Who could have imagined the struggles that all of us would encounter from this unprecedented global pandemic? Not only has it brought our state and country great economic stress, but it also has changed how healthcare services will be delivered forevermore.
Early in the crisis, IHA’s healthcare providers and staff took multiple steps to help our community respond to the pandemic. Within a matter of days, our medical group opened drive-thru testing sites, implemented a free on-line COVID screening tool, and designated locations where patients with fevers and upper respiratory symptoms could be treated. Additionally, we rolled-out video appointments for all our patients and began piloting home care visits for our most vulnerable patients.
These are complicated times with rapidly changing standards, which is why IHA has been providing regular updates to our staff and providers, as well as our patients. In a matter of weeks, IHA has addressed the most significant and complex changes to face healthcare in our lifetime, but we are not done. We are moving toward what many are calling the “new normal.”
Staying safe in the “new normal”. Video appointments continue to be our primary method used to treat patients. Since launching this service just a few weeks ago, we have completed nearly 25,000 video appointments. The decline in new COVID cases is enabling IHA to reconnect in-person with patients whose appointments, surgeries or outpatient procedures were cancelled. Over the next two weeks, our physicians and practitioners will slowly increase the number of in-person appointments they offer and surgeries they perform. As we reopen more offces, we want to assure you that we are committed to being both responsive and responsible, navigating these unusual times with everyone’s safety in mind.
Numerous safeguards and quality measures are in place across IHA to care for COVID and Non-COVID patients. These include our use of telehealth visits which are actively being embraced by our patients and our providers alike.
IHA is following CDC guidelines and has put additional cleaning and screening processes in place to keep anyone entering an IHA building safe. These processes include requiring all staff and patients to wear masks and having their temperature checked before entering a practice. Along with maintaining appropriate social distancing, items such as hand sanitizer and tissues will be prominent in every location.
Saving lives, improving quality of life.
Our difficult journey is not over, but we must look to the future. Children need to maintain their immunization schedules, older adults or those with complex medical issues need their health and medications regularly monitored, and further delaying surgeries or exploratory procedures may cause serious harm or lead to other health problems. The steps we are following to reopen are being implemented with extreme care and will be constantly evaluated. As a member of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, we are working together on safety and security protocols. We have developed COVID-Free Zones, areas where we provide care only for people not known to have COVID-19 or COVID symptoms. We wish to assure the community that our healthcare delivery system is working closer than ever to keep your health and wellness at the center of everything.
Over the past two months, no one industry has learned more than healthcare about the need to change and adapt quickly in order to care for those we serve. Our lives have drastically changed but fulfilling IHA’s mission of healing will remain with us forever. Please know that we stand ready to care for you. IHA’s motto “our family caring for yours” has never meant more to us than it does today.
We encourage you to call your provider’s office or visit ihacares.com today to learn about the many ways we can connect and safely provide the care that you need. IHA is here for you.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Even the most laid back, easy-going people feel stressed sometimes. And considering our current situation, a pandemic and all, stress pretty much goes with the territory. Luckily, the CDC has some important reminders to help manage stress and support yourself.
Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to the
news.
The news is everywhere, it’s so hard to escape. If your
stress levels are up, then an escape may be just what you need. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be
upsetting.
Take care of your body.
When you feel like stress is taking over, take deep breaths,
stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise
regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.
Make time to unwind.
Make a list of the things you enjoy most. What can you do
right now? What can you plan to do in the future, to help give you something to
look forward to? If you’re a person that creates a daily schedule, include some
time to do what makes you happy. You may also try setting an alarm or reminder
on your digital calendar to stop and take a few minutes for yourself.
Connect with Others.
Consider who you trust in your life. Who do you think would
best understand your current concerns? Seek out people in your life that can
help you navigate stressful feelings and lighten your load. With social
distancing rules currently in place, you may need to be creative in how you
connect with others, phone and video calls work great!
Know when it’s time to seek medical care.
If your stress is keeping you from your daily activities or social interactions, reach out to your healthcare provider. They will be able to help you find a solution and get you feeling like yourself again!
In the last few weeks, the
immune system has been brought into the spotlight. When functioning properly,
the immune system identifies a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria
and parasites, and distinguishes them from the body’s own healthy tissue,
according to Merck Manuals. A healthy immune system could be the difference between
getting sick and staying healthy. Read on for tips on strengthening your immune
system focusing on Lifestyle Medicine. Increasing your body’s immune response is
not a guarantee against infection, but it’s a good start.
