Keep Following ... Volunteering During a Pandemic

Stay Home. Save Lives. Keep Volunteering

During a global pandemic like Covid-19, we are told to 'Stay Home and Save Lives,' but no one said we should stop serving our communities!  In fact, this is the time we need to DO MORE!  So, if you are a first responder, healthcare worker, grocery store clerk, mail carrier, or other essential worker, THANK YOU for putting community first.  If you aren't on the front lines and at home social distancing, you might be wondering how you can serve others.  Well, here's a list of some virtual volunteering opportunities that will keep you active and productive WHILE you stay home and save lives. 

These service activities can also be done in the best of times, so keep this list handy, it will be updated regularly!

EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS:

• Search the internet, ask around, and learn about local and national nonprofits that address causes you are interested in.  You can even turn this into a scavenger hunt and involve others. 
• Follow these organizations on social media to understand who they serve, what they do, and how they engage others.  Sign up to receive their newsletters (feel free to set up another email address) to discover what their needs are.
• Raise awareness in others by sharing what you learn with your networks.

BE AN ACTIVIST/ADVOCATE:

• Sign up to receive 'Call To Action' texts and emails from your favorite social justice organizations.  These will often be clear, effective, rapid-response requests such as to call or write elected officials seeking support or opposition to a bill, or to rally for a demonstration.   
• Support our democracy by Getting Out The Vote.  When we can't get out to canvass door-to-door, you can write letters or postcards.  Many organizations do this but one I've joined is Vote Forward - https://votefwd.org/
• Attend Virtual Town Halls with your local, state, and national leaders and keep issues important to you on their radar.   
• Write an Op-Ed piece on an issue you are knowledgeable and passionate about.
• Ask corporations you support to help those in need.  For example, ask your favorite soap or cosmetic company to send samples to a women's shelter.

GO OUT (OR STAY IN) AND DO: 

• Give blood if you can https://www.redcrossblood.org
• Google ‘virtual opportunities’ to find some interesting options.  For instance, the Smithsonian Institute is looking for transcription services to make collections more accessible.  https://www.si.edu/Volunteer/DigitalVolunteers Your local Volunteer Center may also have some suggestions.  For me, outside of Washington, D.C., I turn to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center to find regular opportunities https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/
• Offer your professional skills to a local nonprofit.  Web designers and social media assistance is often in demand in smaller nonprofits.  Bookkeeping, grant writing, and administrative support can also be helpful.
• Gather In-Kind Donations to get a new home.  While many donations may need to wait til health conditions improve, most food pantries and shelters will accept needed food and cleaning supplies now.  Reach out to get safe drop-off suggestions.  Graduation gowns are also (sadly) being repurposed by healthcare workers without proper PPE supplies - contact  www.Gowns4Good.net 
• Cook meals for a local shelter
• Deliver meals for nonprofits serving seniors and home-bound clients.  Meals on Wheels is in most areas and there often many doing this great work. 
• Get Crafty - Make Care Cards for health workers and lonely hospital patients; Make masks for senior care facilities, neighbors, shelters; Construct paper-folded Soul Boxes to honor the lives of those killed by gun violence https://soulboxproject.org/home Make a entertainment or DYI video to share with a family shelter, youth, or senior group.
• Connect with others – youth, seniors, adults with disabilities.  This might be the best form of service - making people feel valued and seen.  Write letters, make calls, help with homework, do social distance check-ins.  Many senior groups offer these types of programs.  Check also https://empoweringtheages.org/

Grandma taught me, "this too shall pass," and it will, but service to others should be on-going.  Get comfy on your couch and GET STARTED!