Kroger's Shawnee drive-thru testing is full this week but appointments are being accepted for next week.  Testing will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays

For a Kroger appointment visit: https://www.thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing

Bashford Manor's Walmart is scheduling appointments starting this Wednesday for all First Responders and Healthcare workers and any adult 18 years or older with symptoms of COVID-19. schedule your appointment here: https://doineedacovid19test.com/Louisville.htm

The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office website will have in place procedures for the upcoming primary.

For now, please be aware- The state portal to request the mail-in ballots may not be up until May 22. They will be mailing a postcard to every voter in Kentucky with the link for the state site when that is ready.

 However, any Jefferson County voter can go right now to the Jefferson County clerk website to request a ballot by Clicking on the link below:

      https://www.jeffersoncountyclerk.org/AbsAppRequest/

 Either way, the postage to return the ballot is free.

 Voters will have to request mail-in ballots in a portal on the State Board of Elections website by June 16.  After voting, ballots will be sent to the county clerk. Mail-in ballots will have to be postmarked by June 23 and be received within three days of Election Day. In-person voting, with the possibility of drive-through voting, will be allowed, in new ways, for those who need to vote in person. Post cards will be sent out to Kentucky voters explaining the changes.

The first step in voting is always registering to vote and that has not changed. Register, change your registration or just check to make sure you are still correctly registered by clicking on the link below:                          https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky

The deadline to register for the June 23 primary is May 26.  Get registered and vote!

Kentucky state website: kycovid19.ky.gov is the best way to keep up with the latest news about the novel coronavirus

Hotline you can call: (800) 722-5725. is a service operated by the healthcare professionals at the Kentucky Poison Control Center, who can provide advice and answer questions.

Louisville Metro website with updated information about COVID-19 -CLICK HERE-

including information from Mayor Greg Fischer’s briefings about City services. 

Please go online and complete the census. It’s a very simple procedure.  You can also call 1-844-330-2020 to complete the survey over the phone as soon as you receive the invitation. The best way to avoid a visit from a census taker is to fill out the 2020 Census questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail as soon as you receive your invitation to participate.  We urge you to do so now, to limit person-to-person contact as the coronavirus continues to spread. The census website is here.

You can see how many of your neighbors have completed the census at this site.

Report:

• where it happened
• describe the vehicle(s) involved
• include license plate number(s) if available
• upload pictures if available

For more information about illegal dumping, including a link to the reporting form visit our illegal dumping webpage.

Louisville Metro Government is accepting applications for the Louisville Metro Council COVID-19 Relief Fund (CRF) – established to supplement relief organizations experiencing an incremental surge in demand for services from persons impacted by the COVID-19 health pandemic.

• FY20 External Agency Fund (non-profit) recipients or Metro administered programs with existing food and/or housing assistance programs are eligible to apply.
• Metro Council voted to approve this $2.7 million relief package on March 19, 2020.
• Applications can be submitted to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LMCCOVID.
• For more information about the  Metro Council COVID-19 Relief Fund applications and guidelines, visit    https://louisvilleky.gov/government/external-agency-fund.
• Process questions should be directed to Ethan Lambert, Grants Coordinator with the Office of Resilience and Community Services, at Ethan.Lambert@louisvilleky.gov.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, as part of the Community Action Agency network in Kentucky, is now taking applications for an added spring open enrollment period for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2020, or until designated funds are depleted on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

The Spring LIHEAP program, which is designed to help low-income households offset home energy costs, has increased income eligibility requirements to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Income eligible residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills.

The benefit amount awarded is based on an individual’s income and primary fuel type. Benefits are paid directly to the primary fuel vendor in the form of a voucher.

Jefferson County residents wishing to apply must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment system.  Appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling 502-991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com. The toll-free service is currently open and is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Modified service delivery for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
All six LIHEAP offices remain closed for walk-in clients in an effort to help stem the spread of COVID-19.  Residents can still apply for LIHEAP by utilizing secure drop boxes in front of the six LIHEAP offices.

Individuals who require more information can contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000, email metro.311@louisvilleky.gov, tweet @LouMetro311, Web: loiusvilleky.gov/tell311, or download the free Mobile Louisville Metro 311 app from the website. Residents can also call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service.

The Smart911 service enables you to go online and input important information for police, fire, and EMS first responders to have at the ready when you call them. You can also download a Smart911 app to your smartphone.

