Share COVID-19 Community Resources on FacebookShare COVID-19 Community Resources on TwitterShare COVID-19 Community Resources on LinkedinEmail COVID-19 Community Resources link
This page has been archived.
This page is dedicated to the many resources available to the Mercer Island Community.
This page is dedicated to the many resources available to the Mercer Island Community.
Share Reopening on Mercer Island on FacebookShare Reopening on Mercer Island on TwitterShare Reopening on Mercer Island on LinkedinEmail Reopening on Mercer Island link
As shops and services reopen in the coming weeks, don’t forget to support your local Mercer Island businesses!
Whether you need to fill up the tank, go for that long-awaited haircut, buy a gift for your grad, or pick up a few grilling tools for your summer BBQ, shop local and help your Island businesses recover.
Not sure where to start? Browse the Mercer Island Business Guide, which includes hours of operation, websites, delivery information, and more for more than 250 Island businesses.
Many thanks to Jim Eanes, Lisa Sharples & Fexy Media, and the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce for compiling this free digital resource.
Share Financial Assistance Programs on FacebookShare Financial Assistance Programs on TwitterShare Financial Assistance Programs on LinkedinEmail Financial Assistance Programs link
There are a number of financial assistance programs to help Islanders navigate these challenging times.
This page serves as a clearinghouse for the information we’ve collected on various financial assistance programs. If we’ve missed something, please let us know using the comments section below.
Share At-Home Workouts for Homebound Seniors on FacebookShare At-Home Workouts for Homebound Seniors on TwitterShare At-Home Workouts for Homebound Seniors on LinkedinEmail At-Home Workouts for Homebound Seniors link
Are you a Mercer Island senior looking to stay healthy during the Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order? Look no further! Ginny Pietila of Mercer Island Athletic Club developed 5 short, at-home workouts for homebound seniors!
Here is one of five videos Ginny created for Mercer Island seniors. To view the rest of the videos, see our Workout Videos section. Thank you, Ginny for sharing your talents with MI seniors!
Share Connect to Culture from your Couch on FacebookShare Connect to Culture from your Couch on TwitterShare Connect to Culture from your Couch on LinkedinEmail Connect to Culture from your Couch link
Art offers us escape, beauty, inspiration, and hope. While we are staying safe at home, it is the perfect time to also stay connected to culture. Don’t let your confinement to the couch prevent virtual visits to the arts! Erin Vivion, Mercer Island resident and Chair of the Mercer Island Arts Council, compiled this list of suggestions. Enjoy your virtual arts experiences!
Island Books can still keep your nightstand reading pile alive, offering email and online order fulfillment. Connect with the literature community on the bookstore's Instagram.
The Mercer Island Thrift Shop is still here to support your love of textile and fashion arts! Continue to curate your closet with couture, and support Mercer Island Youth and Family Services at the same time, by shopping MI Thrift Shop’s Poshmark closet.
The Mercer Island Visual Arts League encourages us to support Mercer Island Culinary Arts by providing this comprehensive Island eatery list.
The Stroum Jewish Community Center offers a variety of ways to experience at home through its Virtual SJCC Program and SJCCTV. Find updates on virtual arts & culture programs on the Arts+Ideas webpage.
Youth Theatre Northwest is offering online classes! Sessions are suitable for ages PK – Adult. Click here to check out their offerings. Also check out Mimi Katano’s Intro to Physical Comedy YouTube video.
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Price Suddarth shares a message about isolation and an interactive VR ballet piece here.
You can also stay connected to PNB and find at-home workouts from PNB dancers at PNB’s Instagram page.
A comprehensive list of PNB dancers on Instagram is available by clicking here.
PNB has compiled story ballet craft ideas on its Pinterest page.
Pacific Science Center offers Curiosity at Home, featuring streaming live science shows, hands-on STEM activities, tutorials, interviews, and more.
Quarantine Sessions offers online concerts by local artists here.