Mind Your
Stress
Pause. Take a few seconds to consider your breathing, listen
to a favorite song, or watch a funny video. The stress hormone, cortisol, suppresses
immune response. Being mindful, even in small doses, reduces stress and as a
result, cortisol production.
No
Smoking
Avoid smoking, vaping, or inhaling any substance,
which can be toxic to the lungs.
Healthy Eating
What you eat makes all the difference! For strong immunity, consume a wide array of fiber-filled, nutrient-dense, and antioxidant-rich whole plant foods at every meal. Choose a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, eat your beans, consume whole grains, and use a variety of herbs and spices to enhance flavors. Stay hydrated with water!
Purchasing fruit and veggies is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Commit to the piece of produce you choose. Try not to manipulate the produce items by touching them and placing them back.
Wash your hands with clean water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds after returning from the grocery store. Hand sanitizer for 60 seconds can also be used.
Produce items should always be washed thoroughly with cold water prior consumption.
Quality Sleep
Aim to sleep for 7 to 9
hours. Develop a routine: Set an alarm for when to go to sleep and when to wake
up. Make sure your room is cool, dark, quiet, and comfortable. Avoid screens at
least 90 minutes before bedtime. Practice a “wind down” ritual, like listening
to soft music, writing in a journal, or reading a book.
Activity
Regular, moderate
physical activity is vital to keeping the immune system strong! While Physical
Activity Guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week, as little as
20 minutes can suppress inflammation and support immunity.
Connectivity
Physical distancing is essential when contagious disease risks are high, but not at the expense of being isolated or lonely. Connect with friends and family via FaceTime, Zoom sessions, texting, and phone calls. Positive
emotions, which are shown to improve immunity, arise from even brief, virtual
social connections.
What is Lifetstyle
Medicine? Lifestyle Medicine is the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic
approaches, such as a whole food, plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular
physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky
substances and positive social connection as a primary therapeutic modality for
treatment and reversal of chronic disease.
It’s
that time of the year – trees and gardens “wake up” from hibernation with
beautiful blooms and scents filling the air. They also bring runny noses, itchy
eyes, and scratchy throats. It is allergy season. Allergies can (and do) happen
all year, but for many people, when spring starts and trees and grass grow they
start feeling allergy symptoms.
Common
environmental allergies can be due to dust mites, animals, pollen, grass and
trees, just to name a few. Each of these allergies can happen more often in
different times of the year. Grass and trees are often bothersome to people in
spring, whereas pollens are in the late summer. Dust mite allergies can be
found all year round.
When symptoms are bad, many people turn to medications for help. There are some things you can try prior to using medications. For example, for dust mite allergies you can try using dust mite covers on your pillow and bed. Staying in air conditioning may help symptoms when the pollen count is high. You can also flush out the allergens by using a netti pot (follow safe-use guidelines) or saline eye drops.
If
you’re ready for medications, decongestants and antihistamines can be the most
helpful to allergy sufferers. Decongestants help relieve nasal congestion
symptoms once they have started. Antihistamines block the histamine reaction
and help prevent symptoms from happening. They often must be taken several days
to weeks prior to exposure to the allergens. Nasal steroids can also help
decrease nasal congestion symptoms and work right at the source of the congestion.
For itchy, water eyes, try allergy eye drops.
If
you are having allergy symptoms that are not improving with over the counter
medications, it is time to see your primary care doctor to discuss next steps.
There may be another reason for your symptoms or other medication or treatments
to consider. Allergy testing may also be needed to figure out what specifically
you are allergic to so that you can avoid the allergen.
This
article was originally published on March 20, 2015, and was updated on April 16,
2020.
