Watermark has been the leading source of LGBTQ news in Central Florida and Tampa Bay for more than 25 years. We intend to continue our service to our community in this rapidly changing world.
To ensure readers have access to relevant information, we have continually monitored the impacts of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ communities of Central Florida and Tampa Bay. Below you’ll find a list of financial, food, health care, service and testing resources.
This list is not all encompassing and you can view statewide resources here. To submit additional resources, contact Central Florida Bureau Chief Jeremy Williams at Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com and Tampa Bay Bureau Chief Ryan Williams-Jent at Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Bounce Back Orlando | BounceBackOrlando.com | 321-800-3946
The Pride Chamber’s Bounce Back Orlando is a directory of LGBTQ small businesses in Orlando and the surrounding metro that are open. It is divided into Local Shopping, Local Dining, Local Entertainment and Local Services. If you own a small business in the Greater Orlando Metro area you can register your business at the website free of charge.
Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund | OneOrlandoAlliance.org/COVID-19
The Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund is meant to assist Orlando area LGBTQ+ community members who are most in need as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. For inquiries regarding this resource, please contact the fund’s Steering Committee at LGBTQReliefFund@gmail.com. You can also visit the website above to review the relief fund’s resource guide — available both in English and Spanish — for more information on navigating the crisis.
CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF) | CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com/Coronavirus-Support | 800-757-4598
CSCF is providing virtual reemployment assistance for those who have lost their job due to COVID-19. CSCF can assist you in filling out the Department of Economic Opportunity application online. The online application is the preferred method since paper applications could take longer to process. The CSCF has reopened with limited in-person appointments. The Seminole, Southeast Orange, Lake and Osceola centers are open. For your safety, masks will be required for all in-person appointments and temperature checks will be done. You can also take advantage of the CSCF’s virtual services such as career guidance, resume review, workshops and online learning free of charge.
United Way of Central Florida (UWCF) | UWCF.org | 2-1-1
The United Way of Central Florida (UWCF) is assisting those impacted by COVID-19 with food needs, paying bills and other essential services. Call 2-1-1 to speak to a UWCF representative who can help you if you are in need.
FOOD/HEALTH CARE/SERVICE RESOURCES
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida | FeedHopeNow.org
Residents in need of food assistance can visit Second Harvest Food Bank’s online food locator to find a list of feeding partners near their residency. Visit the Second Harvest website to verify location and hours, and call ahead before heading to the location. SNAP assistance may also be available for you. Call 407-295-2777 Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for more information.
Feed the Need Florida | Facebook.com/FeedTheNeedFL
Feed the Need Florida, a Central Florida food-aid group led by the 4Roots nonprofit and sponsored by 4 Rivers, is providing free drive-thru meals for all local arts, entertainment and theme park workers every Friday in July from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Plaza Live, located at 425 N. Bumby Ave. In Orlando. For more information, visit FeedTheNeedFL.org or the group’s Facebook page listed above.
Aspire Health Partners | AspireHealthPartners.com | 407-875-3700 ext. 2
Aspire Health Partners is offering a dedicated line to assist residents with mental health concerns related to COVID-19. Residents can call the helpline to be connected with a mental health professional by calling the number above.
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida | https://bit.il/hcclinic | 352-509-9865
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida is offering assistance with medical care document planning to qualified individuals including school workers, retail workers, restaurant workers, delivery drivers, cleaning staff and more. If you qualify for assistance, you will meet virtually with an attorney that will go over, and draft, the best documents for you. Service examples include designating a healthcare surrogate, designating a pre-need guardian and creating a living will. Services are by appointment only and participants must complete an eligibility screening.
TESTING SITES
Orange County Government | OCFL.net/COVID19
City of Orlando | Orlando.gov/COVID19Testing | 407-246-3104
Orange County has a non-mobile testing site at the Orange County Convention Center daily, starting at 9 a.m. until the daily limit is reached with no appointment needed. Testing at this site is open to all Central Florida residents, no symptoms required. You must be 18 or older with a photo ID. Antibody testing is available for free for the general public.
The City of Orlando has mobile drive-thru testing every Wednesday, rotating to a new location in the city on each operating day. Locations will be announced on a rolling basis. Testing is free of charge. Appointments are required and can be book online or by phone. Testing is available to Orlando residents who are 18 years of age or older and you do not have to be exhibiting symptoms to be tested.
City and county mobile testing sites are set up in several Walmart parking lots and are by appointment only. Schedule Online with Quest Diagnostics. These sites are open only to individuals with respiratory symptoms, preexisting conditions, first responders, heath care workers and those who believe they have had close contact with someone who tested positive.
Locations are:
-Walmart at 5991 Goldenrod Rd. Testing is Mon.-Sat. from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
-Walmart at 11250 E. Colonial Dr. Testing is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7-10 a.m.
-Walmart at 8101 S. John Young Pkwy. Testing is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-10 a.m.
Testing is available at the following health centers by appointment only: Community Health Centers located at 210 E. 7th St. in Apopka and 840 Mercy Dr. In Orlando. Call 407-905-8827 to make appointment at either location. Testing is only for those with COVID-19 symptoms.
Testing is available at the following health centers as walk-in and by appointment: True Health Centers located at 6101 Lake Ellenor Dr. in Orlando, 5449 S. Semoran Blvd. in Orlando, 5730 Lake Underhill Rd. in Orlando and 11881-A E. Colonial Dr. in Orlando. No symptoms required to be tested at these locations. Testing is available Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Fri., 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
UCF, in partnership with AventusBiolabs, has a non-mobile testing site available by appointment only at its main campus. For more information, visit AventusBiolabs.com.
