With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. There are many vulnerable and underserved populations that don’t have the necessary resources they need during this time of COVID-19.
If you want to help out, here is a list of local groups and organizations within the Columbus, Bay Area, New York, and New Jersey communities.
Columbus, Ohio
American Red Cross
Facing a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on life-saving blood.
- Needed: Blood donations
Columbus Foundation Emergency Response Fund
As one of the top 10 largest community foundations in the United States, the Columbus Foundation has set up a special fund requesting donations in support of nonprofit organizations in Franklin County that are responding to the spread of COVID19 and are experiencing financial hardship by doing so.
- Needed: Donations
Equitas Health Services
Equitas provides healthcare services to those at risk or affected by HIV/AIDS, for the LGBTQ community, and for those seeking a welcoming healthcare home.
- Needed: Donations
Lifecare Alliance
LifeCare Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that provides a comprehensive array of health and nutrition services to residents of Central Ohio. LifeCare Alliance’s mission is to lead in identifying and delivering health and nutrition services to meet the community’s changing needs. Volunteers urgently needed Meals on Wheels deliveries.
- Needed: Volunteers and Donations
MidOhio Foodbank
Partners with grocers, food companies, Ohio farmers, the USDA, community partners to obtain food and distribute it to 650 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs and senior housing sites across Central and Eastern Ohio. Volunteers needed to prepare more meals for children, especially over the coming weeks when schools are closed. Also in “great need” of volunteers to help prepare pre-packaged boxes of dairy, protein, produce, bread and shelf-stable food for distribution to customer vehicles.
- Needed: Volunteers, Donations
Ronald McDonald Charities of Central Ohio
Requesting financial support of meal programs for guests of the Ronald McDonald House.
- Needed: Donations
Southside Roots
Supports a pay-what-you-can cafe, affordable fresh foods market, weekly community meals and a kids cafe meal program for students at Southside Learning and Development Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus. Currently providing healthy, pre-packaged carry-out meals.
- Needed: Donations
United Way of Central Ohio
United Way of Central Ohio and a coalition of partners are working with local nonprofits to identify critical needs and gaps in resources. These needs may include access to food and household essentials, child care, and keeping the community’s safety net strong as this crisis continues. Safeguards will be put in place to ensure these emergency funds are disseminated with urgency and used to support those who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
- Needed: Donations
Can’t Stop Columbus
An online hacking event where anyone can contribute to the Covid-19 situation by defining challenges, building projects, and sharing resources.
- Needed: Volunteers
List of Central Ohio organizations providing free meals for children
Bay Area California
American Red Cross
Facing a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on life-saving blood.
- Needed: Blood donations
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels provide nutritious meals and daily safety checks for homebound seniors while reducing risks associated with loneliness, depression, and falls. MOWSF is an essential business that must remain open because thousands of older adults rely on them for meals.
- Needed: Donations, volunteers
Second Harvest
Second Harvest brings healthy food to Silicon Valley by distributing food to more than a quarter of a million people every month. Distribution and volunteer shifts are currently taking place as scheduled.
- Needed: Donations, volunteers
CALL Primrose
A non-profit providing free grocery assistance to low income families and individuals in San Mateo county. As an essential service provider, CALL Primrose is remaining open.
- Needed: Volunteers
Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly
LBFE invites people from all generations to provide interpersonal connectivity to older persons living in San Francisco. LBFE is continuing to operate and aiming to call elderly folks 2 times per week to keep them from getting lonely during this tough time of minimal person-to-person contact.
- Needed: Volunteers
Jewish Family and Children’s Services
One of the biggest social service providers in the Bay Area, they’re currently doing a lot of work with food insecurity and with the elderly who will likely not leave their homes for several weeks.
- Needed: Donations
SF Marin Foodbank
The Food Bank continues to do the day-in and day-out job of making sure vulnerable neighbors get the food they need. They’re looking to continue providing food and helping the community prepare for the challenges of COVID-19. Every $1 provides 2 meals.
- Needed: Donations, Volunteers
Silicon Valley Community Foundation Regional Response Fund
One of the largest community foundations in the nation, SVCF helps build and strengthen communities. Funds from SVCF’s COVID-19 Coronavirus Regional Response Fund will support lead organizations representing each of the nine Bay Area counties and their immediate efforts in addressing COVID-19 related challenges in their respective counties.
- Needed: Donations
Santa Clara County Emergency Assistance Network
The SCCGOV provides a variety of services to prevent homelessness and act as a safety net for residents facing eviction, utility disconnection, and hunger. The goal is to stabilize individuals and families during times of trouble.
- Needed: Donations
Spark SF Public Schools
While schools are closed, SFUSD is providing free daily meals to children and is working to ensure that all schools are clean and ready for when students return. Help SFUSD serve families during this emergency closure and help support the community’s health when students return.
- Needed: Donations
Hospitality House
A community-based organization located near downtown San Francisco, their mission is to build community strength by advocating for policies and rendering services which foster self-sufficiency and cultural enrichment. Meals for 30 shelter residents have been impacted by COVID-19.
- Needed: Donations
Ronald McDonald Charities of Bay Area
With new visitor restrictions, the volunteer resources RMHC rely on to house and feed hundreds of families each day are drastically reduced. Requesting financial support of meal programs for guests of the Ronald McDonald House.
- Needed: Donations
Save Our Faves
Favorite Bay Area restaurants might close forever because of “shelter-in-place.” Gift cards can help “flatten the curve” of lost income from COVID-19.
- Needed: Gift card purchases
East Coast (New York, New Jersey)
Foodbank NYC
Committed to ensuring New Yorkers in need continue to have access to meals during times of crisis. Currently 15 million meals are needed to help struggling New Yorkers.
- Needed: Donations
City Harvest
One of NYC’s largest food rescue organizations that is helping to feed 1.2 million New Yorkers struggling to put meals on their tables. City Harvest’s focus is feeding hungry New Yorkers and helping food-insecure families get access to nutritious food that fits their needs.
- Needed: Donations
The HOPE Program
HOPE empowers New Yorkers to build sustainable futures through job training and education. Staff are continuing to work to meet the needs of their community to ensure that the most vulnerable New Yorkers have the opportunity to move towards a bright future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
- Needed: Donations
The New York Community Trust
Created the NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund to aid nonprofit service providers struggling with the health and economic effects of the pandemic.
- Needed: Donations
The Hoboken Shelter
Their mission is to be a community partnership that provides meals for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and services to support people to become housed.
- Needed: Donations
As the situation with COVID-19 continues to rapidly change, our primary focus is to best meet the financial needs of our borrowers. For questions or concerns, our customer support will be available via email at support@upstart.com.
Stay up to date on the current COVID-19 situation through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization.
