Image Source: Dio Hasbi Saniskoro
Recently, a friend admitted to me they feel uncomfortable receiving a government stimulus check because they feel fortunate enough to be financially, emotionally, and physically well – recognizing many others might not feel the same security during these turbulent times.
Regardless of which category you fall in, one way to view such a credit is as a support for the hardship you’re currently experiencing – whether that’s job loss, displacement, health insecurity, the emotional impacts of social distancing, or anything in between. For those who feel similarly to my friend, the check is also a way to stimulate our economy by supporting businesses feeling the financial impact of the pandemic.
It is 100% acceptable to save this money and invest in yourself or use it to support the financial impact you’ve felt from the pandemic. But if you are at all like my friend or want to donate even a portion of your funds, below is a list of organizations and causes you could consider supporting.
What we’re experiencing is unprecedented for everyone. Our communities, society, and way of life as we know it have been completely disrupted, and people are struggling – from frontline staff at health centers to children suddenly out of school, from homeless, refugee, and individuals finding themselves stuck in dangerous living environments to workers who have lost their livelihood or vulnerable populations who are now rendered even more vulnerable. The most important thing to remember is the best way forward is together. When we replace “I” with “We”, even illness becomes wellness.
Frontlines of the Fight
American Red Cross: If you are ineligible to donate blood or do not feel safe venturing anywhere in-person right now, consider a monetary donation to the American Red Cross.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy Covid-19 Response Fund: Helping healthcare workers purchase PPE; supporting vulnerable, quarantined individuals; and supporting health promotion campaigns to limit spread of the virus.
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund: A joint effort by the WHO, UN Foundation, and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation to support testing, treatment, vaccine research, and medical supply distribution.
Direct Relief: Supplies lifesaving medical resources, including PPE for frontline workers.
Donate PPE: A fund to support supplying critical personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline healthcare workers in hotspots across the US – NYC, LA, SF, New Orleans, New Jersey.
Gary Sinise Foundation: Provides grants to first responders in need of PPE.
Global Empowerment Mission: Provides masks and hygiene kits to hospitals, medical professionals, and general public.
Local Hospitals: If your local hospitals and clinics are looking for PPE or food support for their staff, you can donate!
Team Rubicon: Mobilizes military veterans to support partners delivering food, water, and shelter and operate testing sites and call centers.
United Way Worldwide: Local United Ways support communities struggling in the wake of the virus. Think connecting families to food pantries or helping those experiencing financial hardship.
UNICEF USA: Delivers medical supplied to health workers worldwide.
Shelter
Coalition for the Homeless: Coalition provides meals, emergency supplies, crisis services, and assistance to homeless New Yorkers, a current hotspot of the outbreak.
Covenant House: A human rights organization that helps homeless youth, especially those at risk during the outbreak.
Family Promise: Supporting families in 43 states financially to remain housed.
Local Animal Shelters: Even our furry companions are experiencing housing insecurity right now. Animal shelters and rescue groups across the country are reducing hours and canceling fundraisers to protect their staff still required to care for animals. Consider helping by adopting or fostering pets to reduce the strain on shelters or donate to your local shelter to support their services right now!
Local Homeless Shelters: Alternatively, you could contact a local shelter in your community to see if they need non-perishable goods, clothing, basic supplies, or monetary support!
Local Women’s Shelters: Individuals forced to #stayathome in unsafe, dangerous living environments need support more now than ever. Contact your local women’s shelter to see how you can support their efforts.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Also consider donating to this hotline to continue supporting those forced to stay in unsafe environments!
Ronald McDonald House Charities: Support meals and housing for families of children with serious illnesses. They are also working to provide spaces for frontline healthcare workers.
Salvation Army: Support shelter, food, and childcare through the Salvation Army.
Food & Education
Local Food Pantries: Do you have non-perishable goods or supplies you can donate to your local food pantries? Are they accepting monetary donations as well?
Feeding America: Feeding America supports 200+ food banks across the country and is doing even more to support food bank capacity during the pandemic.
Feed the Children: Also working with partner agencies to provide food to those in need.
Meals on Wheels: Delivers meals to seniors across the country, which is even more critical for many isolated seniors scared to venture out during the pandemic.
No Kid Hungry: Providing emergency grants to help schools and communities feed children and families while schools are closed.
Pizza vs. Pandemic: Slice Out Hunger organizes pizza deliveries from independent pizzerias to workers at care centers and shelters.
Preemptive Love: Feeds quarantined families and creates virtual jobs so refugees can work from anywhere!
World Food Programme: Provides food assistance to children globally.
World Vision: Providing emergency kits of food and cleaning supplies to low-income families and PPE to health care workers.
Blessings in a Backpack: This organization is partnering with school districts to support summer feeding programs during the pandemic!
Boys & Girls Club of America: Raising funds to provide food to the kids participating in its 2,500+ clubs across the country, as well as creating digital learning resources.
First Book: Delivering books to children without access to Internet or home libraries.
Save the Children: Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams have partnered with Save the Children to provide meals, books, and virtual learning to children across America. #savewithstories
Job Loss
Artist Relief Fund: An emergency fund to offer financial and informational resources to artists affect by the pandemic across the country.
CERF+: A fund to support artists experiencing health impacts.
The Foundation for Contemporary Arts: Raising an emergency fund to support artists who have lost income.
Freelancers Union: Established a relief fund to support freelancers impacted by COVID-19.
Immigrant Worker Safety Net Fund: National Day Laborer Organizing Network fund for migrant workers.
The National Domestic Workers Alliance’ Coronavirus Care Fund: Provides emergency assistance to home care workers nannies, and house keepers who are experiencing financial hardship during the pandemic.
One Fair Wage Emergency Fund: Cash assistance for tipped restaurant workers, delivery drivers, personal service workers, and others affected by the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation: Fund distributed to individual restaurant workers, non-profits helping restaurant workers, and to restaurants as loans.
WeCount! Immigrant Worker COVID-19 Fund: An emergency assistance fund for immigrant and undocumented workers in South Florida.
United States Bartenders Guild: Offering emergency grants to bartenders and their families.
Vulnerable Populations
Above and Beyond Solidarity Fund: Thousand Currents is raising funds for grassroots partners responding to vulnerable communities, whose existing inequities have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Freedom for Immigrant’s National Bond Fund: A fund that helps release immigrants in detention centers who cannot otherwise afford their own bail. This is especially important so individuals can process their cases from home while also following social distancing guidelines.
Free Wheelchair Mission: Provides children and adults with disabilities with medical supplies and aids.
Humanity & Inclusion: Dispatching international response teams to people with disabilities and providing hygiene kits, visits, and psychological support.
Know Your Rights Camp Covid-19 Relief Fund: Supports black and brown communities, which are disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, with food, shelter, relief, education, and PPE. Thank you, Colin Kaepernick!
Lawyers for Good Government Foundation: Helping asylum seekers being held in refugee camps. Donations support volunteer lawyers provide these essential services.
Liberty Hill Foundation: A rapid response fund to help black, brown, Asian, indigenous, and queer communities during the pandemic.
National Bailout: Support an organization that uses funds to get people out of jails, prisons, and detention centers (all currently especially susceptible to COVID spread).
Native Americans in Philanthropy: A response fund for Native American communities.
The National Council on Aging: Provide older adults with food, medicine, and other necessities.
PNWA’s coronavirus Emergency Response Fund: Donate to provide critical supplies to Native American communities.
This is by no means a comprehensive list as there are many local, national, and international organizations working tirelessly to provide relief from the pandemic. If you know of other ways to pay it forward, please comment below!