help at lawhelpmn.org.
• If you don’t have internet access, call the intake line for your area:
  • Hennepin or Anoka County 612-334-5970
  • Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Scott, or Carver County 1-888-575-2954

7. Moving and Storage

• U-Haul: U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage to college students who are displaced due to the coronavirus outbreak, subject to availability. There is no purchase necessary.

8. State and County Resources

• MN Department of Health case updates: The Minnesota Department of Health offers daily updates to COVID-19 cases in the state.
• MN Department of Health mitigation strategies: The Minnesota Department of Health offers up-to-date mitigation strategies for lessening the impact and spread of COVID-19.
• MN Employment Resources
• MN Department of Labor & Industry: Worker’s rights and protection

• MN Unemployment Insurance Program: This is the official resource for information about Minnesota Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. UI benefits provide a temporary partial wage replacement to workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own. If you have become unemployed or had your hours greatly reduced, complete the Application Process – we will determine whether or not you are eligible and notify you.
• Anoka County information and resources

9. Unemployment Insurance

If your work hours have been reduced or eliminated, apply for unemployment insurance from the State of Minnesota. The usual waiting period has been waived. If you are sick, quarantined, or home because of an outbreak at your work, you qualify for unemployment. If you stay home due to lack of child care, you may qualify for unemployment.

• Apply online in English, Spanish, Somali, or Hmong.

• Call 651-296-3644 (Twin Cities) if you don’t have internet access or if you don’t speak English, Spanish, Somali, or Hmong. Press 1 to request an interpreter.

10. Utility Bill Support

• Energy Assistance Program (EAP): The Energy Assistance Program helps pay home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-qualified households.  The program is available to renters and homeowners with income at or below 50% AMI.   Assistance can cover payment of energy bills, help with utility disconnections, advocacy with energy suppliers on behalf of customers, and repair or replacement of homeowners’ malfunctioning heating system.Learn more about EAP >
• Xcel Energy: Xcel Energy will indefinitely suspend service disconnections and waive late fees when associated with COVID-19 challenges. Call 1-800-895-4999. Get help paying your bill.
• Center Point Energy: If you are having trouble paying your natural gas bill, please contact us right away for assistance; don’t wait until you receive a disconnection/shut-off notice or your natural gas service has been disconnected. Call 1-800-245-2377 or visit their website for more information.

11. Local restaurant availability

The City of Fridley has put together a list of local restaurants and their availability during the the COVID-19 pandemic. If there are changes or additions that need to be made to this list, please email info@fridleymn.gov. 

View list (Excel)

12. Transportation

Metro Mobility is offering free transportation for essential health workers. Learn more.