Sam Picart, Seattle based hip-hop artist, offers high energy Facebook Live classes and dance parties. Follow him here.
Seattle Art Museum implores you to Stay at Home With SAM! Find videos like this time lapse video of Do Ho Suh's Some/One (see right) and other resources to keep connected with the collection on the SAMBlog.
Seattle Opera has set up an Opera at Home site offering video playlists of past favorites, family-friendly Opera Time sessions, podcasts, streaming Opera Talks, and more.
Seattle Repertory Theatre offers behind the scene content, interviews, videos, and more here.
Seattle Symphony is sharing performances via free broadcasts. More info here.
Seattle Theatre Group will begin hosting virtual Dance For Parkinson’s classes for people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. Please continue to check for more info coming soon.
Silver Kite Community Arts partnered with Seattle Public Library and King County Library System to offer free registration to their online arts workshops through the end of May. Register via the KCLS website.
Our sincere thanks to Erin Vivion, Mercer Island Resident and Chair of the Mercer Island Arts Council,for putting together this comprehensive list of virtual arts resources!
Share Emergency Assistance on FacebookShare Emergency Assistance on TwitterShare Emergency Assistance on LinkedinEmail Emergency Assistance link
UPDATED April 10
The Emergency Assistance Program at MIYFS serves Mercer Island residents experiencing financial challenges. Resources include case management and financial assistance with basic needs such as food, rent, and utilities.
Please reach out to the MIYFS Emergency Assistance Coordinator, Cheryl Manriquez, cheryl.manriquez@mercergov.org, if you are in need of assistance accessing financial resources. Click on the following for additional information about:
King County has also compiled resources and information about food access programs and services to help support King County residents during this difficult time.
Rental Assistance
United Way has announce an expanded program of rental assistance beginning on Friday April 10, 2020. Thanks to generous donations to the Community Relief Fund and a variety of community partners, one month of rental assistance is being offered to people in King County struggling to pay rent due to the coronavirus.
Listed below are the requirements to qualify and a link to the application. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible
If you’re a King County resident who has been impacted financially by COVID-19 and are behind on your rent, you may qualify for assistance.
You may apply for this assistance if you:
Live in King County, WA
Are behind in rent
Are economically impacted by COVID-19
Have a current monthly household income that is below these amounts (50% of Area Median Income):
1 Person: up to $3,483
2 Persons: up to $3,983
3 Persons: up to $4,479
4 Persons: up to $4,975
5 Persons: up to $5,375
6 Persons: up to $5,775
If you meet these requirements, please fill out the online application at www.uwkc.org/renthelp or call 2-1-1.
Regionally, 2-1-1 is a resource available to the Mercer Island community.
Share Forever Young, and Also Over 60 on FacebookShare Forever Young, and Also Over 60 on TwitterShare Forever Young, and Also Over 60 on LinkedinEmail Forever Young, and Also Over 60 link
Published by the Washington State Department of Health on April 13
In Washington, 92 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 have occurred in people age 60 and over. People of any age can get COVID-19. In fact, 65 percent of the people who have tested positive in Washington are younger than 60. Most cases are mild, but, people age 60 and older are at higher risk of getting very sick or dying if they get COVID-19.
If you are age 60 or older, it is very important that you stay home and take care of yourself. Follow these steps to stay as healthy as possible.
Take care of your body
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Eat nourishing foods, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. These things protect your immune system.
Make time to unwind
Try to do some other activities you enjoy. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories and social media about COVID-19. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Connect with others
Stay connected. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. If you don’t know your neighbors or have someone who can pick up supplies for you, connect to your community by joining your local Nextdoor group.
Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, thermometer, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
Stay in touch with others by phone or email
You may need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, and community health workers if you get sick.
Stay home
Consider ways of getting medications and food brought to your house through family, friends, online shopping, mail-order, or delivery services.
Do you have more questions?
