How can we safely help our communities?

During these uncertain and trying times we are all doing our part by social distancing and following governmental guidelines to slow the effects of COVID-19, but many among us are asking, “How can I help?” We are pleased to offer this guide of ideas and resources for FBA members looking to make a difference in their respective communities. Now more than ever, we are in this together.

Ask for help!

Reach out to SOLACE – no request is too big or too small. Whether you need help with grocery shopping, using an online ordering app on your phone, pet care, or other assistance, SOLACE exists to help FBA members and those related to them in the legal community. Please submit a request through our MyFedBar community if you or a loved one needs assistance.

Volunteer safely!

Follow CDC and local health department guidelines. All decisions to seek and provide help are voluntary. Individuals who believe they may have had contact with COVID-19 or are feeling sick should not participate as volunteers. The Federal Bar Association is not responsible for any negative consequences of volunteer efforts including but not limited to the transmission of COVID-19.

Pro Bono Opportunities

  • American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers: Operating in 41 states, the ABA virtual legal clinic provides an online venue for low-income clients to ask questions across a variety of practice areas. As more attorneys are working from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ABA Free Legal Answers is one way to do pro bono and avoid cabin fever at the same time. Sign up by visiting abafreelegalanswers.org. You must be authorized to provide pro bono assistance in your state.
  • Lawyers for Good Government Foundation, a nonprofit network, announced the launch of its Small Business Remote Legal Clinic, offering pro bono legal consultations for small business owners to help them understand and act upon the options available under the COVID-19 stimulus package and other grant and loan programs that may be available to them.
  • National Pro Bono Opportunities Guide: The National Pro Bono Opportunities Guide offers some online tools and resources for pro bono lawyers to help those impacted by the pandemic solve their legal problems.
  • Protect Voting Rights in Your County: The right to vote is at high risk during the pandemic. The Voter Protection Corps County Leads Project is recruiting volunteer attorneys to monitor ongoing election activity, including voting and election changes proposed in response to coronavirus, submit weekly reports to VPC, and make local and state-level interventions to protect the vote.
  • The Immigration Justice Campaign: The Immigration Justice Campaign has an urgent need for pro bono counsel to file requests for release on humanitarian parole. This is a particularly compelling need in light of the potential for COVID-19 to spread in detention where access to medical care is never a guarantee.
  • We the Action is a digital platform that makes it easy for lawyers to find and volunteer for projects with nonprofit organizations. They have remote/virtual opportunities available for pro bono attorneys eager to serve during this crisis.

Help Underrepresented Communities

  • Know Your Rights Camp Covid-19 Relief Fund: Launched as part of Collin Kaepernick’s “Know Your Rights” campaign, the fund helps black and brown communities, which are disproportionately affected by Covid-19, by focusing on food, shelter relief, education, PPE equipment and incarcerated populations.
  • League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC): As Latino communities are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) created the #AyudaEnEspañol initiative to provide Covid-19 resources to Spanish speaking communities.
  • Native Americans in Philanthropy: In an effort to provide emergency support for the most vulnerable Native American families and communities impacted by COVID-19 the group  has partnered with the Decolonizing Wealth Project. Click here to learn how you can support the cause

Send a Gift Card

  • Let someone know you care with a greeting card or handwritten letter. In these times, we cannot always physically visit those in our community who are ill to bring them comfort. We encourage you to reach out to those in your community who are ill or bereaved, whether you know them personally or not, to make them feel loved and cared for in this time of crisis by sending them a greeting card or handwritten letter wishing them a speedy recovery or condolences, as appropriate.

Support Small Business

  • Consider paying ahead for services: Some services, like home cleaning, can be purchased ahead of time and then scheduled later. If you know you’ll use it, go ahead and purchase it.
  • Help Main Street: Help your local business by ordering online, buying gift cards, or donating directly to provide critical cash support during the COVID-19 crisis. Help Main Street allows people to buy gift cards to their favorite stores now with the intention of using them once operations recommence.
  • Kabbage: With the current impact to our economy, Kabbage is making sure there are ways to help local entrepreneurs. Search for a business and buy gift certificates to support small businesses.
  • Over-tip: Delivery drivers or other service professionals deemed essential and out on job are likely facing serious pressures and personal risk and could use your appreciation.
  • Pre-book your next service appointment: Eventually, you’re going to have to get your hair done or your pet groomed. Make an appointment now so the businesses know you’re still with them.

