To help provide a sense of direction and support for Bradford citizens during the coronavirus epidemic, a group of individuals and representatives from local organizations met again on Monday evening via video conferencing to discuss their next steps of action. The volunteers are members of the private Facebook group devoted to helping Bradford in this time of need.

During the meeting, the group discussed utilizing Destinations Bradford as a “central hub” for providing information to the public on resources.

“We can direct people to other agencies, if we’re not able to service them right through Destinations,” noted Joy Jeffrey, Destinations office assistant.

In addition, she said the building is available to store donated items, such as food, cleaning supplies, toiletries and even pet supplies.

Destinations’ hours of operation are currently 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, though the group plans on setting up a hotline community members can call 24/7 to find services or supplies in times of emergency. In addition, they were looking to staff the facility with volunteers on the weekend to help hand out supplies.

Further coordination of this project will take place during a meeting this morning. Information on hours and the hotline will be distributed around town once specifics are determined.

David Livingston, executive director of Destinations, noted the agency also has a fuel assistance program, which can provide gas money to individuals who need to get to a medical appointment, as well as a pharmaceutical assistance program, which can provide financial assistance for prescriptions once per calendar year.

Ron Orris from the Friendship Table said the facility currently has more than enough food and does not need food donations. When asked if they anticipated a larger number of people in the upcoming weeks, he responded that they’ve already anticipated the increase and are well prepared.

“There are some months where we did probably triple what we did today, so we’re well prepared,” noted Orris. “For the month of January, we did 3,000 meals. For this month, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if we got 4,000, but we can handle that.”

Orris said while the dining room is closed until further notice, the Friendship Table will be providing take-out meals Monday through Friday. Breakfast sandwiches will be handed out from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. and dinner will be handed out from 3 until 5 p.m.

Vanessa Castano, executive director of YWCA Bradford, said staff are currently working on making care bags filled with bars of soap, hand soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes to be handed out to anyone who needs them. They will be handed out at the YWCA food pantry and will be available in the vestibule.

The YWCA will also maintain the food pantry. Castano noted the pantry currently has enough food, though if that changes, they will reach out to the community. Food pantry hours of operation are Wednesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

“We’ve heard from the Department of Agriculture and we’re not requiring people to fill out a form,” Castano said. “If they are not already on our list, we will ask them things such as their income and household size.”

In addition, Castano said all agency services are being maintained until notified otherwise by the governor, though they have implemented a no-visitor policy.

Those who would like to donate non-food items, such as hand sanitizer, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc., can ring the bell between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donors do not need to come into the building and can leave donations in the vestibule and fill out the donation form. There will also be directions when donors come to the front door.

The local blessing boxes were also mentioned during the meeting as a source of providing supplies to the needy during this time.

The group is urging people to stock blessing boxes with non-perishable food items, toiletries and cleaning supplies when able to do so.

Locations of blessing boxes mentioned were by the Episcopal Church of Ascension, Williams Agency on Main Street, next to CJ Wallace on Boylston Street, as well as several in Lewis Run. For more information on blessing boxes, and to find other locations, visit the “Blessing Boxes of Bradford” Facebook page.