There are so many people that need help during the coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately, there are also so many ways that you can help. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but I’ve rounded up a few.
Make Donations:
Many organizations are taking donations if you can afford to give right now. Donate money to your local food bank (you can find one here) or to Feeding America to help people who need food. Meals on Wheels delivers healthy meals to seniors who are especially at-risk right now and may be unable to leave the house. No-Kid Hungry helps millions of kids who rely on schools for meals. Direct Relief provides protective medical equipment and essential medical items to healthcare workers. Use the Homeless Shelter Directory to give to homeless shelters and service organizations. The CDC Foundation started a crowdfunding campaign to deploy emergency staffing, fund and deliver home essentials like food and medical needs to quarantined and socially isolated people, build out global response efforts, and more. You could also give to this Coronavirus Relief Fund that distributes donations to six causes. You can change the allocation between multiple organizations or distribute it evenly. If you are healthy, you can donate blood to the American Red Cross.
Volunteer Remotely:
You can volunteer while social distancing. Mentor a student with iCouldBe. Get paired with a cross-generational “pen pal” and text, video chat, or call someone who is over 70 if you’re younger than 70 or vice versa with A Call to Care. Be a remote crisis counselor for the Crisis Text Line. Here is a good roundup of other ways you can volunteer remotely.
Help Small Businesses:
Small businesses across the world are closed which means many business owners and their employees are temporarily out of work. If you can afford to, you could buy gift cards, shop small businesses online, and sign up for at-home and streaming workout classes. Organizations like the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, and One Fair Wage are supporting restaurant workers, in-home care workers, nannies, house cleaners, and tipped workers.
Teach Classes:
This one is inspired by my fitness instructor friends like Kayla Kleinman who are hosting workout classes online. Offer to teach classes for your friends who have kids and are trying to homeschool and work. Call people who might be less tech-savvy and teach them how to use FaceTime, Zoom, and other ways to stay in touch.
Check-in With People:
Call your family and friends and see if they need anything. Check-in with people and tell them you love them — be social, while socially distancing. Calling or FaceTiming people will also be a huge help if you are feeling lonely. It is even harder than usual now to be single and live alone when you are social distancing, so definitely reach out to single friends and see how they are doing. It’s especially important to see how you can help people who are at-risk like your parents or grandparents and older neighbors. They may not feel comfortable grocery shopping or running other errands so — if you are healthy! — help. If you have friends and family who are medical care providers, see how they are doing.
Practice Social Distancing:
Nurses, doctors, grocery store clerks, sanitation workers, police officers, and more can’t stay home right now and are helping keep everyone else safe and healthy. If you are someone who is able to practice social distancing, please do it so we can all do our part to stop it from spreading.
