If you or someone you know in the Gainesville & Alachua County, Florida, area, needs help paying for food, utilities, medicines, etc. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve compiled a list of resources below.
Please don’t hesitate to share this list of resources with a friend in need, or if you’re able, reach out these organizations and offer your support to help them continue to do even more good work in our community.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you know of a local resource or nonprofit in Gainesville & Alachua County we should add to this list.
For a comprehensive, nationwide list of resources you can search by zip code, go to: https://findhelp.org.
COVID-19 Coronavirus Resources for Individuals & Families in Gainesville, Florida
Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, Inc. – Mobile Pantry
Mobile Food Pantry delivers food directly to the food insecure communities of Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, LaFayette and Levy counties.
Summer BreakSpot – Free Meals During School Closures
With Florida schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Nikki Fried, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness encourage families to take advantage of alternative school meals that may be offered at these locations. Summer BreakSpot sites do not operate during scheduled Spring Break weeks; however, parents may contact their local school districts to determine if meals are available during Spring Break.
Find contact information for your local school district
Lazarus Restoration Ministires, Inc.
Provides housing, clothing, food and other assistance to homeless and indigent people in our community. Through the Self-sufficiency Housing and Development Program, families are given the training and assistance they need to get back on their feet and be restored back into mainstream society. Over the years, God has blessed us to lift many individuals out of homelessness, house them in our Lazarus Houses, and provide the services they needed to restore their lives and obtain their own permanent housing or referral.
Gainesville Community Ministry (GCM)
Provides practical assistance to the elderly, the disabled, and recipients of public assistance, as well as the “working poor” who are vulnerable to economic crises and have fallen between the cracks of other programs.
The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.
This Emergency Support Services program’s focus is to provide emergency support to eligible farm workers who are experiencing multiple barriers that prevent them from accessing and/or obtaining assistance from some other resource to meet their socio-economic needs (i.e.; shelter, food, education, employment and training, transportation and referrals to other resources.
Duke Energy Corporation understands that many customers may be facing unexpected financial hardships due to COVID-19. To help, we have suspended disconnections for nonpayment for home and business.
Diapers & Baby Supplies by Cuddle Me Program
The Cuddle Me Program provides free diapers and wipes-as well as formula, cereal and other essentials – to babies in need and their families.
Fannie Mae – COVID-19 Mortgage Forbearance
Fannie Mae is offering Mortgage Forbearance to homeowners experiencing financial hardship directly or indirectly related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) who have mortgages owned by Fannie Mae.
Verizon Customers – Financial Help
During this unprecedented period challenging the world’s health and economy, Verizon announced today, for the next 60 days, it will waive late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus.
H.O.P (Housing Opportunities Program)
H.O.P (Housing Opportunities Program) provides financial assistance in the areas of rent, mortgage and utility assistance as well as housing case management to the individuals with certain types of medical disabilities within a 15-county area of North Central Florida.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)
The HUD-VASH is a collaborative program between HUD and the VA that combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help Veterans who are homeless and their families find and sustain permanent housing.
Through rent-free housing and cooperative living, Southern Scholarship Foundation supports students who lack financial resources, demonstrate excellent academic merit, and exemplify good character attend institutions of higher education.
The Salvation Army Florida Division – Rent & Utility Payment Assistance
At the Salvation Army Florida Division, we provide rent and utility assistance services and support to help you through the financial crisis. We help families and individuals struggling financially whether it be a financial emergency, shut-off notices or through other hardships.
COVID-19 Fund Program by HealthWell Foundation, Inc.
The COVID-19 Fund Program provides reimbursement assistance for delivered food and medication and transportation costs to manage COVID-19, while maintaining social distancing protocols, including drive-thru testing, delivery of test kits and future treatments. In addition, eligible copayment and incidental costs associated with tele-health treatments and diagnostics related to COVID-19 will also be covered under the fund.
College Student Travel Assistance by Enterprise Rental
The College Student Travel Assistance makes it easier for students to get home to their families with colleges and universities campus closures in response to COVID-19 by reducing the age minimum and waiving the young renter fees for rentals through May 31, 2020.
COVID-19 – Rx Home Delivery by CVS
CVS Pharmacy will waive charges for home delivery of prescription medications and is taking additional steps across the company to address the COVID-19 outbreak and protect patient access to medication.
COVID-19 Relief for Student Loan Borrowers by U.S. Department of Education
COVID-19 Relief for Student Loan Borrowers offers anyone with loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education temporary 0% interest and emergency forbearance.
For more resources, go to https://findhelp.org and type in your zip code.