Recommended precautions for household members, intimate partners, and caregivers of COVID-19 patients
Close contacts of COVID-19 patients should follow these recommendations: • Make sure that you understand and can help the patient follow their healthcare provider’s instructions for medication(s) and care. You should help the patient with basic needs in the home and provide support for getting groceries, prescriptions, and otherpersonal needs. • Monitor the patient’s symptoms. If the patient is getting sicker, call his or her healthcare provider and tell them that the patient has laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected. Ask the healthcare provider to call the local or state health department for additional guidance. If the patient has a medical emergency and you need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that the patient has, or is being evaluated for COVID-19. • Household members should stay in another room or be separated from the patient as much as possible. Household members should use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if available. • Prohibit visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home. • Household members should care for any pets in the home. Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. • Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, such as by an air conditioner or an opened window, weather permitting. • Perform hand hygiene frequently. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. • The patient should wear a facemask when you are around other people. If the patient is not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), you, as the caregiver, should wear a mask when you are in the same room as the patient. • Wear a disposable facemask and gloves when you touch or have contact with the patient’s blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine. • Throw out disposable facemasks and gloves after using them. Do not reuse. • When removing personal protective equipment, first remove and dispose of gloves. Then, immediately clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Next, remove and dispose of facemask, and immediately clean your hands again with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Avoid sharing household items with the patient. You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items. After the patient uses these items, you should wash them thoroughly (see below “Wash laundry thoroughly”). • Clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, every day. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. • Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product. • Wash laundry thoroughly. • Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. • Wear disposable gloves while handling soiled items and keep soiled items away from your body. Clean your hands (with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after removing your gloves.
• Read and follow directions on labels of laundry or clothing items and detergent. In general, using a normal laundry detergent according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly using the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label. • Place all used disposable gloves, facemasks, and other contaminated items in a lined container before disposing of them with other household waste. Clean your hands (with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after handling these items. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. • Discuss any additional questions with your state or local health department or healthcare provider. Check available hours when contacting your local health department.
If you or someone you know has symptoms of COVID-19, take our free online screening today.
This week in Michigan, school was officially cancelled for
the remainder of the year in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. For many students
an occasional snow day is a welcomed site, but trading once-in-a-lifetime
events like prom and graduation, fun with friends, concerts and performances, sports
and end of year class parties for several weeks or months of quarantine is a different
story. With the announcement this week, your child, especially teens, may be left
feeling a sense of loss. As parents, you want to support your children as they
navigate this unprecedented stage of life, but you’re also working through these
changes while trying to keep up with working from home, homeschooling and
keeping the family healthy. We’ve got you covered! Read on for some quick tips on
how to support your teen through quarantine.
It’s OK to feel angry.
High school seniors have lost out on much of what they’ve
been working for over the last 12 years, and teens in general are missing out on
high school and college rites-of-passage. Understandably, they may be feeling angry,
sad, disappointed, and just plain miserable. For parents, expressing empathy for
their current situation can go a long way in helping them cope.
Say this: “I’m sorry that you’re missing out on so many
things you were looking forward to. This will end and life will get better, but
I understand that you feel miserable right now.”
It’s OK to feel happy.
On the flip side, your teen may feel a huge sense of relief with
the premature end of the school year. For some, the stress of studies, pressure
of performances, or social struggles means quarantine is actually a welcomed
change. It’s important to allow your child to feel both disappointment and
relief.
Say this: “It’s okay to feel relieved that some of the
things you were worried about are now not going to happen.”
Be ready for friction.
For teens, friendships can be as important and their
relationships with their family members. Expect that they are not going to
enjoy being forced to stay away from their friends for many weeks. Be ready for
arguments and anger as you keep them home to keep them well. This will be even
more challenging as other parents may not follow the rules and allow their children
to interact with friends outside their homes.
Say this: “I’m following the advice of medical experts
during this quarantine, and I can’t allow you to go to someone else’s home or
have someone over to ours, regardless of the choices your friend’s parents are
making.”
Give them a voice.
As you navigate a new family schedule, be respectful of the
fact that your teen has their own idea of how they would like to see their day
go. Layout your expectations for schoolwork, help with younger siblings and housework.
Ask for their input and come to an agreement together.
Say this: “I need some things from you during this quarantine,
and I know you have needs too. Let’s look at our weekly schedule together and
come up with one that works for both of us.”
Take breaks.
When you’re working from home, it can be more difficult than
ever to disconnect from work. It’s important to give your family, and
especially your children, undivided attention, sans work. Set aside time every day
where you can put your devices away and focus on family.
Say this: “At five-o’clock today, let’s head outside and
take a walk before dinner. It’s important to get our work done, but we need to
make time for time for each other. Spending time with you is one of my favorite
things to do!”
