Activities, Food, Rent and More⁠—COVID Resources for Families

Two ballet dancers work out at a barre facing each other while a pianist plays in the background
Goddard Riverside’s Community Arts program offers this free online ballet class with Ballet and Beyond’s Michelle Cave

Juggling work and family is even more challenging when you’re sheltering in place. Here are some free or low-cost resources – including from our own programs – to help families thrive. 

Arts and Activities 

Goddard Riverside Community Arts – We have online dance and music composition classes for all ages, plus live events! Take a ballet class, join us for Arts Potluck on May 1 or enjoy live music at our next Afro Roots Tuesday on May 12!

Lincoln Center at Home – The iconic performing arts center offers classes and performances online via this new portal.

New York Botanical Garden – The garden offers family-friendly activities to do at home, virtual walks through its flower displays, healthy recipes and more. 

American Museum of Natural History – This Upper West Side stalwart hosts video tours, live trivia games, a weekly drawing contest for children and more on its website. 

Children’s Museum of Manhattan – CMOM has tons of projects to do with kids at home. 

New York Historical Society – Come here for online presentations about aspects of New York history. 

Food 

NYC Government Covid-19 Food Assistance Resources – The city is distributing free meals at more than 400 locations. 

Red Rabbit Grab and Go Meals – The school lunch provider is offering free meals in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn. It posts updates on its Instagram account. 

World Central Kitchen – This nonprofit is providing grab-and-go meals in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey. 

West Side Campaign Against Hunger – Our UWS neighbor runs a food pantry and other programs to prevent hunger.

Government and Legal Support 

Goddard Riverside Resource Center – Our kind and experienced Resource Center staff connect you to services you need, including food stamps and other government benefits, legal assistance and health care. 

Goddard Riverside Law Project – The Law Project provides free legal services on housing issues to qualifying renters as well support and advice on how to organize your building.   

Housing Court Answers – Offers information on New York City Housing Court, emergency repairs, illegal lockouts and the eviction moratorium.   

Right to Counsel NYC  This tenants rights coalition, of which Goddard is a member, has information on how to form a tenants association and what to do if you can’t pay your went, as well as opportunities to get involved with advocacy on rent & mortgage relief.  

Legal Services NYC – Their multilingual resource hotline at (917) 661-4500 helps New Yorkers apply for public benefits like SNAP and Medicaid, as well as manage rent and utilities arrears.  

Gale Brewer – The Manhattan Borough President has an exhaustive and constantly-updated list of COVID resources at the top of her website.