Baby Cafe To Remain Closed

The Blackwell Chapel Baby Cafe will remain closed until further notice due to COVID-19. “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for their support in supplying the Baby Cafe a $2,000 grant to help the cafe continue with their mission to help protect, promote and support breastfeeding mothers and families,” the church said. “We applaud the commitment the foundation has to support efforts to improve life in this community. The cafe will reopen when possible.”

Senator Wants Delivery Fees Eliminated

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, is calling on Amazon and Walmart to eliminate delivery fees and minimum order requirements for customers using SNAP benefits. As more New Yorkers have turned to grocery delivery services amidst the coronavirus pandemic, additional costs – such as fees and minimum order requirements – have placed additional financial strain on food insecure families. The inability to afford these delivery services forces people to shop in person and potentially expose themselves to the coronavirus. In a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Gillibrand joined her Senate colleagues to urge Walmart and Amazon to remove undue financial burden for SNAP recipients, so all Americans can afford groceries and receive them safely. “The SNAP program provides a critical lifeline for food insecure families, and while Walmart and Amazon have taken the first step in allowing families who rely on SNAP to use their grocery delivery services, it’s crucial that they remove additional financial barriers,” Gillibrand said. “No one should have to worry about affording to feed their families or have to risk their health to get groceries. Eliminating additional costs will make these important delivery services more widely accessible so that seniors and vulnerable New Yorkers can safely keep food on the table throughout this pandemic.”

April Commission Meeting Canceled

The April meeting of the Jamestown Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission has been canceled due to the current public health state of emergency. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday May 20.

Free Resource For Teens Is Being Released

Junior Achievement of Western New York is releasing a free resource for teens titled “Making Sense: Understanding the Financial Impact of COVID-19.” The guide is designed to answer teens’ questions about the economic implications of COVID-19, including “Why are some store shelves empty?”, “Why are some people losing their jobs?” and “Are we going into a recession, or even a depression?” The guide is available at JA.org/MakingSense. The guide is written with middle school and high school students in mind. It uses relatable examples to explain what a recession is, how the Federal Reserve works and steps being taken by government and the private sector to deal with the economic impact associated with COVID-19. Additionally, to support teachers and parents who may have students finishing school online this semester, Junior Achievement is also offering free kindergarten through 12th grade resources that are available at JA.org/Tomorrows.