Last updated at 3:15 PM on Thursday, April 23

Residents of the City of Austin are currently under a “Stay Home – Work Safe” order issued by Mayor Steve Adler in an effort to limit transmission of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease that it causes.

Gatherings outside of homes are prohibited, unnecessary travel is banned, and businesses not deemed to be essential must temporarily close. Healthcare providers, pharmacies, grocery stores, banks, and other essential services may remain open. Residents who leave their homes must wear a non-surgical face mask or cloth face covering and practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum of six feet from others.

Community Not Commodity has collected links to more than 75 resources that may help you, your family, and your neighbors during this difficult time. We’ll be updating this post regularly, and readers are encouraged to email us suggestions.

Hang in there—we’re going to get through this with each other’s help!

Click on the following links to jump to different sections:

 

 

Health and Safety

The City of Austin maintains a continuously updated COVID-19 information page here. If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, call your primary healthcare provider or one of these telehealth services and follow their guidance.

If you are experiencing symptoms but have no health insurance or primary care physician, contact the nonprofit healthcare provider CommUnityCare at 512-978-8775. CommUnityCare has also opened drive-up COVID-19 testing sites at the following locations:

CommUnityCare Colony Park
Open Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Barbara Jordan Elementary School
6711 Johnny Morris Road
Austin, TX 78724

CommUnityCare Manor
Open Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Manor Senior High School
14832 FM 973
Manor, TX 78653

CommUnityCare Del Valle
Open Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Southeast Metropolitan Park
4511 Highway 71 East
Del Valle, TX 78617

CommUnityCare Hancock
Open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
1000 East 41st Street, Suite 925
Austin, TX 78751

If Austinites fail to reduce their in-person interactions by 90%, modeling by a University of Texas at Austin researcher shows that local hospitals could be overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases within a matter of weeks. To minimize the spread of COVID-19, local residents should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Stay in your home
  • If you must leave your home, wear a non-surgical face mask or cloth face covering and practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum of six feet from others
  • Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds at a time, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap is unavailable
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Use the inside of your elbow to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
  • Isolate yourself if feeling ill

Austin’s frontline health workers need our help preparing for incoming cases of COVID-19. Click here for a list of groups accepting financial contributions and donations of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The United States Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of a non-surgical face mask or a cloth face covering while in public. (Surgical-grade masks with N95 respirators should be donated to frontline health providers like those listed here.) The Austin American-Statesman has published instructions for making masks here.

The City of Austin maintains a digital dashboard displaying current COVID-19 data, with up-to-date information on confirmed cases and their distribution by age, gender, and geography. Click here to view on desktop and here on mobile.

For routine medical care, Ascension, Austin Regional Clinic, Baylor Scott & White, and other local clinics are providing telehealth services.

 

 

Grocery Deliveries and Curbside Services

See below for local groceries and other food providers that offer delivery and/or curbside pickup, presented in alphabetical order. Lists of other local resources have been compiled by the Sustainable Food Center, the Austin American-Statesman, and Yelp. When shopping, please avoid buying products with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) label unless you qualify for that program.

Product availability and wait times are subject to shortages and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AmazonFresh
Groceries delivered from the world’s largest online store
Delivery/Pickup Fee: $10 for orders under $35 in value, free two-hour delivery for many Amazon Prime customers through Amazon Prime Now
Status: Home deliveries may be delayed by several days due to COVID-19

Fresh Plus Curbside (Hyde Park location)
An Austin standby
Delivery/Pickup Fee: None
Status: Book at least 24 hours in advance

H-E-B Curbside & Delivery
The state’s biggest and best-known grocer
Delivery/Pickup Fee: $5
Status: Home deliveries are currently booked a week out

H-E-B and Favor Senior Support Line
Partnership between H-E-B and Favor food delivery, serving customers 60 years and older
Delivery/Pickup Fee: $10 (orders limited to 25 items or fewer)
Status: Available, but subject to delays due to COVID-19

Help-at-Home Kits
Vegetables, canned goods, and other staples for Capital Metro’s MetroAccess clients
Delivery/Pickup Fee: None
Status: Available on a first-requested, first-served basis to those who qualify

