Dear Readers:
Due to the Coronavirus COVID-19, all of the groups that have listings in the Access Press Enjoy! and Opportunities pages have suspended activities or are offering limited services until at least April.
Please check with a venue or organization before heading out. Many offices are operating remotely, or with limited staff and hours.
Gov. Tim Walz initially ordered a wide range of places to close until March 27, and then on March 25, went further and issued a stay-at-home order for all Minnesotans for two weeks, extending from March 27 through Friday, April 10.
Places ordered closed include live indoor and outdoor performance venues, cinemas, museums, amusement parks, gymnasiums, recreation centers, fitness centers, indoor sports and exercise facilities, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks, trampoline parks and other entertainment venues.
Theaters including the Guthrie, Children’s Theater Company, Steppingstone, Penumbra, Jungle, Ordway, Mixed Blood, Park Square, History Theatre, the theaters of Hennepin Theater Trust and others have shut down.
Contact theaters to see when shows will be rescheduled and if tickets will be honored.
With museums, check to see when or if interpreted and sensory activities will continue. Some sensory activities are only offered during the school year.
Special events, including the PACER Gala featuring Smokey Robinson, the Fraser Walk for Autism and the Autism Society of Minnesota Conference and Gala, have been postponed. Courage Kenny has canceled all sports and recreation activities, as well as its Discover Abilities event.
Many places including PACER Center have cancelled classes and events.
Most places that schedule appointments are still honoring appointments, but check to see before going to an appointment.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Minnesota has gone online. The help line will continue to operate but please know that people will need to leave a message and it may take longer to return calls.
Many support groups and classes are moving to an online format. Support groups will be virtual with a choice of two different systems – Zoom or Support Group Central. Information on how to access the online support groups will be on the NAMI Minnesota website. Most in-person classes are cancelled, but please check the website to see if they are being offered online.
NAMI Minnesota staff are very concerned about the mental health of the people served and the greater community. Call the warm line at 651-288-0400 or text “Support” to 85511 or call 844-739-6369.
Call the local crisis team at **CRISIS (**274747) or check the NAMI website for the county numbers.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800- 273-TALK (8255).
Use the Crisis Lifeline by texting MN to 741741.
Call the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800- 985-5990.