Volunteer Your Time

  • Mutual Aid Networks: A mutual aid network is like a hyper-local COVID-19 Craigslist where local community members can post their needs—groceries, translation services, pharmacy runs, even cash to make rent—and others can choose to answer the call. Find your local mutual aid network or start your own here.
  • Volunteer Match created a Help with COVID-19 opportunities portal to connect you with causes directly supporting communities in need through a growing inventory of COVID-19-related volunteering opportunities. If you are working from home, sheltering in place, self-quarantined, or otherwise prevented from volunteering in person, you can find ways to still be involved in serving your community.

Cash Donations

  • Give Directly is delivering cash to families impacted by COVID-19 in the US. You can donate through their website.
  • GlobalGiving is a large global crowdfunding community that connects nonprofits, donors and companies. It has created a GlobalGiving Coronavirus Relief Fund with a goal of reaching $5 million in donations. Money received will go toward sending emergency medical workers to communities in need, providing medical supplies to hospitals and helping deliver essentials to families.
  • GoFundMe: To assist individuals struggling with costs associated with COVID-19, GoFundMe has set up a central fundraising database to make donations easier.
  • The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund has begun a Covid-19 Relief Campaign. All proceeds will go to four nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to those facing economic hardship: Feeding America, First Book, New York Community Trust and World Central Kitchen.

Support Families and Children

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of America: The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Boys & Girls Clubs are serving local communities during the Coronavirus pandemic by helping feed kids participating in its clubs and by providing virtual academic support.
  • First Book: As schools, libraries, and programs remain closed due to COVID-19, First Book needs help to ensure all kids can keep reading and learning. Your donations will help deliver 7 million books to children in need who don’t have Internet access or home libraries to keep learning.
  • Good+Foundation, (formerly Baby Buggy) was founded in 2001 by Jessica Seinfeld and is now a national nonprofit supporting low-income parents and caregivers. They are seeking monetary donations to help them respond to the needs of families affected by COVID-19, which may include essentials like diapers, wipes, and baby formula or supplying items like strollers to help families avoid public transportation. You can donate by visiting Good+ Crisis Fund or texting “GoodPlus” to 44321.

Support the Vulnerable

  • Check on seniors, disabled or other at-risk neighbors in your area: If you have elderly neighbors or friends, call them to see how they’re faring. Since there should be no contact right now, print out one of these #ViralKindness Postcards and leave it on their door or doorstep so they’ll will know how to reach out if they need anything.
  • Humanity & Inclusion: COVID-19 affects people with disabilities or chronic health conditions, people with injuries, refugees, and especially older people. Humanity & Inclusion, which works with the local authorities in more than 55 countries, has helped more than 2.1 million people during natural and civil disasters. Now it has new projects to protect refugees, older adults and those with disabilities as they grapple with the virus.
  • Meals on Wheels: Vulnerable seniors are at the greatest risk amid COVID-19. Local Meals on Wheels programs are on the front lines every day, focused on doing all they can to keep older Americans safe and nourished in communities across the country.
  • Write a letter: Search for a senior center, memory care center or nursing home in your area and e-mail or call them to let them know you’d like to write some letters. They can let you know any specific requests, and where to send the finished product.

Help the Homeless

  • Coalition for the Homeless’s three housing programs provide the dignity and stability of a permanent home – as well as supportive services – to individuals and families throughout New York City while trying to curb the spread of the coronavirus. They are greatly in need of support. The current economic crisis combined with the cancelation of fundraising events leaves them reliant on the kindness of individual donors to keep their programs going.
  • Covenant House provides housing and supportive services to youth facing homelessness in 31 cities in America. They support over 2,000 young people in their Covenant House programs who cannot self-isolate because they have no place to call home.
  • Family Promise allows communities to develop comprehensive, holistic solutions for families facing homelessness by working with over 200 communities in 43 states to make sure families impacted by current economic changes have what they need to stay housed.
  • Homeless Shelter Directory was created for people who want to find and donate food and/or supplies to their local shelter. Volunteer Opportunities are also needed at most shelters.
  • The Salvation Army: Working with local, federal and medical leaders to provide help to the nation’ homeless. These populations severely lack access to proper care, hygiene, updated information, and medical resources, which makes them more susceptible to the virus. In  response, The Salvation Army has a fund to provide safe shelter to homeless and disadvantaged people affected by the crisis.