Imperfect Foods
Online platform where consumers can buy “imperfect” produce at a discount
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Variety of weekly subscriptions, plus $4.99 – $5.99 for delivery
Status: Available, but subject to delay due to COVID-19

Instacart
Popular online service that delivers groceries from local stores
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Non-members pay variable fees depending on cost of order, and members receive free delivery for an annual subscription of $99
Status: Home deliveries may be booked several days out

Lettuce
Austin-based provider of locally sourced produce
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Variety of meal plans delivered through Loconomy
Status: Available, but subject to delays due to COVID-19

Loconomy
Online marketplace for local farmers, food artisans, and others
Delivery/Pickup Fee: None, but some sellers require minimum orders
Status: Available, but subject to delays due to COVID-19

Meals on Wheels Central Texas
One of the largest food-delivery organizations in the state
Delivery/Pickup Fee: None
Status: Daily deliveries of meals temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, but the agency is working with its volunteers to coordinate efforts past April 3

Quality Seafood Market
Local seafood purveyor with curbside service, meals to-go, and a newly opened walk-up food truck
Delivery/Pickup Fee: None
Status: Available

Randalls
National grocery chain offering curbside and home delivery through some locations
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Non-members pay variable fees depending on cost of order, and members receive free delivery for an annual subscription of $99
Status: Curbside and home deliveries may be delayed by several days due to COVID-19

Sprouts Farmers Market
National grocery chain delivering via Instacart
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Non-members pay variable fees depending on cost of order, and members receive free delivery for an annual subscription of $99
Status: Home deliveries may be booked several days out

Target
Grocery division of big-box retailer
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Free through a four-week trial membership in Shipt
Status: Same-day (subject to delay due to COVID-19)

Vinder
Startup selling and delivering food sourced from area restaurants with a surplus
Delivery/Pickup Fee: $1 for local providers
Status: Same-day delivery from active farmers markets (impact from COVID-19 unknown)

Walmart Grocery
Grocery division of big-box retailer
Delivery Fee: $10 for orders worth $30 or more
Status: Home deliveries may be booked several days out

Wheatsville Food Co-op
Austin-based grocery cooperative delivering via Instacart
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Non-members pay variable fees depending on cost of order, and members receive free delivery for an annual subscription of $99
Status: Home deliveries may be booked several days out

Whole Foods Market
Austin-based grocery chain
Delivery/Pickup Fee: Free two-hour delivery for many Amazon Prime customers through Amazon Prime Now
Status: Home deliveries may be delayed by several days due to COVID-19

 

 

Food Pantries and Other Charities

If you are having difficulty securing food for yourself or your family, contact the Central Texas Food Bank, Caritas of Austin, or one of these other Austin-area food pantries. Austinites living in the areas of Dove Springs, St. John’s, the North Austin Civic Association, or near Dobie or Webb Middle Schools are also encouraged to contact Go! Austin / ¡Vamos! Austin if they are struggling to obtain fresh food. If you have a Facebook account, you may also join the Intellihelp Facebook group and post a request for food or other goods and services.

The Central Texas Food Bank will be hosting the following free food distributions:

Wednesday, April 15
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
LBJ High School
7309 Lazy Creek Drive
Austin, TX 78724

Wednesday, April 22
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Eastside Memorial High School
1012 Arthur Stiles Road
Austin, TX 78721

Friday, April 24
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
ACC Riverside Campus
1020 Grove Boulevard
Austin, TX 78741

 

 

Housing and Utilities

COVID-19 is straining our local economy, and many Austinites have lost their sources of income—some temporarily, some indefinitely.

To help keep local residents in their homes, the Austin City Council approved a 60-day grace period for lease payments, preventing the eviction of renters unable to pay April or May rents. Under the federal CARES Act, Austinites living in Section 8 housing or homes with mortgages backed by organizations like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are protected from eviction through August 24. The law prohibits landlords from issuing late fees or notices to vacate until after that point in time.

