Upper Arlington older adults and caregivers dealing with the aftermath of the Aug. 11 storms can get free, in-person help connecting to food assistance, utility aid and mental health services when the UA CARES Helpdesk opens Sept. 2 at Bob Crane Community Center, 3200 Tremont Road.

The walk-in session begins at 10 a.m. No appointment is needed.

UA CARES, which stands for Community Assistance, Referrals and Education Services, is a city program housed within the Fire Division. Licensed social worker Nate Hall staffs the Helpdesk, meeting one-on-one with residents to answer questions about aging-in-place resources, home safety checks and caregiver support. The city introduced Hall in May, describing the program as a way to expand support for residents before, during and after a crisis.

Straight-line winds of 90 to 100 mph tore through Upper Arlington on Aug. 11, downing trees and power lines across the city, Spectrum News reported. As of Aug. 19, crews were still working to collect roughly 50,000 cubic yards of storm debris, according to the city. Bob Crane Community Center itself served as a charging and cooling station for residents who lost power during the outage.

For residents who lost refrigerated food during the power outages, the city noted that SNAP Program participants may be eligible for spoiled-food reimbursement benefits. The Upper Arlington Community Foundation's Good Neighbor Fund is also available to help with storm-related financial impacts.

Beyond older adults, the Helpdesk serves younger adults, families and anyone who needs connections to Franklin County services. Hall can also point residents toward resources they may not know exist.

The CARES Helpdesk also holds regular sessions at the Upper Arlington Public Library's Lane Road Branch, 1945 Lane Road. The next library session is Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Residents who cannot wait until Sept. 2 can reach UA CARES by phone at 614-583-5352 or by email at [email protected].

Upcoming community dates: