April 13, 5 p.m.
Delaware Public Health updates COVID-19 case count
April 14, 4 p.m.
Connect Kids Now to offer free internet access to Wilmington school children
Connect Kids Now is working to help students in need continue their studies during the Coronavirus pandemic.
While schools are closed, students who do not have an internet connection at home are not able to succeed in their classes. Connect Kids Now is helping to mitigate this by working with WhyFly, a Wilmington-based internet company, to provide free internet access throughout the city.
The digital divide is nothing new but has become deeper while many are working from home. According to the Pew Foundation, over one-third of low-income households with school-age children lack high-speed internet at home and are unable to connect to their school for daytime instruction during the crisis.
The first step of the Connect Kids Now program is the installation of several WiFi hot spots throughout the city to be used by students and their families. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the free WiFi everyday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Initial locations include the 76ers Fieldhouse, Wilmington PAL, William Hicks Anderson Community Center, Kingswood Community Center and Teen Warehouse.
Other local companies are supporting Connect Kids Now. NERDiT NOW is providing computers to students who do not have one, so they can connect to their schools. King Creative, a full-service video production company, is producing videos and brochures. Influencers Lab Media, a full-service marketing agency. is helping to identify families in need and providing social media marketing.
Individuals can make tax-deductible contributions at connectkidsnow.org.
Families or schools that are interested should contact info@connectkidsnow.org.
April 13, 3:30 p.m.
Delaware Carpenters Local 255 donates food to local nonprofit
Officials from Carpenters Local 255 recently donated food to Family Promise of Northern New Castle County, a nonprofit that serves the homeless.
The increasing impact of the coronavirus pandemic led Sam Noel, Local 255 representative, Eastern Atlantic States Council of Carpenters, and Mungu Sanchez, deputy political director & director of community organizing, to ask how they could help during this critical time.
“We just wanted to do something for people who are in dire straits,” Sam Noel said in a statement. “The coronavirus has had a huge negative impact on people who already face hardships. This pandemic has made it worse.”
The donation was particularly welcome at Family Promise because they provide meals for every family in their care. “The carpenters came through at Christmas, and once again, they helped out with a wonderful contribution of food items,” said Tyler Shade, development and marketing manager at Family Promise.
The donation was timely because many of the families they serve have difficulty getting to a grocery store.
For more about Family Promise, visit https://www.familypromisede.org.
For more about Carpenters Local 255, visit http://ubclocal255.org.
April 13, 3 p.m.
Capano Management delivers Free Food Program to Hometown Heroes
Capano Management’s restaurants, Columbus Inn and Charcoal Pit, have partnered with local ERs and ICUs, Police and Fire departments to provide over 50 meals a day to staff working during these times.
To date, delivery locations include St. Francis Hospital, Christiana Care COVID-19 Units in Wilmington and Newark; Millcreek, Cranston Heights, Elsmere and Belvedere Fire Departments; Wilmington Fire Department, distributing to EMS at all locations; New Castle County Police Headquarters and the Wilmington Police Department.
“It’s gratifying to see local business step up like this to give meals to hospital staff working to keep all of us safe and healthy in these challenging times,” said State Representative Mike Ramone in a statement. “I was honored to help secure recipients for the program, and to help expand the service to local fire companies and first responders.”
Morgan Burns of Capano Management has been coordinating the program, working with Representative Ramone to expand the network of local first responders receiving food deliveries. “It’s been a privilege to work with the amazing people who protect and support our communities,” she said.
For more information or to inquire about being included in the Hometown Heroes program, please contact Morgan Burns at mburns@capanoinc.com.
April 12, 6 p.m.
Delaware Public Health updates COVID-19 case count
Following Friday’s announcement of 153 new cases, totaling 1,479; the Delaware Division of Public Health announced 146 new cases Saturday evening.
Under the updated guidance of the CDC, DPH is now reporting deaths of lab-confirmed individuals AND deaths of “probably” cases where the deceased displayed symptoms and was exposed to a lab-confirmed cases, but was not tested prior to death. Under these guidelines 35 Delawareans have passed due to COVID-19 related complications.
Individuals who have died from COVID-19 ranged in age from 33 to 96 years old.
Since March 11, there have been 1,625 lab-confirmed cases in the state, with 281 cases in Kent County, 880 in New Castle County and 464 in Sussex County.
Currently, there are 201 individuals hospitalized with 51 of those considered critically ill.
April 11, 11 a.m.
Governor Carney asks Delawareans with health care and child care experience to assist
Gov. Carney expanded his community call-to-action Saturday, asking Delaware citizens with health care and child care experience to offer their expertise in Delaware’s fight against COVID-19.
The State of Delaware has launched an online application portal at de.gov/coronavirus to recruit those with health care and early education credentials to fill critical in our health care and emergency child care workforce.
If you are looking for ways to support Delaware’s response – and specifically if you have expertise in areas of medicine, public health, and/or behavioral health – please apply through the online workforce portal.
Applications will be reviewed by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and shared with institutions in need across Delaware. Anyone who is licensed or certified to work in child care or education is also encouraged to submit their information for potential temporary employment by emergency child care sites.
The community call-to-action also reminds Delawareans that donations of cleaning supplies and other items for emergency child care sites are urgently needed.
Critical needs include:
- Hand sanitizer
- Sanitizing Wipes
- Nitrile Gloves
- Tyvek Suits
- N95 Masks
- Face shields and/or eye protection
- Impermeable gowns