The City of Austin’s department of Neighborhood Housing and Community Development (NHCD) helps Austinites pay rent, avoid foreclosure, and provides other resources for those with pressing housing needs. If your household has been impacted by COVID-19, contact NHCD at 512-972-5780 to see if you qualify for assistance.

The City of Austin also provides this list of resources for low-income tenants in need of legal assistance, emergency grants for rent or utilities, or alternate housing, and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) provides this online tool for Texans having difficulty paying rent or making mortgage payments.

Austin Energy offers these programs for customers facing temporary and long-term financial difficulties, and city officials have announced they will not disconnect local residents’ utilities during the COVID-19 response.

Atmos Energy, CenterPoint Energy, and Texas Gas Service have also suspended disconnections of gas services for the duration of the crisis.

The Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD) has announced it will deploy 110 Wi-Fi equipped school buses to local neighborhoods where internet access is lacking. Students living nearby can access the service on Austin ISD-issued laptops (not personal mobile devices) on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Click here for a list of bus locations and more details.

 

 

Education and Childcare

In an effort to protect students and their families, Austin-area school districts are complying with an order issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and cancelling classes for all grade levels. The Austin Independent School District has closed campuses and other facilities indefinitely, and the Round Rock Independent School District has canceled classes through the end of the 2020 school year.

For parents or guardians who wish to homeschool their children, Austin ISD has launched an optional learning-at-home website, complete with online courses and recommended resources for all grade levels. Go to Austin ISD’s technology help page for assistance with the site and the district’s “Let’s Talk” page for other types of guidance. Round Rock ISD has launched its own at-home learning site here.

Austin ISD and Round Rock ISD are also distributing laptop computers to students in need. Austin ISD is expanding a preexisting program that provided laptops to students in grades 8-12 to include those in grades 6-7, and plans to make home deliveries. Round Rock ISD will be offering them for curbside pickup at several of its schools, on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more details.

To ensure that those laptops have web connectivity, Spectrum is offering free internet services to families of K-12 students who don’t already have a subscription. To learn more, call 1-844-488-8395. Austin ISD has also announced it will deploy 110 Wi-Fi equipped school buses to local neighborhoods where internet access is lacking. Students living nearby can access the service on Austin ISD-issued laptops (not personal mobile devices) on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Click here for a list of bus locations and more details.

The Austin Public Library is doing its part, providing this collection of home activities, virtual field-trip videos, and other resources for parents or guardians who wish to educate their children on their own.

Scholastic Publishing provides these learning-at-home resources for students from kindergarten through the ninth grade.

Our local schools provide students with more than an education—they’re also a reliable source of nutritious food. That’s why Austin ISD partnered with a group of other local organizations to continue providing daily meals for students. Click here to view a list of more than 65 food pick-up sites and here to donate to the Austin ISD Crisis Support Fund, a private foundation that is helping underwrite the initiative. Caregivers may pick up food without having a student present, but must bring either an official letter or email from Austin ISD showing the student as enrolled, a student report card, an attendance record, or a student ID card.

Childcare facilities are allowed to operate under the City of Austin’s stay-at-home order, but services and providers are limited to “stable groups” of 10 or fewer children on a given day. Childcare facilities have also been issued new guidance by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) due to COVID-19 that requires updated screening requirements before any facility is accessed. Click here for details.

The Austin Diaper Bank provides diapers to local families in need, and the service offers curbside pickup on Fridays from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM. Click here for pickup location and other details.

Make sure to check Austin ISD’s Coronavirus Updates page for further developments.

 

 

Jobs and Income Assistance

COVID-19 is straining our local economy, but many employers are faced with an increased demand for their services. Amazon, Dollar General, Fiesta Mart, H-E-B, Lowe’s, Randalls, Sprouts, Walmart, Wheatsville Food Co-op, and Whole Foods Market are all hiring for local positions at a variety of skill levels. Capital Metro needs to fill up to 100 full-time positions for bus drivers, and the City of Austin is hiring for roles in administration, accounting, customer service, information technology, and more.

The Austin American-Statesman has posted a list of national companies hiring large numbers of workers here.

