In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House declared a state of emergency, unsettling millions of people living in the United States. The pandemic has exposed the deep flaws in many social safety nets, such as housing, single-payer healthcare system, adequate sick leave, and remote accessibility for schools, work places, and events, that activists have been fighting for as fundamental human rights.
While for some, the transition to social isolation has been easy, there are many who have become more vulnerable or even in danger. At An-Nas, we value the importance of community and forming coalitions to create a safer and more empathetic and just world. So, we put together a list of ways you can use to help those most affected.
- Volunteer with a Domestic Violence Shelter: In China and across Europe, calls to domestic violence shelters have increased in correlation with the coronavirus outbreak. Social isolation, coupled with either working remotely or no work at all, can leave an abuse survivor and their children with nowhere to go. Shelters and hotlines working with survivors of domestic violence tend to always be short staffed and can use volunteers in many areas of expertise such as answering the crisis hotline number 24/7, legal advocacy, children’s activities, and much more. Check with your local shelter to see if any opportunities fit with your skills. If not, you can always post and share the contact information for the National Domestic Violence Hotline found below.
National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7, every day. Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.
- Assist At-Risk Neighbors: Data from China and Italy has proven just how dangerous the virus can be to the elderly and immunocompromised. As a result, social isolation is even more necessary to preserve their health and being. Reach out to anyone you know or know of (like the neighbor you smile and wave at once a month) who can use your assistance in getting groceries, walking the dog, going to the laundromat, or any other simple errand. You can even feed two birds with one worm, and run your own errands at the same time. Most importantly, be sure to follow CDC’s guidelines for social distancing so that you do not inadvertently transfer the virus, which can have lethal consequences. If you would like to assist in a more organized manner, sign up with Invisible Hands in NYC, or other similar organizations around the country, to help deliver supplies to at-risk citizens or sign them up to this service.
- Donate to a Food Bank: Every day, the National School Lunch Program serves meals to over 30 million children. While many children have access to food at home, there are some who do not. Consider donating non perishable foods, household supplies, condiments, or simple cash to keep families fed and sustained during this period.
- Stay in Touch: Social distancing can lead anyone, let alone people living with a mental disorder to fall into a serious episode of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Exercising, getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities you find enjoyable can alleviate the stress that comes from constant news updates and social isolation. If you are a natural introvert, and social isolation has been a beach day for you, consider pushing yourself to organize a virtual dinner party, movie night, or book club for your and your friends.
- Support Local Businesses: Social distancing and self-quarantine are necessary for our health and safety, but they can also be crippling to small and family-owned businesses. If you can afford to do so, commit to buying everything from a small business. Examples of support can be a gift card from the coffeeshop down the street or a book from Point Reyes Books in California, a bookstore dedicated to the community and local economy (that also happens to be offering 99 cent shipping while they’re closed due to coronavirus).
- Organize!: The Coalition for the Homeless, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and other progressive organizations in the United States have long argued that nobody deserves to be homeless. Now thanks to their efforts, New York State expanded eviction suspensions indefinitely for people whose wages, work schedule, and/or health, have been impacted by the pandemic. If you have a cause you are passionate about, contact a local nonprofit or political group to help campaign and advocate for a single-payer healthcare system, rent control, or adequate workers’ benefits. Because if this pandemic taught us anything, it’s that no one is well if others are not.
Do you know of other ways to get involved and support the community during the pandemic? Share your thoughts and ideas with us.