With the community facing a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, it’s now more important than ever for first responders to have what they need to help you

Smart911 stores vital information, such as:

• Your medical history
• Information about family members and pets
• Someone to notify if you live alone
• The name of a neighbor with a key or an entry code for your apartment building

Your Smart911 profile will be available for 911 operators and first responders, saving precious time in an emergency. When you download the app onto your smartphone, it also improves the phone’s GPS location data, which helps if you have an emergency outside your home.

Go to www.smart911.com to sign up

Our service area encompasses all of zip codes 40214, 40215, 40118 and 40209, and those families in 40208 who live south of Eastern Parkway/Industry Road.

If this is not your zip code and you’re looking for help, please find a map of the Community Ministries here. *Please note, SLCM is now serving the following three areas.

• Fairdale Community Ministries
• South Louisville Community Ministries
• Ministries Untied South Louisville

IMPORTANT: For all assistance and visits, please bring a photo ID and proof of address dated within 30 days (ie. a bill mailed to you). Some services require more documentation, please call to check before visiting. A friend or family member may also come on your behalf if they have your documents and information.

If you do not have these documents, but need assistance, please call, fill out the form below, or visit us between 1:00-3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, with whatever documentation you have

Legal Aid has a new website that features new content specific to COVID-19.  You can download fliers regarding some of the types of assistance we can provide.  We have been distributing this information and have it online during this time.

• Domestic Violence
• Tenants Rights
• Stimulus Payments
• Unemployment Benefits

https://www.yourlegalaid.org/covid19responseandresources

Louisville's "One Louisville COVID-19 Response Fund" has collected $5.6 million to help to people and organizations impacted by the unprecedented economic shutdown taking place.

The One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund is designed to help people and community organizations meet immediate physical and operational needs, such as food, transportation, educational services, and more.

The fund is a community partnership that includes Metro Government, business leaders like UPS, Humana and GLI, and philanthropic partners like the James Graham Brown Foundation, Metro United Way, and the Community Foundation of Louisville.

• Individual Assistance - To apply for individual assistance, call Metro311 or (502) 574-5000, or visit the Website by Clicking Here
• Grants for community-based organizations - To apply for individual assistance, call Metro311 or (502) 574-5000 Click Here

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) information through the CDC can be viewed through languages other than English.

Stay informed and healthy. The site is available for translation with Translate Icon located in the top right corner of the page. Learn More: https://louisvilleky.gov/coronavirus  Translations are now in 14 languages, including:  Korean - French - Spanish - Arabic

If you believe you have been a target or victim of a scam or fraud, please report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov

Kentuckians wishing to report online scams and fraud can contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

To file a price gouging complaint, visit ag.ky.gov/pricegouging or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-432-9257

• Testing kits. Whether it’s someone going door-to-door offering a COVID-19 testing kit or someone selling them online, don’t fall for this con. 
• Miracle cures, vaccines, or supplements. When you see an advertisement promoting a miracle cure, vaccine, or supplement to help you fight the coronavirus, just ignore it. 
• Mask sales. While many people are on the hunt for medical-grade masks, scammers are posting fake websites. 
• Government checks. If you receive a phone call from a “government representative” saying they need your social security number, banking account number, or other personal information in order to give your relief check, hang up!
• Errand assistance. Be wary of strangers who offer to run errands for you. While there are legitimate groups who are offering assistance to those that are in need, there are scammers who are looking to take your prescription medications or your money. 
• Free gift cards. Some businesses are providing discounts during this time, but if you see an offer for a free gift card, proceed with caution. 
• Charity and giving. If you are looking to donate, make sure you are donating to legitimate charities. 
• Tracking apps. With COVID-19 spreading rapidly, you may want to know if the virus has spread to your area. 

Louisville Metro is asking all volunteers who are 60+ not to volunteer to ensure their safety. All 13 nonprofits that make up the Association of Community Ministries have historically relied on our retired friends for the packing and distribution of food.  People will continue to need food, housing, water, and electricity and we cannot turn our backs on those who will feel the economic consequences of the Coronavirus epidemic most drastically.

• 400 homebound senior clients served by Senior Nutrition's Meals on Wheels program will continue to receive their meal delivery once per week with a five-frozen meal pack until daily, hot meal delivery can resume. In addition, 255 pre-certified individuals will be added to home-delivery routes over the course of April.
• 20 Senior Congregate Nutrition Sites across Jefferson County remain temporarily closed

If you are young, healthy, and able to donate a few hours during this crisis

Volunteers are always needed! Call (502) 935-0310 to learn more.  You can view map of designated areas served by  CLICKING Here for Volunteer Form & Map

Recognizing that many senior citizens are homebound and unable to see their family and friends these days, AARP created a toll-free phone line so they can just hear a friendly voice.

