As the novel coronavirus has spread throughout the country, it has forced people indoors and ground daily life as we know it to a near halt.
Healthcare workers on the front lines face a shortage of supplies, and the virus has forced the mass cancellation of events as well as the closures of schools and business, leaving many out of work.
In this time of need, here is a running list of some ways you can help.
If you have more ideas and suggestions, please send them to bhelfand@pioneerpress.com.
HELPING A NONPROFIT OR HOSPITAL
Donate to a GoFundMe. No matter what you’re looking for, GoFundMe likely has a campaign to help, from individuals to small businesses to nonprofits. If you’re not set on a certain cause but are just looking to help, GoFundMe has its own COVID-19 Relief Fund, which had raised more than $168,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. So far, that fund had doled out grants to United Way and Feeding America, as well as pledging money toward an Italian hospital, an organization in Canada which provides food for the elderly and a food truck in Boston which offers meal deliveries to those in need, among other causes.
Help local organizations working to provide meals and essentials. The Sheridan Story, based in Roseville, helps fill in food gaps when kids cannot receive free and reduced meals. With schools closed for months, The Sheridan Story has ramped up their production and distribution of meals. You can help by donating money or packing food into bags. Stillwater-based Meals from the Heart is seeking $75,000 to in donations to pack and deliver 300,000 meals to Minnesota and Western Wisconsin food shelves. A fund has been created to match donations up to $10,000. The Khidma Initiative is looking to connect volunteers, who would deliver food and essential supply kits, to those experiencing hardships and at-risk populations who cannot leave the house. Community Thread is matching people with volunteers in the Stillwater Area School District to provide assistance and is also collecting gift cards for groceries and other essentials. Volunteer work could include phone-call check ins, grocery/meal/medication delivery or transportation to medical appointments.
Donate medical supplies. There is a national shortage of medical supplies that will continue grow even more dire as hospitals accept an influx of patients. If you have protective gear — N-95 masks, hospital gowns, gloves and other gear — consider donating to front-line medical workers. You can search donation sites on #GetUSPPE’s website (Get Us Personal Protection Equipment) or contact a local hospital.
Become an on-call driver for Meals on Wheels. The program, which delivers nutritious meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities, is taking extra precautions to ensure drivers and meal recipients are protected. To accommodate an increase in clients, they are looking for drivers to help deliver meals.
Donate supplies or money to a domestic violence program or a shelter. Visit Violence Free Minnesota’s website or contact a shelter near you to find out about their needs. People Serving People is asking for donations of hand sanitizer, baby wipes and other essentials as well as coloring books and other activities to keep kids occupied.
Fund an emergency food box. Second Harvest Heartland is asking for help funding emergency boxes to hand out needed meals to families facing hunger because of missed work. A $50 donation can provide three emergency food boxes. Currently, Securian Financial is providing a guaranteed match of $250,000, so your donation goes twice as far.
Help create masks. Blue Cross and Allina Health along with their community partners have enlisted volunteers around the state to sew and donate masks to medical workers. They estimate it takes about 15 minutes to make one mask. Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul has also been providing free kits to help sewers create masks. JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores have made an online tutorial for those looking to create masks and are encouraging people to drop off masks that will then be distributed to hospitals at their stores. Check with your local store to see if they have any “Take & Make” mask kits to sew.
Give away an old computer. PCs for People, the St. Paul-based technology nonprofit has put out a call for donated computers as they deal with an increase in demand to help connect underserved communities. Laptops are needed the most, they say, but there is also a need for desktop computers. Stu Keroff, a social studies teacher at Aspen Academy in Savage, is also collecting old laptops to wipe clean and give to recent immigrant and low-income families to connect them to online distance learning. Donors can contact him at Stu.Keroff@AspenAcademyMN.org.
Donate to the Salvation Army. Donations made to the Salvation Army North Division will be matched up to $500,000 thanks to a pledge from multiple sources. The Salvation Army has transitioned to to-go meals and instead of client shopping, they are preparing boxes of food for people to pick up with no contact. In addition, the Salvation Army says “emergency shelters and transitional and permanent housing programs continue with added safety procedures in place, and emergency assistance for help with rent, utilities and transportation are continuing.”
HELPING NEIGHBORS, BUSINESSES, OTHERS
Stay home when you can. The best way to help yourself, your neighbors, health care workers and others is by hunkering down inside to prevent the spread of the virus. If you must come into contact with people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructs people to keep a distance of six feet in between each person. Walking outside for exercise is still allowed, even for states that have shelter-in-place orders in effect.
Check in with your friends, family and neighbors. At a time when stress and anxiety levels are up due to the spread of the outbreak and economic uncertainty, checking in with those around you to make sure they are doing OK has taken on an even greater importance. A text, call or quick video chat could be helpful, especially for those who are in social isolation.
Offer to help your elderly or immunocompromised neighbors, as well as those in quarantine — but only if you can do so safely. If you are healthy and able to do so, helping those who are not able to pick up groceries and other essentials could go a long way. In doing so, make sure to disinfect anything they may come into contact with and leave it outside a door. Volunteering to walk their dog is another way to help.
Support your favorite dining establishment. Bars and restaurants may be closed for dining in, but you can still support your favorite neighborhood joint. Many restaurants have stayed open during this time for dine in and delivery, and you can help them stay afloat by placing an order. Remember to tip your courier, who is putting him or herself in harm’s way. Alternatively, you could buy a gift card now to use in the future when dining in becomes an option once again.
Give blood if you are healthy. The American Red Cross is now facing a blood shortage across the country as blood drives have been canceled as a result of the outbreak. They are asking for volunteers, though if you have traveled to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, Italy or South Korea in the past 28 days or if you have been diagnosed or exposed to someone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, they are asking you to hold off on a donation for now. Memorial Blood Centers is also reporting an urgent need for donors of all blood types.
Check out Nextdoor. The social networking site which connects people with their neighbors has a help map where you can offer help and support to those around you.
Volunteer to babysit. If you are a local university student with a valid student ID, up to date vaccinations and have passed a background check through an academic program, you can volunteer to babysit through MN Covidsitters, where you will be looking after the children of health care and public health workers.
Foster a pet. Or even adopt one, if you have the time and funds. Many people are looking for companionship as a result of social distancing and isolation and, animal shelters around the country are looking for fosters as many staffs have been stripped down.
Pick a Doing Good Together project. The Minneapolis-based national nonprofit has compiled a list of activities people can do for “kitchen table kindness,” including ways to share your appreciation with people on the front lines of the crisis or setting up a card-making station and sending mail to local nursing homes.