Know when your child needs help.
Despite your best efforts, your child’s response to the stress
surrounding COVID-19 may require some outside help. The IHA Pediatric Behavioral
Health team is here to support you. Call today to learn more.
Say this: “I can see you’re struggling, and I want to do
what’s best to help you. I know someone that can help.”
We’re often so busy with education and activities outside
our homes, there aren’t many opportunities to educate children inside the home.
Enter the quarantine of 2020. Never has there been a time where we were all in
our homes for weeks at a time, without any outside activities. This time
presents many opportunities for teachable moments around the house.
Laundry.
Darks and lights. What goes in the dryer, what doesn’t. Now
is the time to teach your child some basic lessons around doing laundry to
ensure your they aren’t clueless at the laundromat their freshman year of
college. Even the youngest child can help load machines, measure detergent,
push buttons and match up clean socks (if you can find both).
Cook.
Allow your child to (safely) assist with planning, preparing
and cooking meals. Plan a cooking competition, with your child as the chef and
the rest of the family as judges, set the table and have the family dress up
for a fancy sit down dinner.
Make the bed.
This is a simple act that can set the tone for the rest of
the day. Before you make it out of your room, you already accomplished
something!
Read a map.
Because those turn by turn directions aren’t right every single
time, you’ll want you child to have the ability to understand a map, paper or
digital. Plan a scavenger hunt in your yard with a treasure at the end, and let
your child be the leader. If you have older children, give geocaching a try!
Hammer a Nail.
Learning some basic home repair skills at an early age can come
in handy (pun intended) when your child becomes a homeowner or apartment
dweller. Assist your child with hammering nails into a board, teach them how to
change a light bulb, plunge a toilet, paint a room or any other items on the
to-do list. You’ll feel accomplished to check-off your list and your child will
pick-up some great skills. It’s a win-win!
Clean the bathroom.
Much like lessons in home improvement and laundry, some
basic cleaning skills will serve as lifelong tools for your child. Ask them to
help with the dishes, pick-up toys, vacuum the rugs, clean the windows and the
bathroom. Be sure an adult supervises children while cleaning and use products
that are safe for children.
Balance a bank account.
This is a great way to teach math without having to learn elementary
school math. Create a play store, give your kids some money and help them learn
about spending and saving.
Plant a garden.
Find an area of your yard where your child can create their
garden. Work together to clean the area, remove weeds and prepare the dirt to
receive plants or seeds in the coming weeks. If you have the supplies needed,
start seeds growing in a window now. The responsibility and reward of planting
and caring for a garden throughout the summer are wonderful lessons for children
and adults alike.
Manage a schedule.
Ask you child to create their own schedule. How do they want
to structure their day? What’s important to them? Help them learn to balance
free time or play time with work time. Getting work done is important, but learning
to balance work with leisure will give them skills to manage their stress
levels in adulthood.
Due to the outpouring of support IHA has received from community members, they have setup a donation center for those who have expressed interest in donating items.
The outbreak of COVID-19 is straining our local communities and resources. While IHA currently has the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) necessary to keep frontline healthcare workers safe, donations from the community will proactively support our reserves for potential long-term challenges.
Beginning today, IHA will accept
donations of the following unused items:
N95 Masks
Disposable Face Masks
Disposable Gloves
Disposable Gowns
Eyewear
Face Shields
Donations may be made Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm to: IHA Central Offices (at Domino’s Farms Office Park)
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
Lobby J, Suite 2000
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
For more information on COVID-19
and how to seek care, please visit: www.IHAcares.com
Here in Michigan, schools, libraries and other facilities are closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Coupled with shortages in grocery stores, some families that rely on food-security programs may be struggling to feed their families. Local non-profit agencies are working hard to ensure these programs are maintained and our communities don’t go hungry. If you or someone you know needs help, scroll down for a list of food-security programs, organized by county and school district. If you are able to volunteer to help get food to those in need, or would like to donate, click here.
Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor Public Schools has set 11 locations for
free meal pickups around Ann Arbor. Breakfast and lunch packages are available
for pickup from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Tuesdays and Fridaysexcept
for Friday, April 3. Meals will be available on Thursday, April 2 instead.
Bryant
Community Center, 3 W. Eden Court.