“We mostly are hearing about people feeling lonely, feeling isolated,” Rawlins said. “This is a friendly phone call – not a doctor, not a counselor… just someone to let them get some things off their chest, express how they’re feeling, what they’re afraid of.”

To request an AARP Friendly Voices call, CLICK HERE  or call 1-888-281-0145.

The deadline to FILE and PAY federal income taxes are extended to July 15, 2020.

IRS is offering coronavirus relief to taxpayers.

Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) launched a hotline to help connect families with needed resources and services.

Families can call 313-CARE (2273) for assistance and referrals related to medical services, drug and alcohol addiction help, homelessness and basic needs such as food, housing and utilities, among other supports.

The CARE line will be operated by professionals from the Academic Support Programs Department and includes school counselors, mental health practitioners, Family Resource Youth Services coordinators, and coordinators from the departments of Early Childhood, Health Services and Community Supports.

CARE operators will be able to offer assistance, resources and referrals for:

• Basic needs, including food, utilities, clothing, public transportation and housing
• Medical services
• Emotional/ behavioral/ mental health
• Domestic violence
• Drug and alcohol addiction support
• Unemployment
• Homelessness

The line will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, until May 29.  The district will evaluate the response and determine if there’s a need for it to continue over the summer and into next year.  Families can continue to call 313-HELP for general JCPS-related questions.

Healing begins with the foods we eat. That’s why Humana Well Dine has teamed up with Mom’s Meals to deliver nutritious, tasty meals right to your home when you need it the most. Meals go directly in the refrigerator. Simply heat in the microwave, directly from your fridge.

With the trying times we are experiencing now, this program could be essential to helping feed our most vulnerable. For more details, please visit Humana.com.

If you are a Humana member and would like more information about Humana Well Dine, please call Humana Customer Care at 1-800-457-4708 (TYY: 711)

With schools closed, Junior Achievement is providing free online resources to families and teachers. We are doing this so our kids can spend more time planning for and dreaming about tomorrow, and less time worrying about today. Junior Achievement is ready to support families and teachers during this period of uncertainty.

The resources are on-line, ready-to-use, include everything needed and are offered for all grade levels. Students can do the lessons on their own, with a parent or guardian, or with their teacher. Access Junior Achievement’s free resources HERE.

Check back often as JA continues to add resources.

AARP invites you to submit applications for the 2020 Community Challenge Grant which provides funding for quick-action projects that can help your community become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are now being accepted for small grants to improve housing, transportation, public space, smart cities, civic engagement, and more.

All of Kentucky’s previously funded projects can be found here.

This year’s application is Now due by May 15, 2020, 11:59 p.m. ET and all projects must be completed by November 9, 2020. Applications must be submitted through www.aarp.org/communitychallenge

LIBA has developed an online resource and is sharing recommendations to help the community keep their local businesses in mind as we stay safe.

• Visit www.KeepLouisvilleWeird.com for a listing of local, independent businesses. Special space on each listing is dedicated to information useful during COVID-19 precautions. Keep checking back as our members update their information regularly. The directory is also searchable by businesses that offer delivery, curbside pickup, online ordering, etc.
• Give the Gift of Business - Buy a gift card (on the phone or online) that would cover your usual spend over the coming weeks. Then spend the gift cards later, or give them as gifts to others.
• Buy Now, Pick Up Later - If you had planned on purchasing an item, give the business a call. Pay for it now and have them set it aside for later pickup.
• Keep Up Your Memberships - If you have a membership to a gym, class, studio, etc. keep it going. Many small businesses count on that constant support to keep their doors open so they can be there when you come back.
• Curbside Pickup/Delivery - For restaurants and for retail! Many of our local independents are offering this service.

LIBA is also offering resources to support local businesses themselves. We are offering webinars on working from home, tutorials on Facebook lives that retailers can use for commerce, etc.

LIBA UPDATE: 

LIBA Members Offering PPE: 

• Download the list here. For other resources, visit the Crisis Support Hub.

Virtual Buy Local Fair - Sun. 5/17 12noon for 24 hours

• RSVP to the Facebook event and spread the word! Gift cards galore available from local, independent businesses. Usually on May 17, we'd be hosting thousands of people attending the Buy Local Fair. at the Louisville Water Tower
• This year we've got a special virtual edition! On event day, we'll be drawing for special prizes throughout the day.

