Below you will find some resources that may be helpful to you and your family during this time. Come back often and we will keep adding things as we discover them.
Massachusetts Re-Opening Guidelines – Effective March 20, 2021
For Everyone:
o Required to cover your mouth and nose when you cannot maintain 6ft of social distance
o Wash your hands and surfaces often
o Keep your distance – 6ft apart from others
o Stay vigilant for symptoms and stay home if sick
Businesses should review the Re-Opening guidelines on Mass.gov. There are mandatory self-certification safety standards.
If you need Personal Protective Equipment, check the state list of reliable vendors. There are lots businesses reporting that many vendors on Amazon are not delivering the ordered PPE.
Help with essential living expenses:
S.P.A.T. has established the Wellfleet Shellfish Harvester Relief Fund to support Wellfleet’s shellfishing families with essential household expenses (rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.) during times of crisis. S.P.A.T. has partnered with Lower Cape Outreach Council to administer the fund. To learn more about the Wellfleet Shellfish Harvester Relief Fund or apply click here.
Unemployment benefits for shellfishermen are NOW available. The state of Massachusetts is now ready to accept unemployment applications from self-employed and independent contractors who cannot work because of COVID-19.Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits. CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND TO APPLY!
The Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). On June 15, the SBA re-opened the Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Program to all eligible small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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This means that you can still apply for the low interest loan, which comes with an emergency advance of up to $10,000 that does not have to be repaid ($1,000 per employee). For the last month, the loan was only available to agricultural businesses.
- These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses.
- To keep payments affordable for small businesses, SBA offers loans with long repayment terms, up to a maximum of 30 years. Plus, the first payment is deferred for one year.
- For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster.
- Click here for fishermen-specific help with EIDL.
Help with essential living expenses:
S.P.A.T. has established the Wellfleet Shellfish Harvester Relief Fund to support Wellfleet’s shellfishing families with essential household expenses (rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.) during times of crisis. S.P.A.T. has partnered with Lower Cape Outreach Council to administer the fund. To learn more about the Wellfleet Shellfish Harvester Relief Fund or apply click here.
Housing Assistance has established the Cape Cod COVID-19 Workforce Housing Relief Fund to provide urgent and ongoing assistance with past due rent or mortgage payments or other housing-related expenses for current, year-round Cape Cod and Island residents who are losing income due to the coronavirus.
Click here to read a comprehensive summary of the emergency services currently available. It is compiled and updated by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance each day so check this COVID -19 Resource Page frequently.
Support with meals:
WELLFLEET
Wellfleet Needs – A town operated source for residents to contact with questions and to seek help with any needs they may have due to the outbreak. Call 508-349-0313 between 8am – 4pm daily or email needs@wellfleet-ma.gov anytime.
The Fox and Crow Cafe: For Outer Cape residents, thanks to non-profit corporation Common Table, Inc. Free breakfast from 8 am to 10 am Monday through Saturday, 6 Commercial St. Delivery only. Email Debbi at wellfleet2020@gmail.com for delivery.
Wellfleet Elementary School: Available for any child up to age 18. Bagged breakfast and lunch pick-up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. School is located at 100 Lawrence Road.
CHATHAM/HARWICH
The Family Food Pantry of Cape Cod, located in Harwich. 133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA 02645 Phone: 508 432-6519. Call for hours.
Monomoy Community Service is partnering with Hanger B to provide free meals to local residents that are struggling right now. Meals are available Thursdays – Mondays, from 8 am – 2pm. Discount code provided by Monomoy Community Services needed for online ordering.
PROVINCETOWN
Provincetown Schools: For students. Pick up window between noon to 2:00 p.m. The school is at 12 Winslow St., but the distribution center is located at the door of the gymnasium in the Grace Hall parking lot, off Prince Street. Open for the same two-hour window every Tuesday and Friday thereafter. Stay in car and volunteers deliver the food.
Soup Kitchen in Provincetown: Open to anyone. SKIP will provide box lunches drive-thru style at the front entrance to the dining room at 20 Shank Painter Road. Distribution will continue to be on weekdays from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. (until each day’s lunches run out). If you are driving, please stay in your car, pop your trunk open and the lunch will be placed inside.
TRURO
Truro Central School: For Truro children ages 3-18. The school will have food available every Tuesday 10 a.m. to noon. Please call 508-487-1558 ext. 203 by noon the Friday before to reserve your bag. Leave family name, number of children, allergies or dietary restriction and address for delivery if needed. Delivery only available in Truro. Please pull up to the side door of the cafeteria and remain in your vehicle. Bags of food will be placed in your trunk. Once you have received your delivery please promptly exit the parking lot allowing for a quick, efficient process.