Category Archives: Resources

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Families First Neighborhood Pantry at Heatherwood

Reminder: Next Monday, 5/15, is the day for the Families First Neighborhood Pantry at Heatherwood,
2 – 4 pm. Come one, come all!

Juneteenth is a Federal Holiday falling on June 19, which is usually a mobile pantry day. That month we will plan to have it on June 12 instead, so please mark your calendars.


El próximo lunes, 5/15, es el día para la despensa Families First del vecindario Heatherwood, de 2 a 4 pm. ¡Venga uno, vengan todos!

Juneteenth es un feriado federal que cae el 19 de junio, que generalmente es un día de despensa móvil. Ese mes planearemos tenerlo el 12 de junio, así que por favor marque sus calendarios.

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Lower cost appliances, including washer/dryers / Electrodomésticos a menor costo, incluyendo lavadoras/secadoras

Here are two options for lower cost appliances, including Washer and dryers:

(1) Buy Closeouts (most deeply discounted due to minor scratch/dents) west side Bloomington Address: 3478 W 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47404 Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-7pm; phone: (812) 822-2010; Behind Crew car wash and up the street North from “Once upon a child”. New, units.

(2) Big Jon’s Used Appliances, offers: In-store shopping · Delivery; 611 W 11th St Suite 4, Bloomington, IN 47404 Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:3-0 pm; Sat /Sun 10-3pm; Phone: (812) 287-7021

Aquí, dos opciones para electrodomésticos de bajo costo, incluidas lavadoras y secadoras:

(1) Liquidaciones (la mayoría con grandes descuentos debido a rayones/abolladuras menores) West side Bloomington Dirección:

3478 W 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47404

Horario: lunes a sábado de 11 a. m. a 7 p. m.; teléfono: (812) 822-2010; Detrás del lavado de autos Crew y calle arriba al norte de “ONCE UPON A CHILD”. Nuevo, unidades.

(2) Big Jon’s Used Appliances, ofrece: Compras en la tienda Entrega;
611 W 11th St Suite 4, Bloomington, IN 47404

Abierto de lunes a viernes de 9:30 am a 5:3-0 pm; sábados y domingos de 10 a 15 h;
Teléfono: (812) 287-7021

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Free Internet for lower income folks / Internet gratis para personas de bajos ingresos

There is a government program Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that both AT&T and Comcast participate in. For eligible households, this program will give a $30 credit. Plus there is an option for getting an additional line for phone, tablet, etc.
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An even better program is Internet Essentials. Which provides basic cable for at $9.95 or even free $0.00) after providing documentation for SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance or Free Lunch and book program at MCCSC.

I have helped several families enroll with this program.

It is easier to do this when you start service or at the end of your agreed contract (1-2 years).

I attached a brochure for this program with Comcast Xfinity.

This is NOT TV. But only for cable, to get wireless, so school kids and you can interact with school, etc.

The families are able to watch TV, many different free channels using wireless and Roku (or Amazon Fire, etc).

Internet gratis
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Doula program at El Centro Comunal Latino

El Centro has a birthing support doula program, designed to help pregnant mothers, deliver their baby with confidence, and a minimum of distress.   

The Refugee Support Network also has volunteer supporters that are experienced doulas. 
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El Centro tiene un programa de doula de apoyo al parto, diseñado para ayudar a las madres embarazadas, dar a luz a su bebé con confianza y un mínimo de angustia.   

La Red de Apoyo a los Refugiados también tiene voluntarios que son doulas con experiencia. 

Llame al Centro Comunal Latino
812-355-7513 (elcentrocomunal@gmail.com)

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Hoosier Hills Food bank has a wonderful Neighborhood pantry

Hoosier Hills Food bank has a wonderful Neighborhood pantry,
Where: Heatherwood Community Building
3660 South Leonard Springs Road (take bus 4 West)
When: every 3rd Monday, 2-4 pm
Who: all are welcome!

No questions asked, no need to provide

El banco de alimentos Hoosier Hills tiene una maravillosa despensa para la comunidad,
Donde: Edificio Comunitario Heatherwood
3660 South Leonard Springs Road (tomar el autobús 4 West)
Cuando: cada 3er lunes, 2-4 pm
Quién: todos son bienvenidos!

Sin preguntas, no hay que aportar

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Social media suggests that getting food stamps for your US citizen child (when you are not citizens) will cause problems with your immigration process.   NOT TRUE! 

