June 12, 2020 City Of Fremont Update In Response To Coronavirus

Press release from the City of Fremont:

June 12, 2020

Today’s City of Fremont update highlights food resources available for those in need, the Fremont Family Resource Center Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and 880 Express Lane Project information from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Food Resources Available

For those in need of food in our community, there are several options available to you. Check out this list of organizations in the area that can help you get the food you and your family need during this difficult time.

Also, on Saturday, June 13 from 9:00 am to 1:00, CityServe’s Compassion Network and Harbor Light Church will distribute up to 1,900 boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need. Each box contains approximately 20 pounds of fresh produce provided by the USDA Farmers to Families program. An extra box can be taken for someone unable to pick one up themselves.

The food box giveaway will take place at Harbor Light Church, 4760 Thornton Ave. in Fremont.

Fremont Family Resource Center Virtual VITA Program

The Fremont Family Resource Center (FRC) has reopened its VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program to help customers whose annual household income is $56,000 or less file their 2019 tax returns. IRS-certified tax preparers are now virtually available to assist customers through July 1, 2020.

This virtual service aims to protect the safety and well-being of City employees, volunteers and customers, and will provide the same level of quality and commitment. You may qualify for more than $6,000 in refunds from the California and Federal Earned Income Tax Credits.

All necessary forms, tax documents, IDs, and completed tax returns are transferred via secure email to ensure customer privacy. For those that do not have access to technology, forms are available via pickup at FRC or through direct mail; customers can then schedule an appointment for staff to scan and upload documents to a secure file, and pick up the tax return when it’s ready.

The VITA Program is sponsored by the IRS and United Way Bay Area. For more information, please visit the VITA website or call 510- 666-6434 to start the process.

880 Express Lane Project Update from MTC

Work crews began striping new lane configurations on Interstate 880 in Alameda County as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Caltrans gear up for the fall opening of new Express Lanes between Oakland and the Santa Clara County line. The five-week project will result in significant changes for drivers in the I-880 corridor. These will include the addition of double white lines (which cannot be lawfully crossed) in several segments, dashed lines in others, and the creation of new merge lanes in select locations.

Visit the MTC website for more information.

Stay Informed

For more information on essential services and updates on how the City of Fremont is monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), visit our Coronavirus webpage. General updates will be made to the City’s social media accounts on Facebook, Nextdoor, Nixle, and Twitter; follow our channels.

This press release was produced by the City of Fremont. The views expressed here are the author’s own.