Green
Baxter Court Community Center, 1737 Green Road.
Hikone
Community Center, 2724 Hikone Drive.
The
Pinelake Village Coop, outside the clubhouse, 2680 Adrienne Drive.
Lakestone
Apartments, outside the clubhouse, 4275 Eyrie Drive.
Scio
Farms, outside the clubhouse, 6655 Jackson Road.
Orchard
Grove, outside the clubhouse, 2835 S. Wagner Road.
Carpenter
Elementary, outside the school, 4250 Central Blvd.
Scarlett
Middle School, outside the school, 3300 Lorraine St.
Peace
Maple Meadows Satellite, West Ann Arbor Satellite 1111 N. Maple Road.
Arrowwood
Hills Community Center, 2566 Arrowwood Trail.
For individuals that
cannot make it to one of these food pick-ups or have food allergy concerns,
call the AAPS Food Service Hotline at 734-994-2265.
Chelsea School District Food Service is providing sack breakfast and
lunch meals for students from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Wednesday, March 18;
Monday, March 23 and Friday, March 27 at the Chelsea High School commons
entrance. Please contact (734) 433-2208 ext. 6082 for further information.
Dexter Community Schools is implementing Drive-up pickup starting Tuesday, March 17 in the
Mill Creek Parking Lot.Drive-up pickup will be 8:00 AM – 9:30
AM and 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM every Tuesday and Friday. Each pickup will
include breakfast and lunch for 5 days’ worth per child.
Lincoln Consolidated Schools’ Lincoln Food Service is providing grab and go
meals for all students in need. Drive-through distribution begins Monday, from
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM behind the Lincoln High School East Cafe
Milan Area Schools will run its usual bus route to get meals to families
starting Tuesday, March 17. Additionally, a drive-through site will be
available between 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM at Paddock Elementary. Information
regarding further food service distribution will be available Wednesday
morning.
Saline Area Social Services is distributing pre-packaged
groceries to families 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM Tuesday and Thursday in its
parking lot at 244 W. Michigan Ave. Those interested in volunteering are asked
to call 734-476-7831.
Ypsilanti
Community Schools will offer a week’s worth of
breakfast and lunch to be provided from March 17 to April 2. Meals will be
handed out11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays at all
six locations. Three sites will hand out meals from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM on
those days as well.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
A.C.C.E., 1076 Ecorse
Community Family Life Center,
1375 S Harris Road
Stronger Tower Ministries, 134
Spencer Lane
Parkridge Community Center, 591
Armstrong Drive
CRC Community Resource Center,
2057 Tyler Road
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Community Family Life Center
Stronger Tower Ministries
Parkridge Community Center
The district is in search of volunteers to staff the six locations. Training for 24 lead volunteers is 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Monday at the district administration building, 1885 Packard St. Additional volunteers will be needed starting Tuesday, March 17. Part of the job for lead volunteers will be documenting meals served and assisting with clean up.
Livingston County
Howell Public Schools is offering food on Monday, March 23 and Monday,
March 30 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM in the circle driveway on the north side of
Howell High School. The district will deliver meal kits to families who are
unable come during the pick-up time. If you need a meal kit delivered, please
use the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvy-qr2Aye-sm8q5qozk8aBi_5dFTIyWpL0e_TLP6FXZQkeQ/viewform
Fowlerville Community Schools is partnering with Gleaners’ Community Food Bank to distribute food to their students’ families on Thursday, March 19th and Thursday, April 2nd at the Fowlerville High School. Any member of a student’s family can come to the main entrance of the high school from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Approximately two weeks of food for each student will be distributed. There are other resources available to support families during this time as well. Breakfast sandwiches are being distributed at Kodet’s Hardware. Visit their Facebook page for more information. Lunch is being distributed at the Torch 180 at 131 Mill Street. Click here for more information. Families in need of support could also call the Family Impact Center at (517) 223- 4428.
Brighton Area Schools’ Student Nutrition Department has donated a
large quantity of unused food to Gleaners for distribution to families during
the shutdown. Gleaners’ Shared Harvest Pantry will be open by appointment only.
The pantry will offer a drive-up service with a box of food; and may include
meat, fresh produce, toilet paper and laundry soap as supplies are available.
For more information, call (517) 548-3710.