Kentucky Healthy at Work Phase 2 Update

All businesses should follow the 10 rules of staying healthy at work as well as industry-specific guidance, which will be issued as soon as possible. Phase 2 tentative dates for reopening are:

• May 22     Restaurants, with limited 33% capacity and outdoor seating
• June 1      Movie theaters, fitness centers
• June 11    Campgrounds, public and private
• June 15    Child care with reduced capacity and maybe low-touch and outdoor youth sports

Resources available to both workers and small businesses, including unemployment benefits, are collected at a Louisville Metro website here. These programs are crucial in trying times such as these.   

Increased business is leading to new jobs in some industries, with immediate hiring. KentuckianaWorks and GLI have partnered to create a new online jobs board listing current job opportunities in the area. You can see job listings at www.kentuckianaworks.org/jobs and it’s being updated daily. Companies that are hiring can also add their listings to the website.  

SummerWorks is a free program that matches young people in Louisville to quality summer job opportunities! SummerWorks jobs include many different industries, including hospitality, advanced manufacturing, business and many more.

To be eligible, youth must be 16-21 years of age as of June 1, 2020 and a resident of Louisville.

To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit https://www.summerworks.org/sign-up

Kentucky Kingdom has begun hiring for 1,400 seasonal positions, including lifeguards, ride operators and water park technicians with some ability in plumbing. Pay rates begin “above the minimum wage”. Some jobs are available for workers as young as 14. The park needs seasonal help in more than 20 departments, including kitchen staff, ride technicians, landscaping and warehousing.  Job applicants can get more information on the parks’ official website

Iroquois Park and out other beautiful Olmstead Parks have now installed Social Distancing Stations to further protect citizens from COVID-19.

Park personnel has reported that each park has received an influx of nearly twice as many visitors each day due to businesses and schools being closed.

The social distancing stations have markers 6-feet apart in each direction displaying the safe social distancing guidelines.

The Scott's Gap parking lot for the Jefferson Memorial Forest will be closed for the next four weeks. We apologize for any inconveniences this causes.

We know how important it is to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, but construction has begun in this section of the forest. With heavy machinery and construction equipment present, the parking lot is no longer safe for vehicles or pedestrians.

Thank you for understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at (502) 574-1114.

We’re all better off if we are “Healthy at Home” but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit the Louisville Free Public Library.  The library buildings are closed but the library is very much open – and actually expanding.  

Looking for more to do? LFPL now has more to offer!

Thanks to the generosity of a number of publishers and library service providers, LFPL is able to offer temporary access to more digital materials and online resources to help keep you informed, engaged, and entertained at this time.

• Free streaming movies for kids, courtesy of Kanopy Kids
• Access to more than 400 classic titles on eBook with no wait, courtesy of Overdrive — look for “Always Available eBook Classics”

PLUS, we always offer: Downloadable Audiobooks, eMagazines and Digital Comic Books, online learning with Lynda.com, Homework Help and Activities for Kids and Teens, and more at LFPL.org!

The virtual hackathon is not limited to software programmers or tech experts. Any community member with a strong desire to work with others to help solve problems is encouraged to participate.

Any local organization can submit a problem they are encountering as a result of COVID-19 with a description of its impact. Those problems will be shared publicly on www.LiftUpLou.com and through social media @LiftUpLou, community members will have the opportunity to lend their unique ideas and talents to solve them.

 Hackathon volunteers will work in small groups to develop their solutions over five days and will then present them via a live Facebook event on Saturday, May 30, at 1 p.m.

“Building a culture of connectivity, inclusion, and community support are at the core of what LEAP provides,” said Larry Horn, LEAP’s Executive Director. “We are excited about coming together with the other great community partners to support non-profit organizations that are being devastated by COVID-19. We’re confident that the founders and innovators of our community will continue to rise to the challenge of providing unique solutions to complicated issues that will benefit our city.”

To get involved, visit www.LiftUpLou.com.

Organizations can submit a problem or project idea at this LINK 

Problem-solving volunteers can sign-up to help at this LINK 

We continue to receive registrations for camps and we are still planning on moving forward with that. Of course, we will adjust the schedule as needed. 

We are offering free weekly educational videos on our

• Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/littleloomhouse/ 
• Instagram @thelittleloomhouseofficial with the following schedule:

Scheduled Videos:

• Education Videos for all ages on Tuesdays
• Loomhouse storybook reading videos on Wednesdays
• Needlefelt Videos on Thursdays 
• Intermediate Weaving instruction on Fridays 

Now you can Do Science anywhere with our new series of videos that feature fun activities that can be done easily using things from around the house!

We'll release a new activity at 11:00 a.m. on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. every:

• Monday,
• Wednesday
• Friday 

For more at-home activities, check out STEM at Home, a collection of Challenger Center lessons and activities that can be modified and completed at home. Each STEM at Home category includes at least one at-home lesson. These activities require common household items or products that are readily available online.

