Community Services Updates

This week's features

• Highlight: "Shelter-In-Play" - Virtual bingo nights were a success!
• Upcoming "Shelter-In-Play" Events
• Virtual Recreation Center

• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley - Free Summer Meal Program for Kids
• Wellness Checks for Menlo Park residents

Highlight: "Shelter-In-Play" - Virtual bingo nights were a total success!

Highlight: “Shelter-In-Play” – Virtual bingo nights were a success!

City recreation staff have launched a series of “Shelter-In-Play” events. The first event took place Friday, May 15, with nearly 150 participants for a virtual bingo night event. In addition to providing 4 bingo games sprinkled with family-friendly jokes and trivia, guests had the chance to win e-gift cards to support their favorite local businesses.

Staff is also rolling out weekly community building social media contests, an upcoming craft hour and trivia night, as well as other activities to keep Menlo Park active, healthy and connected during the countywide shelter-in-place order.

For more information and to participate in future events, subscribe to the “Menlo Park Community Events” calendar at menlopark.org/notifyme and follow Menlo Park Events on Facebook.

Upcoming “Shelter-in-Play” Events

City staff is now hosting online community events! Please check out the upcoming schedule:

Senior Crafts with Avideh
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
2:30–3:30 p.m.
Get ready for a fun arts and crafts session hosted by Avideh from the Menlo Park Senior Center. The workshop is geared toward seniors but for the whole family to enjoy. All you need to follow along for this project is: colored copy or construction paper, scissors, crayons or markers, glue stick or Elmer’s glue and an old magazine. Come join in on the fun!

“Shelter-in-Play” Family Trivia Night
Friday, May 29, 2020
6-7 p.m.
All you need to participate in this family fun trivia night is a team name, the Zoom app and a positive attitude. Register your team and prepare those brain muscles to go head to head with other Menlo Park households. Winners will receive a gift certificate from a local Menlo Park business.

Virtual Recreation Center

While we wait to return to safe in-person programming, there are dozens of free resources in our Virtual Recreation Center under the following categories: Preschool and After School, Arts and Culture, Seniors, Sports, and Health and Wellness. Community members of all ages can enjoy online games, craft projects, fun recipes, virtual tours, and more! The Virtual Rec Center is updated weekly.

In addition to weekly “Shelter-in-Play” online events, community members can expect to see live Zoom classes offered in June. If you want to get active, learn a new hobby, or connect with others in a recreation class format, we are here for you and ready to provide Zoom support, if necessary. Be sure to check out our Virtual Recreation Center for more information.

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley – Free Summer Meal Program for Kids

Second Harvest is committed to building a community free of hunger and works hard to distribute nutritious food to all neighborhoods in Silicon Valley. Living during these times can be expensive and you shouldn’t have to choose between paying bills or putting healthy food on the table for your family.

Children especially need healthy, nutritious food to grow and do well in school. For families that rely on reduced-price meals for their children during the school year, summer time can be challenging.

Good news! There are programs in both San Mateo and Santa Clara County that provide FREE healthy meals to kids and teens during the summer. More than 120 locations offer free, healthy summer meals. This summer more than ever it is imperative that children have access to nutritious meals.

To find a location near you: Text “FOOD” to 876-876 or call 1-800-984-3663. Adults with kids eat free, too! For more information, please visit the Second Harvest website or visit menlopark.org/foodassistance.

Wellness checks for Menlo Park residents

Do you yourself, a family member, friend, or acquaintance need someone to check in? Any person living in Menlo Park who needs to be checked on during this pandemic is a candidate for the City of Menlo Park's expanded Wellness Check program.

Community members who would like to refer a vulnerable neighbor or family member can request a wellness check online. City staff, who are background checked and supervised, will be able to connect those referred with various City, county, and nonprofit resources available to them and will check on them weekly until the stay-at-home order is lifted.

If you’re having trouble with the wellness check request form or have any questions, feel free to email city staff.