Covid-19 Resources

This page has been created to help local business, education organizations, and individuals with links to information and resources they can leverage during this time. If you have additional ideas or resources we should share, please Contact Us.

As our community faces an unprecedented challenge with Covid-19, everyone’s priority is the health and safety of our neighbors. As needs throughout the region increase, we ask that you think of creative ways to support local companies and one another through the coming months.

We also want to say THANK YOU to all of our healthcare workers, truck drivers, manufacturers, and countless others working to help keep us safe, warm, and fed during this time. Your efforts are making a difference throughout the country.

 

Remote Work Help

Drive-Up Wi-Fi locations
COVID 19 Disruption: Microsoft Resources
Remote Work Training – FREE Webinars

Business Help

New North Covid-19 Business Links
SBA Coronavirus Covid-19 Small Business Guidance Loan Resources
GOEDC SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to Coronavirus
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice – Frequently Asked Questions
Connecting Organizations on the front lines of COVID-19 with talent
How to Keep your Business Running Online During Social Distancing – Website and Marketing Services
Safely Reopen Wisconsin | We’re All In

Unemployment Help

FAQ for filing for Unemployment
Department of Workforce Development

Free LinkedIn Learning Pathway geared toward job seekers in tough economic times

Education Resources (K12 and College)

Educause – College Resources for Managing Campus Disruption
US Department of Education Resources for Schools
Digital Career Exploration Tools
Girls Who Code – At Home!

Community

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (World Health Organization)
Information About the Safer At Home Order

Financial Guide

Top Headlines for March 28-30

Top Headlines for Friday, March 27

Top Headlines for Thursday, March 26

Top Headlines for Wednesday, March 25

How You Can Help

Are you looking for a way you can help? Hospitals around the region are in need of facemasks to help keep their employees safe.

We’ve included a link to a tutorial below that was recommended by Thedacare (see the link to their donation instructions below). Along with links to a few patterns recommended by area medical groups.

Tutorial: How to Sew a Face Mask for Hospitals

Patterns:

Facemask with Pocket – Sew It Online

Surgical Face Mask – Sew It Online

DIY Face Mask Tutorial – Froedtert Hospital

Finished masks can be donated to your local medical center. Contact the medical center in advance and follow their drop off guidelines. For your convenience we have linked ThedaCare’s guidelines below.

ThedaCare Donations

Tips and Tricks for Surviving Shelter in Place/Safer at Home

With the need to shelter in place, many people risk feeling isolated from their coworkers and friends, which can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. For those who already deal with depression and anxiety, these feelings can be intensified. Therefore, it’s more important than ever that we leverage technology to reach out to one another to check in with employees, team mates, neighbors, friends and family. We’ve provided a few examples below of what our member organizations have started doing, as well as some links to more ideas.

  • Team leads – set up more frequent one on one meetings with employees who may be feeling especially isolated, or who are in an at risk category for Covid-19
  • Hold a virtual office party – send out a meeting notice using a video conferencing tool (Zoom, Google Hangout, Teams, etc.). Let the team know how formal or informal you want the event to be (is office wear required, or are “day pajamas” ok?). Will this event be team members only, or is the family welcome to attend? Have some questions and activities planned. This New York Times article has some great ideas. Leaders from NEW Digital Alliance member Thrivent shared these ideas:
    • Include the family – have team members play online video games with each other’s kids
    • Have each team member take you on a virtual tour of their house, and introduce their family and pets along the way
  • Hold a virtual cocktail party with friends and family – same rules apply as for the virtual office party, this one is just focused on friends and family. Variants on this theme can include virtually anything:
    • Grill party – grill your burgers together virtually while enjoying a cold beer together in your own backyards
    • Movie night – watch the same movie at your home, and have FaceTime or similar type call open with your friends so you can laugh, cry, or yell your way through the movie together. This article about How to Watch Movies With Friends Online give some great tips as well as suggestions for tools you can use to sync your streams so everyone is watching the scene.
  • Check in on older neighbors – give them a call, or start the old fashion way with a hand written letter. Share your contact information so they can call you. From there you can possibly help them get online with some video chat technology.
  • Help your church get online – many churches are struggling with how to get the word out to and stay connected with their parishioners. Reach out to your local church and help them get set up with Facebook Live or YouTube.