Support Animal Welfare

  • ASPCA: Animal shelters are over capacity and adoption events are on hold, resulting in a greater need to find animals loving homes. If you have the means and space, the ASPCA has created directory for people interested in adopting or fostering a four-legged companion.
  • Best Friends Animal Society has a searchable directory connecting partner shelters and rescue groups to those looking to foster and adopt.  They have also rolled an initiative aimed at helping neighbors with their pets. If you are healthy and looking for a way to support your pet community during these extraordinary times visit Community Kindness Cards.

Donate Medical Supplies

  • Medical Supply Drive: Hospitals and emergency rooms are in dire need of supplies to combat the enormous influx of patients following the Covid-19 pandemic and Medical Supply Drive’s mission is to help with the PPE crisis in response to COVID-19. If you have unused supplies such as surgical masks, N95 masks, face shields, bandanas, non-latex gloves, medical/surgical gowns, plastic rain ponchos, bleach/bleach wipes, hand sanitizer and are willing to donate, click here MedSupplyDrive.

Give Blood

  • Advancing Transfusion and Cellular Therapies Worldwide: The AABB is a connected community dedicated to advancing transfusion medicine and biotherapies. Locate where to donate blood or convalescent plasma, learn more about COVID-19 convalescent plasma at COVIDPlasma.org,and follow updates on AABB’s Coronavirus Resources.
  • America’s Blood Centers: America’s Blood Centers brings together community-based and independent blood centers across the country. You can use its website to find and schedule an appointment to make a blood donation in your area.
  • Blood Centers of America: For those interested in donating plasma for COVID-19, please find your closest BCA blood center using their “Find a Location” tool.
  • The American Red Cross: Due to the cancellation of blood drives, the American Red Cross faces a severe blood shortage. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to maintain a sufficient supply. Make an appointment here or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to find a local donation site.

Health Systems and Medical Support

  • Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) launched the CDP COVID-19 Response Fund to support containment, response and recovery activities for those most affected and for the responders. They have created the Covid-19 Response Fund to support first responders, health care workers and individuals quarantined.
  • Cleveland Clinic: The nationally renowned Cleveland Clinic is conducting research on Covid-19 to identify better testing, patient treatment and care and possible vaccines. Visit their site to learn how you can support their efforts.
  • COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund is a joint effort by the World Health Organization, UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation that supports diagnostic testing, treatment and vaccine research and distribution of medical supplies.
  • Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization providing protective equipment for health workers in the US and China, and is working with regional response agencies in the Caribbean, Central and South America. They  are coordinating with public health organizations and nonprofits to provide essential protective gear and medical equipment to health care workers worldwide. It most urgently needs funds to replenish its available supplies.
  • Doctors Without Borders’ professionals and volunteers are preparing vulnerable communities around the world for the impact of Covid-19. They are also supplying many countries with protective equipment, and replenishing medical supplies in critical hospitals in China, Hong Kong and Italy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctors Without Borders is facing supply shortages, in particular protective equipment for health care workers. It is accepting donations and channeling resources to where they are most needed.
  • Frontline Responders Fund: Philanthropic grant maker Charities Aid Foundation of America and freight logistics company Flexport are currently raising funds through the Frontline Responders Fund to purchase and deliver personal protective equipment to hospitals.
  • Gary Sinise Foundation is providing grants to first responders in need of personal protective equipment and giving financial assistance to service members, veterans, first responders and their families who have been impacted by the coronavirus.
  • Global Empowerment Mission is a relief and education organization is providing masks to hospitals and hygiene kits for both medical professionals and the general public.
  • Good360 is distributing and collecting medical and educational materials needed during the coronavirus crisis.
  • HealthWell Foundation helps underinsured people afford medical care, and has opened a fund to help with ancillary costs for individuals at risk or quarantined due to Covid-19.
  • MedShare has delivered more than 2.8 million masks, 200,000 isolation gowns and other essential medical supplies to hospitals, clinics and health care professionals battling against Covid-19.
  • Swiss Philanthropy Foundation  has organized a COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund benefiting the World Health Organization’s effort to prevent and mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The fund supports the delivery of protective equipment to health care workers and also supports laboratory testing, education efforts, and accelerating research into diagnostics, treatments, and vaccine development.
  • UNICEF USA is delivering medical supplies to health workers around the world. They are also providing hygiene and medical kits to schools and health clinics to help keep children safe.

