Okay, so we're all in an international pandemic no one would have ever imagined, we're in a stay at home order and we have time on our hands.
With that, are there ways we can help, help one another, locally, and hopefully use all this time we have on our hands?
The answer is yes, of course, and our own Kansas City Star gave us ways to do just that in Sunday's paper.
Your money, your blood, your time: How to help Kansas City during COVID-19 crisis
Herewith:
Perhaps you’re looking for ways to make a difference during this COVID-19 crisis that has affected us all. The possibilities are endless.
You can simply donate to worthwhile causes. That would be one way to get the most good out of the government’s stimulus checks set to arrive in the coming weeks.
Your funds can assist charities that are on the front lines of the ongoing pandemic battle (disaster-relief organizations, hospitals and other health-related groups) as well as those that help people struggling to survive. Food pantries and other charities such as the Salvation Army are requesting donations of food, clothing and other basic-need items.
But don’t forget the many organizations that have been devastated by the virtual shutdown of the economy and are struggling to stay afloat until a return to normalcy. Think the arts, restaurants and entertainers.
Your time is also valuable. Many organizations are looking for volunteers during this time of need.
But perhaps the most basic way to make a difference is simply to be a good neighbor or citizen.
The Star has compiled a list of ideas and resources, which we’ll add to as more become available. Please give us your ideas by emailing [email protected]. HELP THE HUNGRY
Harvesters, harvesters.org/givetime
Don Bosco Senior Center, donbosco.org
Food Equality Initiative, foodequalityinitiative.org
MCC Food Pantry locations, mcckc.edu/counseling/food-pantries
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Therese Church, sttheresenorth.org/svdpfoodpantry
Thelma’s Kitchen at Reconciliation Services, thelmaskitchen.org
Meals on Wheels, mealsonwheelsamerica.org (search by ZIP code)
Feeding America, feedingamerica.org
No Kid Hungry, nokidhungry.org
Operation BBQ Relief, operationbbqrelief.org
GIVE BLOOD
Community Blood Center has canceled blood drives but has expanded hours at its seven donor centers around the area (no walk-ins). Donors can schedule appointments at 877-468-6844 or savealifenow.org.
The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City is taking appointments at 800-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org. HELP THE HOMELESS
Agencies need funding, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and food. Veterans Community Project, at 8900 Troost Ave., is accepting donations, which will be distributed to agencies throughout the community. veteranscommunityproject.org
City Union Mission, cityunionmission.org
Community LINC, communitylinc.org
Cross-Lines Community Outreach, cross-lines.org
Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness, gkcceh.org/community-closures-and-openings
Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus, hopefaithministries.org
Restart, restartinc.org
ASSIST RESTAURANT WORKERS
Curbside KC (order food for pickup), curbsidekc.com
BaristaKC Virtual Tip Jar, linktr.ee/baristakc
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, restaurantworkerscf.org
James Beard Food & Beverage Industry Relief Fund, jamesbeard.org/blog/relief-fund
Rally for Restaurants, rallyforrestaurants.com
Unite Here, unitehere.org/covid-19
HELP THE HELPERS
I Got You KC (donations and sponsorships for restaurants to provide meals for health-care workers and first responders), igotyoukc.com
SUPPORT ARTISTS AND ARTISANS
KC Spaces Fund, kcspacesfund.com
KCYA teaching artists, kcya.org/?page=artist-emergency-fund
Strawberry Swing makers’ products, thestrawberryswing.org
CERF+ visual artists, cerfplus.org/donate
Americans for the Arts Action Fund, artsactionfund.org
Support for local filmmakers, kcfilmoffice.com
MAKE/DONATE FACE MASKS
Some health-care providers, such as the University of Kansas Health System, say they can’t use homemade masks. But other groups, including Heart to Heart International and Johnson County’s emergency management team, welcome the donations.
Martin City Brewing Company tutorial, facebook.com/watch/?v=2606071786387858
The Whole Person, thewholeperson.org
Sandlot, sandlotgoods.com
JoAnn Craft Stores resources, joann.com/make-to-give-response
Johnson County is accepting donated cloth masks, jocogov.org
Million Mask Challenge, facebook.com/groups/millionmaskchallengekc
Rightfully Sewn, rightfullysewn.org
Buy one and one is donated to someone in our community, sewkc.com
GENERAL RESPONSE
Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, growyourgiving.org/covid
Heart to Heart International, hearttoheart.org
Volunteer Johnson County, joco.samaritan.com
Salvation Army, centralusa.salvationarmy.org/mokan
American Red Cross, redcross.org/volunteer
Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund, disasterphilanthropy.org
United Nations Foundation, unfoundation.org
World Health Organization COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, covid19responsefund.org
Doctors Without Borders, doctorswithoutborders.org
Partners in Health, pih.org/article/pihs-emergency-coronavirus-response
National Council on Aging, ncoa.org
Facebook will double your donation to the CDC Foundation’s coronavirus response support, facebook.com/cdcfoundation and give.cdcfoundation.org
OTHER RESOURCES
Direct Relief humanitarian aid organization, directrelief.org
Elder Helpers, elderhelpers.org
Find your local mutual-aid network, mutualaidhub.org
Charity rating sites, Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) and CharityWatch (charitywatch.org)
Catchafire online volunteer opportunities, catchafire.org
DO SOMETHING NICE
The following list was compiled from suggested activities by Doing Good Together (doinggoodtogether.org), a Minneapolis group that provides tools to help raise compassionate, engaged children, as well as The Washington Post and other online sources:
- Arrange for meals to be delivered to those working on the front lines, such as police, EMTs and hospital workers (first make sure they are allowed to accept food).
- Send a note of thanks to front line health-care workers.
- Call or text neighbors (especially older ones) to make sure they’re doing OK.
- Leave packaged, sealed treats or beverages by your front door as a way to thank delivery people.
- Start a neighborhood hunt (bear, tiger or whatever) in which residents put teddy bears (or whatever) in their windows for families on walks to watch for.
- Write encouraging messages in chalk on your sidewalk.
- Set up FaceTime and Skype sessions with relatives or acquaintances in assisted living facilities.
- Advocate on social media for individuals and organizations that need help.
- Support local businesses by buying gift cards.
Again, we have time on our hands. Let's see if we can help one another out there.
Go get 'em, Kansas City!
And kudos and thank you, Kansas City Star!
Y'all be well, be safe and STAY AT HOME!!