The Salvation Army will provide sack
lunches Tuesday-Friday next week from Noon to 1 PM at the following locations:
Tuesday: Lakeshore Village Apartments 2812 Ontario Ct, Howell, MI 48843
Wednesday: Grand Plaza Apartments 401 S Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843
Thursday: Prentis Estates Apartments1103 S Latson Rd, Howell, MI 48843
Friday: Howell Estates, 515 Mason Rd, Howell, MI 48843
Brighton Area Schools will also be continuing their “Blessings in a
Backpack” program through BAS by distributing food in the BECC parking lot
during the next three Tuesdays from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. This will be a drive
through pick up process. If you need additional support, please email Starr
Acromite at acromis@brightonk12.com or call (810) 299-4040.
Pinckney Community Schools will be offering breakfast and lunch food Thursdays from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Food will be distributed in front of pathfinder school at the main office entry. They ask that all parents and students remain in their vehicles as the food is brought to their car. Two-day portions will be provided at each distribution. Electronic forms are currently being developed so that they can deliver food personally. Pinckney Community Schools will offer a mobile food pantry Wednesday, March 18th from 5:00PM – 6:00 PM in the district transportation garage.
Whitmore Lake Public Schools is providing grab and go breakfast and lunches Monday through Friday. Breakfast can be picked up 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM, and lunch is picked up from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the front doors of Whitmore Lake Elementary School, 1077 Barker Road, Whitmore Lake, MI. To help plan for the right amount of food, parents are asked to fill out this form. If your family is unable to pick up the meals, but still are in need of assistance, you canfill out this form
Oakland County
Clarkston Community Schools is partnering with Chartwells School Dining
to provide free breakfasts and lunch to families in need. Students ages 18 and
younger (or 26 and younger if an Adult Transition Services student) can pick up
food Monday through Friday at the following locations and times:
CURBSIDE PICK-UP AT:
Andersonville Elementary School
10350 Andersonville Road
Daily pick-up from 11am-12:30pm
Sashabaw Middle School
5565 Pine Knob Lane
Daily pick-up from 11am-12:30pm
Clarkston Junior High School
6595 Waldon Road
Daily pick-up from 11am-12:30pm
CCS FOOD SERVICES TRUCK IN PARKING LOT AT:
Bridgewater Park Apartments
5801 Bridgewater Dr.
Daily pick-up from 11:30am-12pm
Clintonvilla Mobile Home Community
4851 Clintonville Rd.
Daily pick-up from 12pm-12:30pm
Independence Woods Mobile Home Community
2500 Mann Rd.
Daily pick-up from 11am-11:30am
Clawson Public Schools is collaborating with Chartwells dining
services to offer a free brown bag breakfast and lunch program to all members
in the community from Monday to Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM or 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
at Clawson Middle School.
Novi Community School District will provide grab and go breakfast and lunches for students aged 18 and under and students with IEPs up to age 26 on Tuesday March 24 and Tuesday March 31. Seven days of food will be provided each week. Food will be provided for each student in the family. Families can pick up the food in the Novi High School Taft Road parking lot. It is a drive through process in the bus loop area. Families can pick up food between the hours of 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. There are also two mobile drop off areas in the community. One in the Novi Ridge Apartments and the other in the Pavilion Court. Food will be delivered to the clubhouses via a Novi Community School District
bus in both locations between 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Children do not have to be
present.
Pontiac School District will deliver meals to designated stops along each bus route starting Wednesday, March 18 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For full details click here.
South
Lyon Community Schools’
students are eligible to receive breakfast and lunch for seven days on each
pickup date listed below. Students do not need to be present. This program will
be a pickup and go program. Families will pull up to the main entrance of the
respective school building and volunteers will come to your vehicle to ask how
many children you will be feeding. At that time, they will bring the prepacked
breakfast and lunch food to your vehicle. Wednesday, March 18; Wednesday, March
25 and Wednesday, April 1. The locations include:
South Lyon High School 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Kent Lake Elementary 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Dolsen Elementary 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Salem Elementary 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Southfield Public Schools is working with SFE and First Student to offer up to two meals per day to all children ages 18 and under for free. This includes students with disabilities, ages 18-26, with an active individual education program (IEP). Beginning Monday, March 16, meals for seven days a week will be delivered to Southfield Public Schools students and all children in the community throughout the time of the state closure of schools. Specified stops will be made from 10:45 AM – 1:30 PM daily.
