G
rafton – According to a March 26 press release, there are now five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grafton. Public Health officials are working closely with the individuals and will notify others that the individuals may have been in contact with.
Grafton has established remote participation protocols for all boards and committees. Guidelines for public meetings and participation will be posted to www.grafton-ma.gov.
Grafton officials have not yet determined whether to postpone elections. The decision to postpone the town election scheduled for May 19 will be left to the Board of Selectmen and/or the Board of Registrars. This matter will be discussed at an upcoming Select Board meeting
Seniors seeking alternative transportation to keep required appointments should contact one of the following transportation services: Worcester Yellow Cab, 508-754-3211; GoGo Grandparents, 855-464-6872; Reliable Medical Transport, 508-322-1870 or 508-963-2865; Respect 24/7, 508-757-9111.
The Grafton Food Bank has enacted protocols to ensure the safety of volunteers and residents when picking up food. Their updated protocol is posted to their webpage at www.graftonfoodbank.org.
The town has established a “Grafton Strong” donation page available for those that wish to donate to residents and businesses in Grafton who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. These funds will be held in an account consistent with MGL Ch. 44, 53A until the Select Board authorizes the expenditure of the gift funds for the purpose in which they were intended. To donate, visit www.grafton-ma.gov and click the “PayBills Online” link on the left side of the page. Once you are on the Grafton Unipay page, click the “Donations” tab. Click the box and then click “Grafton Strong Donations.”
The town is also looking to connect with local established charities to assist with linking those that wish to provide donations (monetary or otherwise) to Grafton residents who are struggling with the effects of COVID-19. If you are or know of a Grafton-based charity and are interested in assisting, please reach out to the Town Administrator’s Office at [email protected].
In order to facilitate the sense of community, the Grafton Community Television group is beginning a “Stay at Home Video Campaign.” Share messages of hope and unity for senior citizens, show the community how you’re spending your day, share fun activities for kids, a recipe, teach a new skill, sing a song, or just say hello. If you want to provide a short (up to 3 minutes) video about your “stay at home” experience, send it to [email protected]. Videos will be compiled and posted to the GCTV public access channel (Charter channel 191, Verizon channel 34) and social media.
A COVID-19 text alert system has been established for immediate updates from the state. Please text COVIDMA to 888-777 to subscribe. You can also call the informational and referral hotline from the state at 211 or the Central Mass. Regional Public Health Alliance at 508-799-1019.
