The late Fred Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” During this time of uncertainty, it is too easy to become wrapped up in the frightening statistics, watching the events unfold and feeling as though there’s not much else you can do other than sit inside and wait to hear what’s next. But look closer at your local community and you will see there are people stepping up to help others because, at the end of the day, we’re all in this together. To spread some positivity, we’ve compiled a list of some of the amazing ways communities and organizations across the United States are giving back to one another.
New York City: A 21-year-old Forms the Invisible Hands Delivery Service
What began as an offering of help to get groceries for an 83-year-old neighbor quickly turned into Yale University student Liam Elkind forming the Invisible Hands food delivery service. He gathered other volunteers to help purchase necessary groceries and other items, like prescriptions, for those who are most at risk of contracting and developing complications due to COVID-19. They set specific guidelines for those wanting to participate to keep everyone safe: You must not have traveled internationally for at least 14 days, exhibit no symptoms, and practice social distancing and other safety precautions while shopping and delivering. As of March 19, Invisible Hands had 2,500 volunteers who have made over 100 deliveries all over the region.
Large Companies Donate to Organizations Helping Support Hospitality Workers
Because of bar and restaurant closures, many hourly employees have been left without income, but large companies are stepping up to help. The United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) typically offers small financial grants for bartenders in need, whether due to natural disasters or illness. With the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been reaching out for financial assistance. To help support the USBG, brands like Jameson, Screwball Whiskey, and Singani 63, along with billionaire Mark Cuban, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Patrón Tequila also donated $1,000,000 that was split between three separate organizations centered around hospitality workers: Another Round, Another Rally; Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE); and The James Beard Foundation.
Seattle: Local Woman Urges Residents to Donate Unused Masks from Home for Healthcare Workers
Much of the focus lately has been centered on the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospitals and medical offices, putting many in the medical field at high risk of exposure. In an effort to help locate necessary N95 respirator masks for them, Julianne Dalcanton, chair of the University of Washington astronomy department, created an online form requesting donations from the general public. She realized she had eight masks simply sitting in her basement from previous projects and figured many others would have the same. Fortunately, she was right – within 48 hours, she was able to bring in roughly 1,700 unused masks to distribute to area health care workers.
What Can You Do?
While these are just a few examples of ways people are getting involved with the community, there is so much more than can be done. If you or your business are capable of giving back, whether through monetary donations, donations of PPE for medical facilities, and more, now is the time. Share your goals and encourage more community involvement through your social media channels – your business may just start the next big local movement to help in the fight against COVID-19. Let us not only look for the helpers, but become the helpers in our own communities during this time of need.
If your business has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, contact Amplified Digital Agency for a no obligation marketing communication consultation. We are also offering a COVID-19 Communication Toolkit to help you navigate this challenging time with your company.