Students that ride special needs buses will have meals delivered to their homes. In addition, there will be buses on standby to capture students who may miss the scheduled bus delivery or for special meals. Meals will also be distributed at Thompson K-8 International Academy (16300 Lincoln Drive, Southfield 48076) starting Monday, March 16, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The remainder of the week’s distribution will be 8:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Please call (248) 746-8522 for questions. Click here for the full bus stop schedule.
Troy School District is offering grab and go breakfasts and lunches every weekday from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM from March 17 to April 1 at the following locations:
Athens High School
Troy High School
Troy Career and College HS
Baker Middle School
Smith Middle School
Morse Elementary School
Troy Union Elementary
Charter Square Apartments
Rochester Villas
Somerset Apartments
The Gables of Troy
Troy Villas
For further information, please call (248) 823-5089.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools has a curbside pickup for students in need Monday, March 23 and 30 from 1:45 PM – 3:00PM. If you are unable to pick up food, email info@wlcsd.org for delivery.
Wayne County
Dearborn Public Schools is offering free pickup breakfast
and lunch for students while school is closed for the mandatory shut down over
the next three weeks. Pickups will run daily from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM starting
March 17 at Fordson High School, Edsel Ford High School, Dearborn High School,
McCollough-Unis K-8, Salina Intermediate School and Woodworth Middle School.
Detroit Public Schools will offer Breakfast and lunch
and Academic Packets starting Wednesday, March 18 at 58 DPSCD buildings. Students
will not be allowed to enter the building.
A
“grab-and-go” breakfast will be served, Monday – Friday, from 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
A
“grab-and-go” lunch will be served from 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Academic
K-8 learning packets with a focus on Mathematics, English Language Arts,
Science and Social Studies can be picked-up at the same 58 school locations
listed below.
All school locations listed below
are linked to Google Maps for directions.
Plymouth – Canton Community Schools has put
together a plan for six district sites to make breakfast and lunch meals
available on a weekly basis. Families are welcome to come pick up free meals
for all kids every Wednesday during the school closure period, starting on
Wednesday, March 18.
Each package contains both breakfast and
lunch for five days. This program is for all kids 18 years old and under, as
well as our students ages 18 to 26 who are serviced with an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) in their community.
MEAL PICKUP SCHEDULE:
Every Wednesday during the school closure
period (starting March 18) from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
LOCATIONS:
Salem High School, 46181 Joy Rd., Canton
Starkweather Academy, 39750 Joy Rd., Plymouth
Discovery Middle School, 45083 Hanford Rd., Canton
Liberty Middle School, 46250 Cherry Hill Rd., Canton
West Middle School, 44401 Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth
Eriksson Elementary, 1275 Haggerty Rd., Canton
In addition, families may visit other
school locations to pick up meals should it be more convenient. Visit the Wayne
RESA website for a complete list of Wayne County school districts that are
offering free meal programs. For questions, contact Healthy.Meals@pccsk12.com.
Van Buren Public Schools’ Bus Service will be delivering meals from March 19 to April 10, Monday through Friday. For more information, click here.
Wayne-Westland Community Schools will be providing drive-thru breakfast and lunch for ALL students from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at John Glenn High School, located at 36105 Marquette, Westland, MI on the following dates: Wednesday, March 18; Monday, March 23 and Monday, March 30. Students do not need to be present Please fill out this form before you visit to indicate which date(s) you plan to attend and how many children are in your family.
Wyandotte Public Schools is offering breakfast and lunch for pickup in weekly portions
on Wednesday, March 18; Wednesday, March 25 and Wednesday, April 1 at the
Roosevelt High School main entrance parking lot from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Other services offered within Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw, or Wayne counties
Bountiful Harvest is providing breakfast and lunches for
Livingston County children who qualify for reduced or free lunch. They will be
providing each child with enough food for breakfast and lunch for a week with
pickups once per week at 290 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI. Please call the
day before pickup by 5:00 PM at (810) 360-0271. People are welcome to shop the
pantry during their normal pantry hours Thursday 6:00 PM – 8:00, Friday 4:00 PM
– 6:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. They also serve a hot dinner Friday
night 3:30 to 5:30 and a hot breakfast Saturday morning 8-11. Takeout meals are
available. For those who do not wish to come in, they have a shopping list for
you to choose the items you want and volunteer shoppers will gather their goods
and bring them to your vehicle.
