How we can fight the coronavirus 03:10
(CNN)As the fight against the coronavirus pandemic intensifies, so does the strain felt across society. Impact Your World has gathered some ways you can help ease the pressure.
Feeding the hungry
As schools shut down and shift to online learning, some kids in low-income households are losing access to free meals at school. The USDA is working to extend some free meal services, and several non-profits are helping fill the gap. You can find out how to help them here.
Meanwhile, food banks across the US are gearing up for increased need. Feeding America has set up a COVID-19 Response Fund to support its network of 200 food banks nationwide. The group is also setting up more mobile, “drive-through” distribution points and taking care to ensure that vulnerable populations like those experiencing homelessness have access to food and hygiene.
Older adults are among the most vulnerable during this pandemic. Meals on Wheels provides home delivery of food to seniors. The organization faces an increased need for volunteers and donations right now. Many regular Meals on Wheels volunteers are more than 60 years old.
Protecting healthcare workers
Frontline healthcare workers are particularly at risk, and a shortage of protective equipment is impacting their response and safety.
International Medical Corps is working with the World Health Organization, ministries of health and global and local organizations to provide training, supplies and emergency medical response planning in high-risk locations.
Doctors Without Borders is actively replenishing supplies and other specialized protective equipment to Wuhan Jinyintan hospital in the capital city of China’s Hubei province. Also, the group has a health education project in Hong Kong to provide information to vulnerable communities and service workers about how to identify symptoms and protect themselves from the disease.
Direct Relief is providing protective equipment to health authorities, non-profits, and businesses in the US and China in response to the pandemic.
Supporting service workers
Service sectors, including travel and hospitality, are suddenly choked by financial hardship. The Salvation Army is expecting increased emergency financial aid requests from low-wage workers or laid-off employees struggling to make ends meet.
The Giving Kitchen is supporting food service workers in the state of Georgia. The non-profit helps those in crisis due to an unexpected illness, injury, death or disaster.
If you would like to donate to a specific non-profit, you can click on the names of the charities in the article. If you would like to support all the organizations making a difference, click on the button below.