There is a non-mobile testing site at UCF’s Lake Nona Cancer Center. Testing is by appointment only and requires either an order for a test from your health care provider or requires you to be a patient at UCF Health. UCF employees may also be tested at this site. For more information, visit UCF.edu/Coronavirus.
OneBlood is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test is authorized by the FDA and an appointment is required. For more information, visit OneBlood.org/donate-now.
TAMPA BAY
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Rapid Response Recovery Assistance Program (R3) | R3.HCFLGov.net | 866-538-2926
Hillsborough County is accepting applications to assist local small businesses and county residents directly impacted by the COVID-19. Financial assistance was created by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to direct funds to provide immediate relief, long-term community health and stability, and a full and robust economic recovery. Call weekdays for assistance from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Pinellas Cares Fund | PCED.org/Cares | 727-605-2944
Pinellas County is providing relief for individuals, families and businesses. Financial assistance for overdue rent, mortgage and utility bills up to $5,000 per household for those who lost their job or significant income is now available. Text COVIDCARES to 898211 or call 211 to begin the process. Applications will be processed weekdays from 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
FOOD/HEALTH CARE/SERVICE RESOURCES
211 Tampa Bay Cares | 211TampaBay.org | 727-210-4211
Call 211 from any phone or text your zip code to 898211 for help with housing, food, child care, suicide prevention, health care, disaster planning and much more.
CAN Community Health | CANCommunityHealth.org | 941-366-0134
Use computers or mobile devices to access health care services remotely and manage health care needs. For detailed information about Telehealth and more, visit their website.
Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) Food Pantry | MyEPIC.org
Food and personal products for clients are provided in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To schedule pickups or donations, call 727-328-3260 in Pinellas County or 813-237-3066 in Hillsborough County. Call for health care and service details.
Feeding Tampa Bay | FeedingTampaBay.org | 813-254-1190
Offering mobile pantries, meals, a market, senior grocery resources, homebound help and more. Hours, sites and locations vary. Some locations are closing without advance notice to adhere to regulations, call for up to date information.
Love the Golden Rule | LoveTheGoldenRule.com | 727-826-0700
Offering primary and specialized care regardless of the ability to pay. Call for more details.
Metro Inclusive Health | MetroTampaBay.org | 727-321-3854
Receive access to primary care, counseling, hormone replacement therapy and PrEP via Telehealth. To schedule an appointment, dial ext. 1575. For virtual programming, information about prescriptions by mail and more, visit their website.
St. Petersburg Free Clinic | StPetersburgFreeClinic.org | 727-821-1200
The We Help Food Pantry drive-thru is located at 863 3rd Ave. N. and available Mondays and Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Mobile locations at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg and Childs Park YMCA are open various Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
TESTING SITES
AFC Urgent Care | AFCUrgentCare.com
COVID-19 and antibody testing is available at locations throughout Tampa Bay. AFC Clearwater offers testing by appointment only 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends. No appointments needed for testing 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at AFC Pinellas Park, 7101 U.S. Hwy. 19 N. in Pinellas Park; AFC Seminole, 11241 Park Blvd. Ste. A in Seminole and AFC Tyrone/St. Petersburg, 2241 66th St. N. in St. Petersburg.
BayCare | BayCare.org/Coronavirus | 1-800-BayCare
BayCare’s drive-thru sites serve patients with a doctor’s referral or those who are symptomatic. Testing sites include Gulfview Square Mall at 9409 U.S. Hwy. 19 in Port Richey weekdays from 8-11 a.m. and Ruth Eckerd Hall at 1111 McMullen Booth Rd. in Clearwater Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7-10 a.m.
Community Health Centers of Pinellas Testing | CHCPinellas.org | 727-824-8181
Testing is available a walk-in or drive-up only. It is available 5-8 p.m. at the Pinellas Park Center at 7550 43rd St. N. in Pinellas Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Clearwater Center at 707 Druid Rd. E. in Clearwater Thursdays and the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center at 1344 22nd St. S. in St. Petersburg on Wednesdays. Visit their website for potential changes.
CVS | CVS.com
Appointments can be made at more than 1,400 testing sites at no cost to individuals. Visit their website for Tampa Bay sites and details.
Hillsborough County Government | HillsboroughCounty.org |888-513-6321
Residents can schedule an appointment weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Appointments are required and testing hours vary. Testing sites include the Lee Davis Community Resource Center at 3402 N. 22nd St. in Tampa; the Plant City Community Resource Center at 307 N. Michigan Ave. in Plant City; Redeemer Lutheran Church at 701 Valley Forge Blvd. in Sun City Center; the SouthShore Community Resource Center at 201 14th Ave. SE in Ruskin; Suncoast Community Health Center at 313 S. Lakewood Dr. in Brandon; the Wimauma Opportunity Center at 5128 Florida St. Rd. 674 in Wimauma and Tampa Family Health Centers, Inc. at 12085 W. Hillsborough Ave. Vehicles are not required for testing at any of these sites
Mahaffey Theater | COVID19.PinellasCounty.org 866-779-6121
Drive-thru is available regardless of symptoms Tuesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at 400 1st St. S. in St. Petersburg. No appointment is required and no more than four people per vehicle. Check Twitter.com/HealthyPinellas for details.
Raymond James Stadium | RaymondJamesStadium.com/COVID19-Test-Site | 888-513-6321
This site is operated by the State of Florida and is located at 4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Tampa. Appointments are required and testing is drive-up only. Residents can schedule an appointment online or by calling the number above weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sarasota County | SCGov.net | 941-861-2883
Drive-thru testing is available at the University Town Center Mall at 299 University Town Center Dr. Testing is conducted daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or until capacity is reached. No appointment needed. State-run, walk-up testing is also available at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex at 1845 34th St. Call weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For additional details you can also text SRQCOVID19 to 888777.
