Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, staying connected with friends and family has become a critical part of our mental health and well-being. While we may have our loved ones’ phone numbers on speed dial, it’s also important to be familiar with the services and programs that can help make our lives easier or help us in a crisis. Many of us may already have a list of emergency numbers tacked up on the fridge, and it’s definitely worth your while to add some of the following numbers to that list. You can find a printable list of important phone numbers for the services outlined below as well as several others at nyassembly.gov/mem/Al-Stirpe.

The Onondaga County Department of Social Services helps with submitting HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) applications. HEAP benefits help income-eligible households pay for home heating. You can reach this department by dialing 211, and find further information and application instructions at ongov.net/dss/heap/index.html. You can learn more about HEAP at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap. Additionally, the Veterans Service Agency helps veterans and their dependents obtain benefits, medical treatment and nursing home care without resorting to Social Services funding. You can contact this agency at 435-3219, and further information can be found at ongov.net/veterans.

The Onondaga County Office for Aging helps seniors and their caregivers receive the services they need, offering both community-based and in-home programs. It also provides information related to healthy living and home care. You can reach this office at 435-2362, and further information can be found at ongov.net/aging.

The Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) oversees waste management and recycling services, offering composting programs and drop-off sites for trash and recycling. The agency also sells mulch and compost, which can be bought at local stores. This agency can be reached at 453-2866, and further information can be found at ocrra.org/about-us.

The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Neighborhood Watch of CNY allows residents to enlist in a crime prevention program in cooperation with local law enforcement to reduce the rate of neighborhood crime. Neighborhood watch programs are a way to provide communities with extra surveillance while also providing basic crime-prevention skills to watch members. This office can be reached at 435-3201, and further information can be found at sheriff.ongov.net/community-relations/neighborhood-watch-cny.

Finally, my own office offers a variety of constituent services. These include helping residents with COVID-19 services, including unemployment benefits; connecting constituents with local services and state agencies; obtaining benefits, government forms and applications; replacing lost medals and awards for veterans; and getting information on programs such as EPIC, HEAP and STAR. We can also answer a variety of questions about state government. You can reach my office at 452-1115 or StirpeA@nyassembly.gov.

I hope that this information helped showcase the wide variety of local programs and services available to Central New York residents, and I encourage you to keep these phone numbers handy. As always, my office welcomes questions and concerns and can be reached at the number, email and website provided.