Gov. Inslee and Secretary of Health John Wiesman have started a question and answer mini-series for seniors to answer questions about how to stay healthy and maintain connection with loved ones. New episodes will air Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. If you would like to submit a question for future programs, email aarpwa@aarp.org. Please include “Spread the Facts” in the subject line. If you submit a short video of your question, you might appear on air as part of the program!
Practice compassion
If someone you love is over age 60, see if you can help them stay home by running important errands to pick up medications, groceries, or other supplies for them.
More information
Stay tuned to our blog for more information on how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.
Information in this blog changes rapidly. Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.
Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact our call center at 1–800–525–0127. Hours: 6 am-10 pm, seven days a week.
Share Ways to Help: Donate Blood on FacebookShare Ways to Help: Donate Blood on TwitterShare Ways to Help: Donate Blood on LinkedinEmail Ways to Help: Donate Blood link
There is a desperate need for blood donations.
Considered an essential service, Bloodworks Northwest and the Red Cross continue to schedule donation appointments.
Donation appointments are scheduled several weeks out. To help maintain donor safety, appointments are spread out to ensure social distancing guidelines are met and that staff have time to sanitize between appointments. For more information about what Bloodworks Northwest and the Red Cross are doing to ensure donor safety, visit their coronavirus information pages linked below.
It’s important for donors to make future appointments throughout the month of April and May to ensure blood supplies are replenished and stabilized.
Availability of Donation Appointments: With thousands of blood drives cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working hard to open new donation sites. If you don’t see available appointments near you in the near future, please search 14 days out or beyond. The need for blood is constant - patients need your help.
Share Ways to Help: Donate Gift Cards to the MI Food Pantry on FacebookShare Ways to Help: Donate Gift Cards to the MI Food Pantry on TwitterShare Ways to Help: Donate Gift Cards to the MI Food Pantry on LinkedinEmail Ways to Help: Donate Gift Cards to the MI Food Pantry link
To help ensure safe hygiene practices, the Mercer Island Food Panty has moved from food donations to grocery gift card donations.
Please consider donating a gift card to the Mercer Island Food Pantry. Gift cards to local stores including New Seasons or QFC, in $25 or $50 denominations, would be greatly appreciated!
Please drop-off your gift card donation at the City Hall Parking Lot Drop Box (9611 SE 36th St; pictured below) or mail to:
Share Ways to Help: Spend Like It Matters. Shop Local. on FacebookShare Ways to Help: Spend Like It Matters. Shop Local. on TwitterShare Ways to Help: Spend Like It Matters. Shop Local. on LinkedinEmail Ways to Help: Spend Like It Matters. Shop Local. link
Mercer Island’s local businesses and nonprofit organizations are part of the heart and soul of this community. And right now they need your help! Every dollar you spend on the Island is an investment back into your community.
While you’re staying home and staying healthy, consider these ways to support your favorite Island businesses from afar.
Be patient and kind – Businesses are operating at reduced capacity and staffing; everyone is doing their best.
Order out – Many local restaurants offer take-out or delivery services. Avoid a trip to the grocery store and give yourself a break by ordering by ordering a meal to bring home.
Buy gift cards or prepay for services – Stock up on gift cards for future use, and contact your stylist, dentist, trainer, or other service providers to book a future appointment.
Shop online or by phone – Visit websites and Facebook pages to learn which businesses offer ordering from afar. Many businesses will deliver to your door.
Take a virtual fitness class – Many gyms and fitness studios have moved classes online to keep you fit and active at home.
Don’t forget your local nonprofits – The Island’s arts, culture, community service, and other organizations lift the community up and meet vital needs, too. Consider donating to support them.
Shout out businesses on social media – Tell your friends and family about your favorite Island shop or restaurant. Don’t forget to tag businesses for that extra boost!
If you need to leave home for essentials,Shop Local– Need to fill up the tank or fill up your pantry? Stay on the Island to support essential businesses like gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
Offer thanks – When you go out for what you (truly) need, thank the employees who are hard at work. A simple thank you makes a huge difference.
There are a number of financial assistance programs to help Islanders navigate these challenging times.