Musicians and other artists who are faced with a loss of work may be eligible for grants and other assistance through organizations like Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, the Musicians Foundation Fund, and Banding Together ATX.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area is assisting local workers whose incomes have been disrupted by COVID-19. You can learn more by completing this online form, calling 512-485-3792, or checking these job listings.

Austinites who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 may also be eligible for unemployment benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Applications may be made through the TWC’s online portal or by calling 1-800-939-6631. The agency has been overwhelmed by recent demand and has asked applicants to stagger telephone calls based on their own area codes:

  • Area codes beginning with 9: Call Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Area codes beginning with 3, 4, 5, or 6: Call Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
  • Area codes beginning with 7 or 8: Call Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Area codes beginning with 2: Call Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Before filing for benefits, make sure to have the following ready:

  • Social Security number
  • Last employer’s name, address, and phone number
  • Dates you worked for your last employer, along with your weekly hours and pay rate
  • Military service information, if applicable
  • Alien registration number, if not a U.S. citizen

 

 

Where to Donate

Travis County Medical Society
The Travis Count Medical Society (TCMS) is accepting donations of masks, gloves, gowns, and other personal protective equipment for local healthcare providers. Unopened boxes of supplies may be dropped off at the group’s office, located at 4300 North Lamar Boulevard. TCMS is open on Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Austin Disaster Relief Network
The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) has partnered with Austin Public Health (APH) and the City of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) to collect personal protective equipment from the public. Local residents are encouraged to donate the following supplies:

  • Hand sanitizer (all sizes)
  • Antibacterial soap
  • New N95 masks
  • New surgical masks
  • New industrial masks (N95 or dust)
  • New disinfectant wipes
  • Latex-free gloves
  • New eye-protection goggles or glasses
  • New face shields
  • Water-resistant protective gowns
  • Disposable food-grade gloves
  • New thermometers, especially non-contact versions

ADRN is also accepting homemade masks. All donations may be dropped off from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the ADRN Headquarters/HOPE Family Thrift Store, located at 1122 East 51st Street. Click here to make a financial contribution to ADRN.

Austin Asian American COVID-19 Relief Fund
Austin’s Asian-American community is working to raise $250,000 to purchase N95 masks from certified manufacturers and distribute them to our city’s frontline health workers. Members of the public may make direct donations here, and healthcare professionals with questions can contact the group here.

Austin Chinese-American Network (ACAN)
ACAN is a nonprofit organization working to provide Austin’s frontline healthcare workers with personal protective equipment and meals, and it was one of the first groups to receive a grant from All Together ATX, a relief fund jointly sponsored by the United Way for Greater Austin and the Austin Community Foundation. Click here to make a financial contribution.

Austin EMS Relief Fund
The Austin Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association is soliciting donations to assist local medics who have been exposed, are symptomatic, are quarantined, or who are unable to work due to COVID-19. All of the proceeds go toward meals and other necessary expenses.

Central Texas Food Bank
Help keep our area’s largest food bank stocked with food for those affected by COVID-19. Make a donation to the Central Texas Food Bank today, and consider volunteering your time or running a virtual food drive to help feed Austinites in need.

ATX Hospital Meals
This network of restaurants, volunteers, and donors works to keep Austin’s healthcare heroes fed. Click here to donate funds, sign up as a partner, or volunteer your time.

Frontline Foods
Frontline’s network of restaurant kitchens and grassroots volunteers are keeping Austin-area health workers fed. Chi’lantro, Home Slice Pizza, Sala and Betty, and Taco Flats are among the local restaurants taking part. Please consider donating to the group’s effort or volunteering your time.

 

 

Little Things You Can Do to Help Our Frontline Health Workers

Make sure to thank our nurses, doctors, hospital staff, EMS workers, and other frontline health workers who daily risk their lives and the potential health and safety of their families. Consider dropping off a tray of tacos or boxes of pizzas to those in your area, but make sure to maintain social distancing and follow these food-safety guidelines.

 

 

How to Stay Informed

Here is a list of web pages with information about COVID-19, its potential spread, and the precautions every Austinite needs to take: