More than 40 Arlington nonprofits have received a total of over $500,000 in emergency response support from the Arlington Community Foundation COVID-19 Prompt Response Fund, with more funds being disbursed daily. [see list of awardees, attached]
“The front-line organizations are really in urgent need of funds as they scramble to help our neighbors in crisis,” said Arlington Community Foundation CEO and President Jennifer Owens. “Thanks to the many generous people in our community, we are providing support on a daily basis. But the needs are immense and there is no end in sight.”
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined their Senate colleagues in a letter calling for funding to support local journalism and media to be included in any future COVID-19 relief package. In a letter to Senate leadership and the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senators warn that the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes plummeting advertising revenue and profits, could decimate regional and local news outlets even as communities have become increasingly reliant on their reporting during the public health crisis. While news outlets across the country have reduced or eliminated print editions, Virginia newspapers have implemented pay staff cuts and furloughed staff to deal with the financial impact of COVID-19.
“The current public health crisis has made the already vital role of local news even more critical,” wrote the Senators. “Some of the most important guidance for families and businesses during this crisis has been highly localized. Local journalism has been providing communities answers to critical questions, including information on where to get locally tested, hospital capacity, road closures, essential business hours of operation, and shelter-in-place orders. During this unprecedented public health crisis, people need to have access to their trusted local news outlets for this reliable and sometimes life-saving information.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today wrote to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf urging the adoption of stricter measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at American airports.
Beyer wrote:
U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) this evening held an urgent conference call with representatives of over a dozen Virginia lending institutions to discuss questions and concerns about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan program. The program, established by the CARES Act to support small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin accepting applications tomorrow morning.
“The clear intent of Congress in creating this program was to make this the simplest, easiest, fastest loan small business owners have ever gotten so they get the help they need right away. We urge lenders to do all they can to help small businesses in need. Millions of people are depending on them.
In recent years, 3D printing has emerged as a manufacturing solution for countless areas of everyday life, from producing musical instruments to housing structures and even prosthetic limbs. Now, it’s in the spotlight for its potential to protect medical professionals from exposure to novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Marymount University professor Dr. Eric Bubar is getting in on the action, with hopes of utilizing his unique skills to make a difference. A longtime provider of 3D printed upper-limb assistive devices, he is now shifting his focus to creating 3D printed, reusable face shields for use at hospitals in Washington, D.C., New York and beyond.
Having persevered for three weeks through the limitations of the current public health situation, Arlington’s Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery is temporarily closing its doors to ‘Call-In, Carry Out’ service on April 1, 2020. Chef/owner David Guas will continue his mission to provide the community and underserved kids and families with free, grab-and-go meals [Monday-Friday.] Guas founded the Chefs Feeding Families program, a collaboration with Real Food For Kids, which has been operational since the closure of Arlington County Public Schools several weeks ago. Chefs Feeding Families provides free, plant-based, nutritious meals for students, their families, and military families. By the end of this week, Guas will be serving on average 400 FREE meals a day.
Guas says that curtailing his three weeks of ‘Call-In, Carry-Out’ service for the general public was a tough decision – but that remaining open was no longer sustainable. As people hunker deeper down to shelter-in-place and flatten the curve, Guas also felt it was important to take every precaution and protect the safety of his staff and patrons. “The support for our carry-out service in recent weeks has been tremendous and heartwarming. As a small business that values local sourcing, our longevity affects the ‘survival’ of our vendors, as well as our staff: we are at an important point in the economy and the ripple effect will be powerful. But we also know when to say ‘enough,’ for now. We are so grateful to our patrons who’ve kept us going, and we can’t wait to get back to being their go-to gathering spot.”
FLARE, an amenity electric shuttle service, along with the Aurora Highlands Civic Association, collected and delivered over 800 lbs. of food donations from the Crystal City area for the Arlington Food Assistance Center on Saturday, March 21, and announced that food collection efforts will continue in the Crystal City area starting today.
“We were astounded to witness the generosity of friends and neighbors in the Crystal City area to donate much-needed food for the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Over 800 lbs. of food collected filled an entire FLARE shuttle,” said FLARE CEO Andres Delgado.
Motorists and area residents are advised of upcoming closures on Shirlington Circle and the westbound Seminary Road service road over the I-395 general purpose and express lanes that will impact travel in those areas. These closures are needed for continued bridge improvement work, as part of the overall 395 Express Lanes project.
Shirlington Circle
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate approved a bipartisan coronavirus (COVID-19) economic relief package. The legislation includes Kaine’s priorities to provide direct payments to Americans, protect small businesses, expand access to child care, provide much-needed assistance to state and local governments, strengthen our health care system, ensure that funding for larger businesses is used to protect their employees, fund improvements to the nation’s public health data systems, help manufacturers affected by this crisis, expand unemployment assistance, put a temporary moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, support schools, strengthen America’s medical supply chain, increase nonprofit funding for maternal health, and increase funding for community action agencies.
“I’m so proud that Senate Democrats stood together and made sure that the bill we passed today will backstop the American economy by protecting workers and their families. Compared to the partisan proposal that the GOP hoped to jam through, this bill is far better for working people and the small businesses that make up the heart of our economy. It makes sure that funds to large businesses cannot be used to raise executive pay or for stock buybacks and guarantees transparency so that all Americans can know immediately who is receiving help. Finally, it is a Marshall Plan for the American health care system as it deals with a pandemic.
Street Guys Hospitality, renowned for its neighborhood restaurants that offer set price, next-level Balkan & Mexican dining without limits, is stepping up with a plan to help feed the communities it serves while supporting its staff members during this crisis. Considering the devastating COVID-19 outbreak in Washington, D.C., Founder & CEO Ivan Iricanin is offering large, value-driven, family-style meals, served in a catering format, while also enacting an employee relief fund to support his front and back of house who have been affected greatly as result of his restaurant closures.
“We care deeply about our staff and want to do everything we can to assist them during this difficult time,” says Ivan Iricanin. “Therefore, 100% of gift card sales purchased through April 12, 2020, will go towards our newly enacted employee relief fund, which helps to pay insurance premiums and provide daily meals for our staff.” Gift cards can be purchased directly from the restaurant websites and can be redeemed at any of the following Washington-area establishments once restaurants are able to reopen for business: Ambar, Ambar Clarendon, BABA, Tacos, Tortas and Tequila (TTT), Buena Vida Silver Spring, Buena Vida Clarendon and TTT Mexican Diner.
Effective Friday, March 27, most Giant Food stores will adjust hours of operations to be open from 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. All Giant Food 24-hour locations will remain open 24 hours. The decreased hours at most locations will give Giant Food store teams additional time to replenish and thoroughly clean the store, as they balance the demands of a significant increase in consumer needs. The first hour of operations, 6:00-7:00 a.m. is reserved for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, including pregnant women and caregivers shopping for the immunocompromised, so that they may shop and practice safe social distancing.
In addition, beginning Monday, March 30, Giant Food pharmacies will open early each Monday and Thursday at 6:00 a.m. and stay open until their regular closing time. Giant Food pharmacies will maintain their regular operational hours all other days.
