While people all over the globe stay home in efforts to help public health and keep people safe, they are looking for ways to give back to their communities, both monetarily and with their time. Here are some of the causes we’ve heard about that are making an impact, as well as ways you can get involved.
The city of Chicago is hosting a mask drive now through May 16th. Locals can make and donate cloth masks that will be provided to homeless shelters, community health clinics, essential public sector workers, and other organizations to prevent outbreaks among the most high-risk Chicago residents. Click here to find your mask drop-off location.
HEINZ, the company best known for their condiments, is running a COVID-19 relief initiative to help local diners by committing $1 million – in the form of $2,000 grants – to 500 eligible diners nominated. You can nominate a local diner you love to receive one of these grants. Click here to nominate a diner.
I Grow Chicago is a non-profit that provides programs to combat the effects of violence and poverty on children and families in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood. Now through May 20th, they are running a “No Life is Expendable” campaign to combat the effects of COVID-19 on the community. For each individual donation, an anonymous donor will match that gift with an additional $100. Click here to donate.
Lurie’s Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Lurie’s is collecting notes for doctors, nurses and other staff members that are working around the clock to keep patients and families safe. Write some supportive words of thanks to let those on the front lines know that you are thinking of them and appreciate all they do. Click here to send a note.
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Due to the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 has brought our community, there is a greater need for food for the hungry in Chicago. When you donate to The Greater Chicago Food Depository, your donation can help provide 300 meals for people in our community. Click here to donate.
Social distancing has required the American Red Cross to cancel and postpone their public blood drives, which has directly impacted the supply of blood going to hospitals. Blood is needed now more than ever, consider making an appointment with your local blood center so you can socially distance and give blood to someone in need. Click here to find your local blood bank and set up an appointment to donate blood.
To follow social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines, kids are learning from home and not going to school. For millions of children, they do not have the resources to adequately do their lessons. First Book’s mission is to provide books and learning resources to kids so they can keep learning from home. So far, First Book has been able to provide 2 million books to children in need during this time. Click here to donate to First Book to provide books for children in need.
Due to social distancing and the pandemic, The Make a Wish Foundation has placed a hold on granting all wishes until further notice. In order to continue to spread positivity despite pausing wishes, The Make a Wish Foundation is collecting messages of hope for wish kids. All you have to do is create a message of hope through a video or picture, post it to social media with the hashtag #WishesAreWaiting and tag @MakeAWishAmerica. Click here to find out more.
United Way is organizing volunteers to record themselves reading children’s books so they can share the videos with young kids to continue to learn virtually. Click here to find out how to send in your video.
With school disruptions and countless people jobless, the need to feed America is more prevalent than ever. Feeding America is continuing to provide meals for America’s hungry. Every dollar donated to Feeding America helps secure and distribute 10 meals to people facing hunger. Click here to donate to Feeding America so they can keep feeding Americans during this uncertain time.
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation
The hospitality industry has been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 related shutdowns. The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation is allocating monetary donations to provide relief to individual restaurant workers, other non-profit organizations that support restaurant workers in crisis, and zero-interest loans to keep restaurants operational. Click here to donate.
CDC Foundation Emergency Response Fund
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been on the forefront of fighting this virus. This fund provides resources to CDC experts addressing emergencies that affect the public’s health. The money donated gives organizations and individuals the resources they need to treat the virus with speed and flexibility, which are essential elements in saving lives during crisis situations. Click here to make a donation.
Whether it’s through monetary donations or their time, LaSallians have been looking for different ways to give back to our local and global communities in this tumultuous time.
LaSalle Network recently organized a pen pal program between LaSallians and local nursing homes to spread joy and build community.
Read more about what LaSalle Network is doing to lift spirits during this time here.
