While the full impact of this epidemic is yet to be known, there are still ways, large and small, that we can step up and do our little bit to make a difference.
It can be extremely frustrating to be stuck at home during the COVID-19 crisis, while watching or reading stories of neighbors in our community struggling, small businesses just trying to get by, and nonprofits working on the frontlines to address basic human needs. While the full impact of this epidemic is yet to be know, there are still ways, large and small, that we can step up and do our little bit to make a difference.
If you are wondering how you can help at this time?
Here’s a list of ten suggestions:
- 1) Donate to local community relief funds – here’s a pretty extensive list of ones available: https://candid.org/explore-issues/coronavirus/funds
- 2) Give to your local foodbank (unemployment is at an all-time high with more and more people filling for disability and needing access to food) – find your nearest foodbank here. Be sure to contact them and ask for any restrictions, what items they need the most and how to go about donating while adhering to current guidelines: https://www.feedingamerica.org/
- 3) Purchase goods online for active donation drives or charities through YouGiveGoods: https://yougivegoods.com/explore
- 4) Dine Local: consider purchasing gift cards or using resources like DoorDash, Grubhub or Uber Eats to look for locally owned restaurants
- 5) Want to see what kinds of assistance your neighbors need or just connect for inspiring ideas in your community.
- Consider using the NextDoor app and looking in their "Help Map": https://www.bhg.com/news/nextdoor-app-help-others-coronavirus/
- Or, explore Facebook's newly launched Community Help page: https://www.facebook.com/coronavirus_info/?page_source=bookmark
- Or search online for a "Mutual Aid" network in your community
- 6) Consider, if you are able, still donating blood (in fact, there's a shortage): https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus--covid-19--and-blood-donation.html
- 7) Want to volunteer on your own time? Ask the nonprofit directly if they are accepting volunteers. Some have restrictions during this time…other have made adjustments offering virtual volunteer opportunities. A few ideas: become a crisis counselor for a hotline, consider tutoring kids online, or delivering meals to a senior citizen but leaving it on their doorstep.
- 8) Consider fostering a pet during the crisis – without volunteers or essential workers in the shelters many animals are lacking interaction at time.
- 9) Share good or helpful news: keep others inspired, share links to articles that provide support for individuals or advice, but most importantly spread messages of joy and hope
- 10) Finally, continue practicing social distancing!
If you’ve been impacted financially by the coronavirus, you may qualify for mortgage assistance. Please read our FAQs page for more information.
