Updated 4/10/2020
During this time, we want to be able to provide you with a resource guide of what services around the area have released during this pandemic time to help give you the most up to date information.
Lower Sioux Health Care Center:
As of 3/23/2020 Well-Child Checks and non-emergent surgeries/procedures are on hold for 90 days.
Pharmacy is open. Curbside only. If Pharmacy does not answer, please leave a detailed message. Due to high call volume this will allow for them to answer patients in a timely manner.
Pharmacy Hours 8:30am-4:30pm (M-F)
Optical Department is currently closed. Dental Office is closed.
Medical Appointments available from 9am-Noon (M-Thursday)
Phones Available from 8:30am-4:30pm (M-F)
COVID-19 Symptoms:
*Fever
*Cough
*Shortness of Breath
If you are experiencing these symptoms, do NOT go to your doctor’s office or the government center. Please contact the Lower Sioux Health Care Center at 507-697-8600 for direction. If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911.
Carris Health CentraCare Redwood Falls
We know these are times of uncertainty, but your health and safety are most important to us. If you need to seek care for yourself or a member of your family please consider the following options:
- Carris Health-Redwood Nurse Line- 507-637-1730,
M-F 8:00am-5:00pm
- Carris Health- Willmar Nurse Line- 320-441-5361, M-F 7:00am-7:00pm Sat, and Sun 8:00am-12:00pm
- Call CentraCare Connect at 320-200-3200 to speak with a nurse, 24/7.
- To ensure that patients with chronic conditions get the care they need during the COVID-19 Outbreak, CentraCare is now offering video visits.
Urgent Care- 8-5 Screened at door
Clinic and Optical still open.
No Western Mental Health in-person appointments at this time.
Redwood Falls WIC Office:
All appointments will be held over the phone until further notice.
If you are unable to find WIC formula you can call the office at 507-637-4040. Other food items are not be allowed to be carried over due to the shortage in the stores.
If you are unable to purchase items on your benefits, these items will not carry over to the following month.
Redwood Falls SNAP office: As of 3/23/2020
Snap appointments are now being conducted over the phone.
Choices Pregnancy Center:
Offering emergency diapers, wipes, and formula, and other baby supplies as emergency help. Resources Limited.
Our doors are still open to those with critical pregnancy/baby needs. We can provide diapers, wipes, and formula to families facing emergency needs, with our current clients receiving priority. We encourage you to contact us from home with questions or concerns (text 507-589-4272 OR call 507-637-2534) or to continue Earn While You Learn lessons by streaming. You can always reach a real person 24/7 by phone, even outside our office hours. To learn more about our response to the COVID 19 crisis, read our latest blog: https://www.choicespregnancycenter.com/calm-response-to-the-coronavirus-crisis/
Even if you’re stuck at home, you can still Earn While You Learn at Choices Pregnancy Center. Just call or text us for a link to your next Bright Course lesson. Then watch by smartphone or other device. Check out this short video for a sneak peek: http://bcolink.org/A9eKt82T57i
All lessons are online lessons at this time. 10-4 (M-Thursday)
Choices Pregnancy Center Office: 507-637-2534
Food bank:
WE Care in Morgan, MN open Tuesdays and Thursday 8:30am-11:30am.
If you are unable to make it there during those times, then they will take appointments. Call 507-249-3822
They ask that if your call does not get answered, then to leave a message. They will get back to you with an appointment time. Make sure that you are calling before showing up to the Food Bank.
Excel Energy:
Will not disconnect service to any residential customers until further notice. If you are having difficulties paying your bills, contact and they will arrange a payment plan that works for you.
1-800-895-4999
Redwood Falls Public Utilities:
As of 3/23/2020 cold weather rule is enforced until end of May 2020. Your bill will need to be paid in full by May 26th, 2020. You will need to fill out an application and it is income based.
Application will need to be filled out by April 15, 2020. This can either be picked up or filled out online. With this assistance they are asking for the full bill to be paid by May 26th, 2020.
Call by April 10th to let them know if you have been laid off to make arrangements.
More information online at: https://ci.redwood-falls.mn.us/city-departments/public-utilities/public-utilities-billing-faqs/cold-weather-protection/
Office: 507-616-7400
Great Plains Natural Gas Co:
Great Plains is implementing a suspension on service disconnections for non-payments related to hardships incurred from Covid-19.
Assistance Program Application: https://www.gpng.com/customer-service/low-income-assistance-programs/
Open M-F 8:00am-5:00pm
Phone Line: 1-877-267-4764
Mediacom:
No overage charges related to unexpected increase in data usage until May 15th. Must call to let them know.
Xtream WIFI Free for Everyone. Providing complimentary access to all mediacom Xtream wifi hotspots where they are available.
Low income families could sign up for free WIFI, Must sign up before May 15th.
Telephone Line for Active Customers: 1-855-633-4226
Century Link:
The next 60 days (through mid-May), we’ve committed to waive late fees and to not terminate a residential or smalls business customer’s service due to financial circumstances associated with COVID-19. We are also suspending data usage limits for consumer customers during this time period due to COVID-19.
Verizon Wireless:
Verizon waives late fees for those impacted by COVID-19. Verizon is experiencing difficulties due to high call volume with so many people working from home. They are working to resolve this but it will be an ongoing issue during peak call hours. If you get an all circuits are busy message when calling someone this is likely the reason why, keep trying and it will go through eventually.