Hope Clinic is distributing hot
meals to go on Sundays, Mondays and Saturdays. It will have emergency groceries
available during operating hours. Call (734) 484-2989 to make a pantry
appointment. Visit at 518 Harriet St, Ypsilanti, MI.
SOS Community Services has pantry days from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM every Tuesday
and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Wednesday at 114 North River in Ypsilanti, MI
48198. Please call for appointments at (734) 484-9945 prior to pantry day.
Walk-ins will be accepted with limited pantry access. Emergency groceries are also
available.
TeaHaus is providing free boxed lunches for AAPS
students starting Monday. The boxed meals are being handed out at Eat More Tea,
211 E. Ann St. in downtown Ann Arbor.
Palm Palace is offering free meals for kids
while schools are closed at 2370 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor. Please call (734)
606-0706
To keep all patients safe, please do not enter an IHA facility if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, including, fever, cough and shortness of breath. Instead, please visit IHAcares.com/screening to complete a free COVID-19 screening or call your physician’s practice for additional medical assistance.
Things to consider when trying to achieve a healthy diet.
The crowd quiets to a dull roar as the smoke clears, and a
spotlight descends on a lone performer. The performer quickly curtseys and
begins. They reach for a porcelain plate, perch its underside lip on a pole and
begin whirling with increasing ferocity. Soon, the plate is spinning at high
speeds, perfectly balanced on the end of the thin pole. Moving slowly with eyes
above, the performer reaches for more: two plates for each hand! Three! Four!
The crowd roars as the performer nearly loses their balance, anticipating the
moment where the plates come careening down into a pile of rubble. Anxious,
spectators perch on the edge of their seats to peer at the face of the
performer. Lo and behold, a familiar face: it’s you!
Every day we attempt a plate-balancing act, albeit a bit
different than the one described above: maintaining a healthy diet. Balancing
our family’s plates with the right proteins, carbs, and veggies can feel like a
daunting or even impossible task without proper practice. Below are some considerations everyone should
take when trying to maintain the proper balance, so we all don’t come crashing
down into unhealthy lifestyles!
Portion and proportion
The food pyramid was created to understand healthy proportions of various food groups in a diet. Unfortunately, a pyramid isn’t the best shape for explaining ratios, so the food pyramid went through a few makeovers over the years. In its current incarnation, the food pyramid is known as MyPlate, a dinner plate-shaped guide to understanding a balanced diet. But the challenge doesn’t end there. You could eat a totally balanced diet with the proper ratios of carbs to protein to veggies, but if you stack your plate a mile high or eat too small a meal to satisfy your needs, the end result could still be unhealthy for you. You’ve got to remember both food group balance and overall intake to achieve a healthy diet.
One bad meal is not going to undo all your hard work, and
one good meal is not going to undo a whole day of unhealthy eating. Health is a
cumulative experience. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Think of how your meals
relate to each other. Looking back to the original plate-spinning analogy,
you’ve got to think carefully and consider the other plates you’ve already got
spinning before you grab another if you want to be successful.
Convenience
Convenience has been a constant hurdle in the lives of busy
people trying to maintain a healthy diet. Now it’s different. There are a lot
of good, convenient options at your local grocery store that just need to be
microwaved, like minute brown rice or frozen veggies. Even some fast-food
restaurants now have healthier options on the menu if you’re in a rush.
Every body is unique
Some healthy foods may not agree with your body. There is no
true “one size fits all” diet, but there are some general guidelines like
MyPlate. Your body is an engine, so try out different fuels to see what makes
your body run best. Maybe the proteins you’re eating make you run slow and
sluggish, try a plant-based protein and see if that gives you a few extra
horsepower. If excess dairy makes your engine, uh, “backfire” too frequently,
look for other options to find your calcium and vitamin D.
Framing your decisions
Look at healthy eating as what you’re choosing to
eat, not what you can’thave. It may just seem like wordplay, but
researchers have actually found that mental framing may be a factor in making
healthy food decisions. The mind is more powerful than the body, and a healthy
mind makes for a healthier body!
