Good afternoon RCF partners and stakeholders, 

To comply with the Shelter in Place Order issued by the Contra Costa Health Department today at 1:00 pm, RCF’s offices and services will be closing at 5:00 pm today until the order is lifted (estimated to be April 6, 2020). 

There are several critical resources which have been put in place to serve those most impacted by this order:

Those unable to work during this time are able to apply for unemployment insurance at https://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/.

Those infected by COVID-19 may apply for Disability Insurance.  The California Governor’s Executive Order waives the one-week unpaid waiting period, so you can collect DI benefits for the first week you are out of work. If you are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim. 

Families with children who receive free or reduced meals in the West Contra Costa Unified School District will still be able to receive meals from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the following locations:  De Anza, Kennedy, Pinole Valley, Richmond, DeJean, Helms, Nystrom, Montalvin, Riverside. 

Like the summer meal program, all children under 18, regardless of free or reduced-price meal status or the school they attend, are eligible. 

RCF CONNECTS RESPONDS 

RCF Connects will do everything in our power to reduce the transmission rate of this virus.  RCF Connects and our initiatives, including SparkPoint Contra Costa, Healthy Richmond, and Ensuring Opportunity will move to virtual meetings as much as possible. 

RCF Connects recognizes our role in working with partners to understand, share, and utilize tools that support connection through electronic and virtual means. 

If you need assistance engaging in virtual meetings, a number of companies are offering these free tools for virtual conferencing and meetings.  

RCF Connects are exploring video and phone calls, and other online platforms among community partners and members to offer support, to stay connected and share ideas for how to continue thriving despite the challenges. 

We will also work with other foundations to ensure that resources continue to flow to those organizations providing needed services and that new resources can be leveraged. 

Thank you to the San Francisco Foundation for establishing an emergency response fund for nonprofit organizations at www.sff.org.  

For our nonprofit Executive Directors, many of whom have are experiencing trauma and isolation at this moment, RCF Connects will offer a weekly wellness check-in.  Stay tuned for updates on these virtual meetings. 

RCF Connects will continue to share updates, tools, and ways to stay connected over the following weeks.  Please stay healthy and safe and let’s flatten the COVID-19 Transmission curve. 

Thank you,