The Public charge has never applied to asylum seekers applicants, but was intended to apply to those seeking status as a family members of someone with a green card or citizen

USDA and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a letter clarifying that applying for or receiving SNAP does not make someone a public charge and will not be considered in a public charge determination. 

Applying for or receiving SNAP will not affect someone’s ability to:
– Remain in the United States
– Get a Green Card/Permanent Legal Resident Status,
– Keep a Green Card/Permanent Legal Resident Status, or
– Become a U.S. Citizen.
– SNAP Logo Guidance

You can also apply for SNAP on behalf of the eligible immigrants or U.S. citizens in your family, even if you do not want to apply for benefits for yourself, without affecting your or their immigration status. For example, if a parent is not eligible for SNAP because of their immigration status, they can still apply for their eligible children. The SNAP office is not allowed to ask for immigration documents for people who are not applying to receive benefits themselves.

If you need food help, and you or members of your household qualify, please apply for SNAP for yourself or your family. Do it for your family’s good!

For more information relating to general immigration information in English or in Spanish, please call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283. 

For general information about SNAP, please call 1-800-221-5689 (English only) or 202-720-2791 (English and Spanish) to be connected to your state’s SNAP hotline.

For more information, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/joint-letter-public-charge (Spanish and English language versions are attached below). 

NEW: Applying for or Receiving SNAP Does Not Make Someone a Public Charge – Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (feedingindianashungry.org)

There are income limits associated with being eligible for SNAP/  
Find Free Food and Groceries | Feeding America

-So, if you have questions,  reach out and we will put you in touch with local organizations who can help you walk through this. 

Similarly,   having Emergency Medicaid does NOT jeopardize your immigration process

” Applying for or receiving Medicaid or CHIP benefits, or getting savings for health insurance costs in the Marketplace, doesn’t make someone a “public charge”. This means it won’t affect their chances of becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident or U.S. citizen.” 

The one exception is if you are in a long term care facility (nursing home), at government expense.   But not routine medical treatment. 

Health coverage for lawfully present immigrants | HealthCare.gov

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Immigrants Detained In Indiana Jail Sue County And Federal Governments For Illegally Relying On ICE Contract

Four people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Clay County Jail in Indiana filed a federal lawsuit today exposing how the county’s government has illegally used revenue from its ICE contract to award raises to county employees and pay for operations and capital improvements at unrelated county facilities, while leaving immigrants to suffer in the jail’s inhumane conditions. The lawsuit also details how the federal government’s immigration inspections system has turned a blind eye to unsanitary conditions and human suffering inside the jail.

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Project Stepping Stone of Indiana aims to boost Latino college enrollment

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Getting Latinos in Indiana into college — that’s what one group aims to do with the help of a special one-week summer program.

According to the 2021 Indiana College Equity report, only 49 percent of Hispanic high school graduates go to college compared to 61 percent of white students. Project Stepping Stone of Indiana (PSS) wants to change that.

Project Stepping Stone of Indiana is a program of the Escala Foundation that helps Indiana’s Latino students prepare for college and beyond.

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Bloomington Refugee Support Network

Our mission is to serve, with our partnerships, the refugees (in Indianapolis and globally), as well as asylum seekers, Dreamers, and other immigrants in the Monroe County community, and nationally.
Towards that end, we:

  • EDUCATE THE PUBLIC on the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, locally and globally
  • RESEARCH AND DEVELOP RESOURCES for use by local and Indiana resettlement agencies, the refugees, asylum seekers, other immigrants, local NGO’s, and the volunteers
  • HELP CLIENTS OBTAIN THE RESOURCES THEY NEED (working with SVDP home visits; vouchers; interpreters, drivers, anthropologists, finding work, finding apartments, receiving needed goods in addition to food (such as furniture, household appliances, personal supplies, clothing, medical and mental health care, acclimation) We have 15 trained coordinators (2 assigned to each family) to assist with obtaining the resources; the Coordinators receive additional drivers, interpreters, etc. when needed; we provide funds for legal help, including related expenses (travel and accommodations to Indy and Chicago for court appearances, and application fees) and for other needs, on a case-by-case basis.
  • ADVOCATE for increased U.S. refugee resettlement, including Bloomington resettlement, for adequate funding for refugee resettlement, and for private sponsorship for resettlement, and for support of asylum seekers, Dreamers, and other immigrants.
  • FUNDRAISE for refugees and resettlement agencies, locally, in Indiana, and globally, and for local asylum seekers, Dreamers, and other immigrants.
  • RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS, INTEREST AND COMMITMENT for refugee resettlement and support for asylum seekers, Dreamers, and other immigrants.

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