Meals and Food Support

  • Blessings in a Backpack  is an organization that works to feed low-income students over weekends when schools are closed. In response to COVID-19, Blessings in a Backpack is striving to get extra bags of food to kids whose schools may close.
  • Convoy of Hope delivers meals through partners, churches and community organizations across the United States. As a result of the coronavirus crisis they have received requests for assistance from more than 40 states.
  • Feeding America: With a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries, donations to its Covid-19 response fund will help food banks across the country support the most vulnerable communities affected by the pandemic. Donate here or find your local food bank here.
  • Food Pantries.org: Use Food Pantries’ national database to locate food pantries in local communities that you can contribute to.
  • FoodCorps works with school districts to ensure school meal sites can feed students who are out of school, as well as their families.
  • Little Free Pantry is standing ready across the U.S., giving 24-hour neighborhood access to food and other necessities.
  • Mercy Chefs has partnered with their food distributors to give free grocery meal boxes in more than 15 different locations across the country. The non-profit is also sending recipes, strategies and protocols to volunteers, who will then package and distribute meals in their communities.
  • No Kid Hungry deploys funds to ensure access to free meals continues for children in need, especially with schools closed. It is providing $5 million in emergency grants immediately — with more to come — to help schools and community groups feed kids during the outbreak and making sure families know how to find meals while schools are closed.
  • Operation Blessing needs help as it is greatly expanding its distribution of food and supplies, following a surge of almost 40 percent in demand due to the COVID-169 crisis.
  • Save the Children: Actresses Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams have teamed up with Save the Children to launch #SAVEWITHSTORIES to feed kids who depend on schools for healthy meals.  The program is providing children in America’s poorest communities with nutritious meals, books and other learning resources during the outbreak closures.
  • United Way: United Way’s Covid-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund bolsters their “211“ information line which provides callers with resources, vital services and support during the pandemic. The COVID-19 Fund to help provide food, shelter, education, and health support to vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness. You can donate to the worldwide fund or search for United Way programs in your area.
  • WhyHunger created a Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund to help the food insecure and launched a crowd sourced map to connect individuals with free meal sites, in the U.S. and some communities around the world.
  • World Central Kitchen was founded by chef José Andrés to provide emergency food relief to areas hit by disasters. In addition to its worldwide efforts to empower communities through food, WCK has started a COVID-19 response called #ChefsForAmerica, which is focused on locating gaps in existing food programs, delivering fresh meals to communities in need, and founding a network of community kitchens. WCK is looking for monetary donations and volunteers.

Restaurants and Food Workers

  • Dining Bonds Initiative is offering gift certificates that work like savings bonds. You buy a bond for less than its face value, and redeem it at some point in the future.
  • Grubhub: The delivery company has suspended fees for their restaurant partners, and proceeds from their “Donate the Change” program are going to the Grubhub Community Relief Fund.
  • Local Harvest: Order from your local farmer. Check out Local Harvest to look up your local farmer’s market to see if they have any online or delivery options.
  • Rally for Restaurants is running a campaign that encourages diners to buy gift cards, and they will donate one dollar for every social media post to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation and World Central Kitchen.

Support Domestic Workers

  • Coronavirus Care Fund: For many in-home care workers, nannies, and house cleaners the threat from Coronavirus is especially severe. The money you donate to the Coronavirus Care Fund will provide immediate financial support for domestic workers, and enable them to stay home and healthy — protecting themselves, their families and their communities while slowing the spread of the Coronavirus.