Louisville Water donates $100,000 to customer assistance

The Board of Water Works, the governing body for Louisville Water, approved a $100,000 donation to the Louisville Water Foundation’s customer assistance program. This donation matches one made earlier from Louisville MSD as both utilities work together to help customers manage their water and wastewater bills during challenging times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

This customer assistance program, DROPS of KINDNESS, that helps the utilities' retail customers in Jefferson, Oldham and Bullitt counties pay their water and wastewater bills. The Foundation works with a charitable organization in each county to administer the funds.

In Jefferson County, Community Ministries operates the program helping nearly 1,000 families annually with their water and wastewater charges through an existing grant from the Foundation. Previously, MSD provided $150,000 for its yearly support of the program. The new additional funding will allow the Ministries to extend its reach over the coming months.

The company 3rd street lobby is closed during this time and is suspending water turn-offs for failure to pay

Most of us are stuck at home and many things have changed, but your grass is still growing. Why not take advantage of the Lawn Care for Cleaner Air program and save up to $100 on a new, air-friendly, electric-powered mower? You can get rebates on electric string trimmers, electric blowers, and reel mowers too. (Make sure to practice social distancing when making your purchase, of course!)

Now is a great time to recycle that old, polluting equipment and save some cash on new gear that will make breathing a little easier for you and your community. You can also get larger rebates on more powerful equipment with our Lawn Care for Cleaner Air Professional program.

Please see our website, louisvilleky.gov/lawncare, or call (502)574-6000 if you have any questions

Did you know in Louisville we trash over 85,000 tons of food every year? By weight, that’s the most prevalent type of waste going to our landfill. Out of everything that goes to our local landfill every year, 26% could have been composted instead, industrially or even in our own backyards.

 The statistics may be daunting but starting a backyard compost system is not! There are a wide variety of design options, homemade or purchased. Read more about composting and find out how to purchase a compost bin from our Solid Waste office (limited supply) on our website. 

Beginning Monday, February 24, 2020, the Waste Reduction Center will be closed for maintenance until further notice. We have to reconstruct a push wall on the loading pad.  The wall at the loading pad has become unsafe for our staff and our customers.   The project is anticipated to take four to six weeks to complete and reopen.  Hopefully we will not experience any weather delays during the reconstruction of the wall.   

Below is a list of private waste collection vendor as an option (for a fee) to use while our Center is closed.  

• Waste Management of Kentucky 7501 Grade Lane, Louisville, KY 40219   502-785-8663  Our operation hours are between Monday: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Please Note: If unloading by hand you need to be in an hour before we close.
• Rumpke  1101 W Oak St, Louisville, KY 40210  800-828-8171 The transfer station is open to the public from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Republic  4446 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY 40213  502-634-2900  Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Smith Creek (2 locations)  Melton Ave.  (By the airport)  4574 Melton Avenue  Louisville, Ky 40213 Haunz Lane (East End)  5918 Haunz Ln, Louisville, KY 40241   Monday Thru Friday - Hours 7:00 am to 3:30 pm  No weekend hours  Contact Information:  502-377-9026 - Brett

 Accepting

•       Brush, Leaves, trees, grasses either bulk or in paper/compostable bags.

Not Accepting

•       Trash, dirt, rock, glass, metal, brick, pavers, railroad ties, telephone poles, fabric weed            barrier – all items must be

LMAS is taking additional precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Animal Control will only respond to the most serious incidents involving a human and domestic animal in-progress, or to assist first responders.

LMAS will remain open for adoptions, lost and found services, and stray pet surrenders from 12-6pm, Monday-Saturday. Violations and civil penalty fees can be paid online at www.louisvilleky.gov/animal-services. Pet licensing can also be purchased or renewed online or by mail. Visit the LMAS homepage for more information. Please, send questions to animals@louisvilleky.gov

Want to help? Donations Welcome

KHS welcomes pet food donations – especially cat food – for the COVID-19 Pet Food Bank through Amazon or from local pet supply stores. View our overall Wish List and our Amazon wish list at http://tinyurl.com/wishlistkhs (items are not in order on Amazon, so please scroll to find dry cat and dog food options). Deliveries are accepted at 241 Steedly Drive, Louisville KY 40214.

People who are interested in fostering will need to fill out the Foster Application(PDF) and either email, fax to 502-473-2634, or bring the completed application to the LMAS Animal Care Center, located at 3705 Manslick Rd.

For more information on our foster care program, please contact Stephanie Jackson at stephanie.jackson@louisvilleky.gov or (502) 574-6978