When a Verizon customer is experiencing hardships because of COVID-19, Verizon will waive late fees for 60 days from March 16, 2020 to May 13, 2020, and will not terminate service to a customer who’s been impacted by the events involving the Coronavirus. If our customers are experiencing a hardship, they should call our customer service team to discuss their situation and available options. Customer support contact numbers, an online chat feature and support content can be found on the following pages:
Wireless: https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/
Business: https://www.verizon.com/business/gateway/
In Home: https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/home
Verizon will offer free international calling to countries identified by the Center for Disease Control as level 3 impacted by the coronavirus effective 3/18 through the end of April. This is available to wireless postpaid consumer and small/medium business customers, and landline home phone customers. Unlimited calling will be included for mobile and landline calls, with the exception of Iran, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia provided 300 minutes of free calls per month. Effective 3/19, wireless prepaid customers will also receive a total of 300 additional minutes to call level 3 countries.
Verizon will also waive activation fees on new lines of service and upgrade fees starting March 18. This applies to all purchases and service-only activations made through Verizon digital channels, such as verizonwireless.com and the My Verizon app.
Through April 30, Verizon will offer unlimited domestic calling to customers on limited-minute plans. Eligible customers will receive a text message to inform them of the offer. No action is necessary; the offer will automatically be added to eligible accounts. [Updated on 03/20/2020]
Arvig:
Offering an Education Assistance Program for families with a student in K-12 system or for college students, to receive free internet services so their education can continue via e-learning methodologies in the event schools remain closed as a result COVID-19.
The Arvig Education Assistance Program:
- Is available to families who live in the Arvig service area and currently do not have any internet service at their residence.
- Provides any internet speed available free-of-charge, including wi-fi services if needed.
- Ensures service will remain free until the 2019-20 school year concludes unless the customer calls to disconnect their services and returns the equipment.
- Will prioritize service installations for customers considered low-income who qualify for this program.
- Is available where Arvig can deliver 5 Mbps of speed or higher.
To qualify for free services, the participant must be a new customer, have no bad debt with Arvig and sign up for paperless statements.
Those interested in learning more can contact the Arvig Customer Care team at arvig.com or call 888-992-7844 and ask about the Arvig Education Assistance Program.
Unemployment Benefits:
Governor Walz’s executive order waives the non-payable or “waiting” week to ensure applicants have access to unemployment benefits as quickly as possible.
Start the online application
uimn.org/applicants
Apply Online for Unemployment Benefits
It’s faster – and it helps everyone!
If you find yourself needing to apply for unemployment benefits, know that we’re doing everything we can to ensure a quick, smooth process. But you can speed up that process – and help your fellow Minnesotans – by following these steps:
1. Apply online at www.uimn.org. Our award-winning system is designed to be self-service. Just answer the questions as best you can and hit submit.
2. Find answers to your questions without calling. Start by clicking on the word “Applicants” in the upper left corner of the Unemployment Insurance website – and select from the menu options: What do I need to know? How do I apply? How do I get paid? What affects my benefits? These are designed to answer the questions most people have.
If you call, you may have a long wait – and you will be tying up our phone lines. We’re trying to free up those lines to help people who do not have any online access and to help those who need translators in order to apply for benefits.
3. Get help from others you know. If you’re not comfortable filling out forms online, maybe you have a smart niece or nephew who can help walk you through it. You’re not alone. Nearly 1 million Minnesotans have used our online Unemployment Insurance application in the past 10 years; most of us have family, friends, and neighbors who are familiar with the application process.
One Minnesota means we help one another – and we know when to ask each other for help. We’re asking you to help us better serve Minnesotans in this crisis by applying online for unemployment benefits.
Have more questions about whether you qualify for Unemployment Insurance, how to apply and what the process is? Please visit the UI Need to Know page.
The last number of your social security number determines what day of the week you can call to apply.
Monday-0, 1, 2 Tuesday-3,4,5 Wednesday-6, 7, 8, 9 Thursday & Friday-any number can call
United Community Action Partnership
In an effort to contribute to the containment of the COVID-19 (Corona) Virus, until further notice, United Community Action Partnership, Inc. offices will be limiting direct client contact.
If you need to speak with a staff person via telephone or are experiencing a CRISIS, please call (507) 537-1416 or (320) 235-0850 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to make arrangements to meet with an intake person. If the staff person is not available at the time you call, please leave your name and contact information, and they will return your call.
Situations considered a crisis include:
Homelessness
Facing Eviction
Utility Shut-off Notice
Unsafe or Inoperable Furnaces
Transportation dispatchers are taking ride information at:
507-537-7628 – Lyon, Lincoln & Redwood counties
507-847-2632 – Jackson, Cottonwood & Murray counties
507-825-1180 – Pipestone County
507-283-5058 – Rock County
Weekend dial-a-ride service is suspended until further notice. Volunteer drivers will only be scheduled for people going to dialysis or cancer treatments. The latest updates about Community Transit can be found at www.communitytransitswmn.org.
Energy Assistance Program (EAP): Lower Sioux Community Members should wait until April or May to sign up for Energy Assistance. This will allow for the correct income to be reflected in statements provided to UCAP.
Mental Health
For mental health and coping assistance, call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.