Coronavirus Cheshire: Officials Update Residents On Town Services

CHESHIRE, CT — In the ongoing effort to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, officials are advising Cheshire residents to limit public interaction and exposure. Director of Human Services Michelle Piccerillo and Town Manager Sean M. Kimball wrote the following joint message to the Cheshire community:

Many of you have reached out seeking opportunities to help and volunteer as our community responds to this public health crisis. As a Town Human Services Department we are truly inspired by the kindness, generosity, and selflessness of the residents of this community. At this time, following the guidance of our local and state health officials and given the unique nature of this crisis, the best way for our community members to help is to make sure that they limit public interaction and exposure. If you are concerned for a friend, neighbor, or family member please contact Cheshire Human Services at (203) 271-6690 so that we can connect this person or persons with assistance. As this crisis unfolds over the next few weeks we may find ourselves in need of volunteers to help with the community response. If you would like to be included in that effort please contact the Cheshire Human Services Department as we will be assembling a list of volunteers.

For those of you who remain concerned, we would like to inform you of our current efforts to ensure the safety and well-being Cheshire residents, in particular our vulnerable population:

Despite facility closings to the public and the suspension of transportation services, Town staff, including our Senior Center bus drivers, will be reporting to work for their regularly scheduled workdays. Should anyone need assistance please contact the Cheshire Human Services Department during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, at (203) 271-6690 (8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.) or the Cheshire Senior Center at (203) 272-8286 (8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.). Should you call after hours, please leave a voicemail message as we will be monitoring voicemails regularly.

Our Senior Center bus drivers will be available for those individuals who are in urgent need of food or medications. These calls should be directed to the Senior Center so that we can make arrangements for pick-up and delivery of these items. Our Senior Center and Social Services staff will be diligent in reaching out to our regularly maintained list of individuals on our telephone reassurance program and additional individuals who have been identified as vulnerable to ensure their safety. If we identify anyone through this process who is ill we will provide them with guidance and assistance to connect with their medical provider.

For those families in this community who receive free and reduced school lunch, we understand that the school closing might cause additional hardship. The Food and Nutrition Services program will be donating large amounts of food to the Cheshire Community Food Pantry. If a family that participates in the free and reduced school lunch program is experiencing hardship as a result of the school closure please contact Cheshire Human Services at 203-271-6690, and we will connect you with the Cheshire Community Food Pantry.

In addition, for those who receive counseling support through our Youth Services Division or need an appointment with the Town Social Worker or the Crisis Intervention Worker, we will be offering these individuals the opportunity to stay connected through teleconferencing and video sessions.

Please monitor the Human Services Department section of the Town’s website, www.cheshirect.org, and the Cheshire Youth Services/Yellow House and Senior Services Facebook pages for updated information and possible online program offerings.

As you are aware, this situation is changing daily and is requiring our response to change regularly as well and there may be a need for volunteers in the coming weeks and a safe way for us to organize a volunteer effort. So please contact Human Services if you would like to help. In the meantime, be particularly aware of your friends and neighbors and contact us should you believe someone is in need of assistance.

Thank you,

Michelle Piccerillo, LMFT, Director of Human Services

Sean M. Kimball, Town Manger

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