How To Give Back During Coronavirus
Wondering how to give back during coronavirus? Here are a few amazing ways to help!
How are we all doing today? Not gonna lie, I’ve been having a hard time. I think we all have, right? I’m trying my best to stay positive, continue to write blog posts, and brainstorm content ideas that will be helpful for you guys right now… but I’m definitely struggling. Even when I keep up healthy habits, moments of sadness or anxiety still creep in.
Honestly, it felt like a weight was lifted when we rescheduled our wedding, but I’m now worried that we didn’t postpone far enough out. And like many, I’m extremely nervous about how this is going to affect my business and income. I’m grateful for the money I worked hard to save, but also bummed that I might need to dip into it instead of using it to buy a home like I had planned. And of course, I’m worried about the people I love! At the end of the day, the majority of my anxiety comes from the fact that I don’t want anyone I love to get sick. That’s really what it comes down to.
Whether you relate to any of that or you have completely different circumstances/views, I like to believe that ALL of us wish there was a way to make this situation better. And even though it’s easy to feel helpless, there are things that we can do to help right now. So let’s dive in!
How To Give Back During Coronavirus
Stay Home
I know this doesn’t really seem like giving back, but IT IS. At this point, the best thing we can do is stay home. Even asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people can spread this virus, so this is really the only way to not only protect ourselves, but also help essential workers and flatten the curve for our health care workers.
I know it sucks and you might not think it’s a big deal to hang out with friends or family members who don’t *seem* sick, especially if your state/local government hasn’t issued a stay at home order. But it is way past time to get on board with this. Just stay home. Please.
Donate To Direct Relief
I’ve been extremely upset that a lot of hospitals aren’t able to arm our health care workers with the supplies they need. I wanted to help, but I was only seeing requests for donations of physical masks… but why on earth would I have piles of N95 masks in my apartment?! So, I did some googling and found Direct Relief.
Direct Relief is working to deliver protective masks, exam gloves, and isolation gowns to health-care organizations, doctors, and nurses in areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases. You can donate here!
Donate blood
Hospitals are running extremely low on blood right now, but donation centers are still open! I’ll admit, I haven’t done this myself because it makes me really nervous and anxious. I’m hoping that I can maybe I can get over that at some point because as long as you aren’t feeling sick, anyone can donate. And even though donor blood isn’t being used to treat coronavirus patients, transfusions are still needed for trauma patients, organ transplants, or complications of childbirth.
You can find a place to donate through the American Association of Blood Banks locator or the Red Cross website.
Support your favorite small businesses
I know a lot of us need to be weary of our budgets right now… but if you have the means to purchase something from a small business or order takeout from your favorite restaurant right now, that can help them stay afloat. For me, cooking helps ease my anxiety, so we haven’t been ordering food as much. If you feel similarly, one way to help your favorite restaurants right now is to buy a gift card to use at a later time. We recently got gift cards to The Warbler and Spacca Napoli because if either of those restaurant went out of business, we would be devastated! Plus, it cheered me up to think about going to the restaurant to redeem the gift card when all of this is behind us.
Donate To Feeding America
Feeding America is raising money for their COVID-19 Response Fund. Every dollar raised will be used to get food and funds to local food banks all over the United States. Click here to donate.
Check in on elderly/immunocompromised loved ones and neighbors.
This is a scary time for all of us, but it’s even scarier for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. If you are healthy, check in on your loved ones and neighbors. Ask if you can help get groceries or prescriptions for them so they don’t have to leave their homes.
Write letters and send to nursing homes.
On a similar note, most nursing homes are not allowing visitors right now. Even though it’s for their own safety, I can imagine that’s still very isolating. One of my followers suggested writing letters and sending them to nursing homes as a little pick me up – to remind them that people are thinking about them and wishing them well. I especially think that this is a sweet idea if you have kids, too!!
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals to vulnerable seniors, which has never been more important that it is right now. Donations replenish food supplies, subsidize transportation and personnel, and enable their tech based efforts to check in on their recipients. You can donate to the national group or find out how you can help locally.
Donate to the CDC Foundation
The CDC is raising money for their Emergency Response Fund, which enables them to strengthen critical global health security needs and respond to public health emergencies, like the novel coronavirus.
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How To Give Back During Coronavirus in Chicago
Chicago Food Depository
The Chicago Food Depository is incredibly important to Chicago all the time, but especially now. The economic impact and school closures due to the coronavirus is increasing food insecurity and the Chicago Food Depository is doing everything they can to help. They accept food donations, but monetary donations help way more because they can buy food at cost. Plus, then you don’t have to physically go there and you can practice social distancing!! Click here to donate.
Donate to Lakeview Pantry
If you want to donate somewhere even more local, Lakeview Pantry is committed to supporting low income residents and families during this time. Donate here to help fund their online ordering portal, food pantry distribution, home food delivery to the elderly and disabled, food rescue from grocery stores around the city, and more!
Foster or Adopt and Animal
Just because shelters aren’t able to continue walk in adoptions at the moment, that doesn’t mean that animals don’t need homes right now! Chicago Animal Care and Control is posting about available pets on their Facebook page. If you see one that you would like, email visitcacc@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and reference # (that will be in the caption!).
PAWS Chicago is also moving this online, with a virtual adoption application. In the application, you will list which animals you would like to foster or adopt. After that, they will set up a time for you to meet them outdoors. There is a lot to consider before getting a puppy, but I am grateful every single day that we have sweet Luna to comfort us during this crazy time.
Go Fund Me for Chicago Masks
If you specifically want to help Chicago hospitals get masks, a few followers told me about this fundraiser and this fundraiser. I bet Go Fund Me has additional options for cities or communities near you, if you aren’t in Chicago, too! (PS. I do not personally know the people running these fundraisers.)
Volunteer to help those in need.
A local activist created a Chicago COVID-19 Mutual Aid Volunteer Sign-up google document to find volunteers to help those in need in the Chicago area.
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Did I miss any ways to give back during coronavirus?
If so, let me know below! Thanks so much, friends!
PS. You might also like Free At Home Workouts Right Now, Work From Home Tips, A Letter to Brides Affected by COVID-19, and How To Stay Healthy During Coronavirus.
