A Few Ways To Give Back to Those Who Need Us During COVID-19
Hi friends! Hope you’re all staying happy and safe and HOME. During this time, it’s so important for us to all do what we can to support our communities and those in need. I wanted to pull together a few ways we can give back to those in need during COVID-19 from the comfort of our own couch. Some of the below ways are also FREE. The most important thing we can all do is stay home. By doing so, we are greatly supporting our communities, families and heroes of this pandemic, the healthcare workers and those working at grocery stores providing us with what we need to survive but in turn, risking their own health and safety. We owe it to them and to the people who have lost their jobs in this crisis to both stay home as much as we can and give whatever we can to support them. There are endless incredible organizations that do amazing work. I pulled together a few awesome ways we can all give back while we do out part by simply staying home. Please continue reading and SPREAD THE WORD.
We are better when we are in this TOGETHER.
image via Pinterest
DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK HELPING TO FEED FAMILIES IN NEED
I have been donating to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. DONATE HERE: https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/
GIVE POTENTIAL LIFE SAVING SUPPORT TO THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED
I personally know two people whose lives were saved by a bone marrow transplant. But matches are extremely hard to find and people in need of one are at a very high risk during this pandemic. There is a way we can help… FROM HOME. A close friend of a very close friend of mine, Jen, is working to increase registrants for the national bone marrow registry, Be the Match. She was motivated initially by finding a match for her dad, but now has been inspired to make a life-long commitment of finding donors and raising awareness. For patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure. Yet 70% of patients who need a transplant to do not have a fully matched donor in their family. They depend on Be The Match. You can sign up for the bone marrow registry here: http://join.bethematch.org/rob or simply text: “Rob” to 61474. You can make a difference – whether through bone marrow donation, giving a financial gift. If you are a match you then go through other preliminary screenings and then if identified to still be a match, the donation is just like giving blood as they no longer have to drill into bone. There is a machine that separates the stem cells from the blood and then returns the blood to the donor, obtaining the stem cells for the transplant to be sent to the recipient. This is an amazing FREE way you can potentially save someones life without leaving your home.
SUPPORT CULINARY CARE
Culinary care is an organization that partners with local restaurants to deliver free meals to cancer patients in Chicago. They are adhering to the strictest guidelines to ensure they can continue to provide nourishment and support. Here are two ways you can support this amazing organization and in turn, give nourishment to the immune compromised.
BUY GIFT CARDS: Purchase gift cards to any Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, Maggiano's, Goddess & Grocer, Rosebud, Carmine's, Doc B's, Blue Door Farm Stand, or Chicago q. Send them to info@culinarycare.org or mail them directly to us at 1658 N Milwaukee Ave, #333, Chicago, IL, 60647 and they will use them to purchase additional meals.
SUPPORT RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPACTED
The restaurant industry nationwide has been greatly impacted by this pandemic. Here are a couple of organizations doing great things to support this industry, but please do what you can locally to support your local restaurants and their workers.
One of my favorite restaurant groups, Lettuce Entertain You started a Go Fund Me to support their out of work employees. Here is the link to the Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/LEYEemployeerelief?member=&utm_source=twilio&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=contacts-v2-invite-to-donate
Chicago Hospitality United is supporting workers from over 100 Chicago restaurants who are out of work. A local artist/restaurant owner designed a line of tees, sweatshirts, tote bags and bumper stickers to raise funds for Chicago’s food and beverage community. 100% of the net proceeds will go directly towards financial relief for hourly employees affected. Find the products here: https://stockmfgco.com/collections/chicago-hospitality-united-100-of-proceeds-go-to-hourly-chicago-workers
A friend of mine who lives in Philly also designed and launched a line of tees, tanks and sweatshirts to support the restaurant workers currently out of a job in Philly. You can shop her awesome line here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/hope-for-hospitality/
The Sandbox Chicago, a start-up oversized game bar, has started making what they call, Nostalgia Care Packages! The care packages are filled with your childhood favorite snacks, and adult versions of your favorite childhood drinks, like Capri Suns, Squeeze Its and ice pops. The proceeds benefit hospitality workers! Perfect gift, am I right!? Find them here: https://store.thesandboxchicago.com/products/sandbox-nostalgia-care-package
SUPPORT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
If you know anyone in the healthcare field, offer to babysit or watch their pets during this time they are working on overdrive. With schools and various daycare centers being closed, they may need your help so they can keep helping us.
https://disasterphilanthropy.org/ and https://www.directrelief.org/ are two incredible organizations that are currently set up to give resource support and medical supply relief to healthcare workers. As we’ve seen around social media, masks, gowns, and other protective gear are at a terrifying shortage in our healthcare system, and your donation will aid in this effort.
Fred Astaire dance studio also started a movement called “Million Mask MOVEment”. They are raising money to continue to both employ their seamstresses AND produce N95 medical-grade masks to be donated. You can donate to their efforts here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fads-million-mask-movement?utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2B5806-thank-you-ask-share
DON’T FORGET YOUR LOCAL CHARITIES
Charities only thrive when disposable income is available, so they already operate on money that isn’t always promised. Many charities have put out urgent wish lists with links to Amazon shops. For example, the Ronald McDonald Houses of Chicago & Northwest Indiana, and in my hometown of Madison (though I’m sure Houses everywhere), are requesting gift cards from local restaurants so that they are able to purchase food for the families staying at the House while also helping to keep local restaurants afloat. An awesome example of helping each other to get through these tough times.
More information on the needs of the RMHC Chicago and Northwest Indiana House is here: https://www.facebook.com/Ronald.McDonald.House.CNI/
More information on the needs of the RMHC Madison House is here:
https://www.facebook.com/rmhcmadison/
BE KIND TO GROCERY STORE CLERKS (AND EVERYONE FOR THAT MATTER)
While whole cities are going on lockdown, grocery stores aren’t. What this means is that these individuals are truly risking their own health (and their families) to tirelessly make sure shelves are stocked and product is readily available. The least we can do is be extra kind when shopping.
AND THE EASIEST WAY TO GIVE BACK: STAY THE HECK HOME. PLEASE.
If you aren’t financially able to donate, you can continue to do your part by flattening the curve. A few of the above causes are also FREE. You know what else is free? Spreading the word about these amazing causes and of course, STAYING HOME. It’s also the bravest and most selfless thing you can do for your family, neighbor and country right now. So please, do your part by simply STAYING HOME. It’s a very small ask and by doing so, we are flattening the curve and saving lives.
Sending love, light, happiness, positivity and health to all of you.
xx Ali