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With the impact of coronavirus quickly escalating, plenty of locals are feeling helpless and wondering what can be done for our neighbors and the community during this time. This page will serve as a list of information and ideas on ways to help out. If you have ideas to share, please send us a message or comment below.
Other guides:
» COVID-19: Fayetteville-area updates and information
» Restaurant takeout and delivery options
Useful information
The Arkansas Department of Health has activated a call center to answer questions from health care providers and the public about coronavirus. During normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), call 800-803-7847. After normal business hours, for urgent calls needing an immediate response, call 501-661-2136.
– Here’s our running list of coronavirus updates, closures and cancellations.
– Here’s a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s information page on the coronavirus (COVID-19)
– Here’s a link to a page by the Arkansas Department of Health that tracks the spread of coronavirus in Arkansas.
– Collier Drug Store offers free delivery on prescriptions as well as over-the-counter medications.
– Washington Regional Medical Center has begun limiting visitors and screening all visitors who enter the hospital. Here’s more info about that.
– Some locals have established a volunteer-driven “Mutual Aid” effort in NWA for at-risk locals to request help securing supplies, and for lower risk individuals to volunteer to help out. Learn more here.
– Harps is offering home delivery for groceries, and the company is waiving the delivery fee high-risk customers. More info.
Meals
– Here’s a list of restaurants offering curbside pickup, delivery, take out, and some who have temporarily closed.
– Fayetteville Public Schools is offering meals and health services for the duration of the time schools will be closed. Here’s more info. Fayetteville schools are also delivering meals via bus. Here are the routes and locations.
– Local restaurant CJ’s Butcher Boy Burgers has pledged to offer free kids meals every day to kids on free and reduced lunch in the event that schools close.
– Local restaurant Wright’s BBQ is also feeding kids in need for free while schools are closed.
– Little Bread Co. is offering free lunch for kids on the free + reduced meal program while schools are closed, take out only. Call ahead at 479-527-0622 and they will have it ready for pick-up.
– St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is serving their community meals in a grab-and-go format on Monday and Wednesday from 10:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
Ways to help
– Donate to a local food bank or pantry. Here are a few that we know of.
- NWA Food Bank – (479) 872-8774
- Salvation Army – (479) 521-2151
- 7 Hills – (479) 966-4378
- Life Source International – (479) 521-4000
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – (479) 442-7373
- Full Circle Campus Food Pantry – (479) 575-4365
- Cooperative Emergency Outreach – (479) 444-7500
- Feed Communities – (479) 966-4790
- Mcribe Distribution Co. – (479) 512-2500
- Mt. Comfort Church of Christ – (479) 442-9171
- Second Mile Ministries – (479) 521-4787
– Help fill a Little Free Pantry. Here’s a map of local pantries that could use attention.
– Purchase a gift card from your favorite restaurant or shop for future use.
– Pick up groceries or supplies for at risk or immunocompromised members of the community
– Order takeout or delivery from local restaurants to keep supporting them during some tough times. There are several delivery options to choose from. Local service Clunk’s Hungry Express Wagon has offered a contact-free delivery option, and he delivers to the downtown area to several locally-owned businesses.
– Democratic Socialists of NWA, Young Democrats of Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas Young Democrats announced the establishment of a food pantry at the UARK Theatre (647 W. Dickson St.) For information on how to volunteer, visit tinyurl.com/fayfoodbank.
– To help local arts organizations, instead of taking a refund for canceled shows, you can donate the price of your ticket to the organization
– St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is seeking volunteers to help assemble grab-and-go community meals on Mondays and Wednesdays. Here’s more info.
– Some locals have established a volunteer-driven “Mutual Aid” effort in NWA for at-risk locals to request help securing supplies, and for lower risk individuals to volunteer to help out. Learn more here.
– Donate blood – Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is seeking blood donors to donate to make up for a shortage caused by coronavirus concerns limiting blood drives
– A software company called Movista has created a website called supportlocalnwa.com to allow locals to purchase gift cards to local businesses.
– Local t-shirt company B-Unlimited is selling shirts online and donating 20% of proceeds to local food banks. They are also raising funds for local businesses.
– Local boutique Riffraff is selling t-shirts and donating proceeds to support our local Fayetteville Public School Student Services who need extra assistance, including meals, due to school closures and less programs available as a result of Coronavirus.
– Arkansas Community Foundation offering mini-grants to nonprofits assisting in COVID-19 relief. They are also accepting donations.
– Some locals have established the Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Association, working on ideas to provide meals for displaced hospitality workers and start funds for our employees that are in need. More.
