The Coronavirus has presented us with a global pandemic unlike anything we have seen this century. Fortunately, the situation has many of us coming together to help those in need. The following is a list of both local and national resources you can reach out to for support. If you’re able to work from home and are looking for a way to help while maintaining self-quarantine, many of these organizations could use your donations.
Atlanta
Front line, essential workers in metro Atlanta:
- The Giving Kitchen – This organization provides emergency assistance to food service workers.
Website: The Giving Kitchen
Giving Kitchen info: List of Resources for Food Industry Workers
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter
- Sitter Tree – Connecting families and churches to vetted babysitters from local colleges and universities.
Website: Sitter Tree
How to Help: Those on the front lines, especially medical personnel, will need care for their children who are now out of school due to the virus. The website allows you to purchase gift cards that will help our front line workers pay for the necessity of child care while they’re at work.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Linkedin
Food assistance:
- Open Hand – This organization prepares and delivers meals to those in need. This is particularly important for the elderly and immunocompromised persons who need to remain in quarantine.
Website: Open Hand
How to Help: There are two simple options to help: donate or purchase take-out from one of their affiliate restaurants who donate a portion of the proceeds to Open Hand
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter
- Meals on Wheels Atlanta – This group prepares and delivers meals to those in need. Meals on Wheels also help the elderly with necessary home repair that would be otherwise unavailable.
Website: Meals on Wheels Atlanta
How to Help: Donations are super easy through Cashapp or Venmo @MOWAtl, but have other options if you prefer to write a check.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter
- Atlanta Community Food Bank – Providing food through a network of food pantries.
Website: Atlanta Community Food Bank
How to Help: ACFB has a long list of options to donate money, and you can also donate food directly.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube
Website: Goodr
- Goodr – This organization is helping by working with the Atlanta school system to feed children in need. They also support a large network of non-profits, so you can donate surplus food from your business or household for them to pass on to the non-profits.
How to Help: Donate money or donate food.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Linkedin
- Concrete Jungle – This group grows and donates fresh fruits and vegetables to local food banks and homeless shelters.
Website: Concrete Jungle
How to help: You can help by donating money, adopting a tree, or designating Concrete Jungle as your beneficiary organization while you shop on Amazon Smile. (More details on their website.)
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter
- FoodFinder – An easy-to-use digital map that highlights the locations of food bank, pantries, kitchens, and shelters all across the nation. This is an incredible resource for those struggling during the pandemic who simply don’t know where to go. They also have an app, and you can donate to help them keep it running smoothly.
Website: FoodFinder
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter
- Georgia Public Broadcasting – This GPB article outlines the locations in Georgia where families can go to pick up school meals for their children during the school closures. The list was compiled by Bethanie Boswell, and you can thank her on Twitter or via email.
GPB Social Media: Facebook Twitter Youtube
Displaced and homeless persons:
- Atlanta Mission – This organization has a network of locations to shelter those in need. They also provide spiritual support, addiction recovery assistance, vocational training, and transitional housing.
Website: Atlanta Mission
How to Help: Their website has a long list of items you can donate or purchase for them, and you can also donate money.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin
- Gateway Center – This group operates a homeless shelter and a variety of programs designed to rehabilitate those currently homeless. They also work to connect those in need to outside resources that match their needs.
Website: Gateway Center
How to Help: You can donate money or donate items from a list they have on their site.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Linkedin
- HOPE Atlanta – A network of of shelters, rehabilitation programs, and network of resources to help those in need.
Website: HOPE Atlanta
How to Help: Donate items from the list on their site or donate money as you can.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin
Seniors:
- AG Rhodes – AG Rhodes is a non-profit community of nursing homes that offer both short- and long-term care for older persons.
Website: AG Rhodes
How to Help: There are lots of ways to help AG Rhodes at this time. Although they are closed to visitors due to the virus outbreak, you can help by sending letters of encouragement, donating items for entertainment, donating money, and much more. They have a variety of options for those who are bored in self-quarantine and crafts for kids and parents who have just transitioned to homeschooling. Here is a list of all the ways you can help: List
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin
Important Note: Those who work with the elderly are urging the young and healthy to reach out (via phone call to maintain social distancing) to our eldely friends, neighbors, and family members to make sure they are aware of the many resources available to help them so they can stay safe. They might just need our help getting their groceries or maybe just a simple phone call to brighten their day.
Pets and animals:
- Angels Among Us – This non-profit rescues dogs and cats from kill-shelters through a network of foster homes.
Website: Angels Among Us
How to Help: You can donate money or a variety of pet-related supplies of which they have a list on their site.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Pinterest
- PAWS Atlanta – This organization is a no-kill animal shelter that works with fosters to help animals have a safe home until they are adopted. They have a variety of educational and pet care assistance programs such as a pet food bank for those who are going through a rough time.
Website: PAWS Atlanta
How to Help: You can donate money, pet food, or pet care items from a list on their site. Monetary donations are made super easy through the Paypal option.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin
- Atlanta Humane Society – A no-kill shelter that provides care and rehabilitation services for animals ready to be adopted.
Website: Atlanta Humane
How to Help: For the time being, you can donate money to help them cover the cost of caring for their furry friends.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin
Mental Health:
- Crisis Text Line – This text line connects you to a crisis counselor to help you with anxiety, panic attacks, and whatever else you may be facing at this time. The line is run by volunteers, so they can provide support, but not medical advice. If more assistance is needed, you will be referred to the appropriate party.
Website: Crisis Text Line
Text Number: text HOME to 741-741 (US number)
How to Help: Donate, purchase on Amazon Smile, or become a volunteer crisis counselor after taking the necessary training program.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tumblr
- The Georgia Collaborative ASO – This call line will provide Georgia residents with crisis help over the phone and connect them to other services they might need. They also have an app where you can choose the text option for contact called My GCAL.
Website: Georgia Collaborative ASO
Phone: 800-715-4225
How to Help: If you’re interested in dedicating yourself to the work they do, check them out on Linkedin or check this list of job openings: Job List
Social Media: Facebook Twitter Linkedin
- Mental Health America of Georgia – This organization exists to educate others about mental illness to eliminate the stigma and help foster a community that is trained in how to respond to those suffering from mental illness. They have a list of resources on their website of ways to prepare for self-care during the coronavirus outbreak.
Website: Mental Health America of Georgia
How to Help: They have a long list of options for donations, and you can also shop on Amazon Smile and Ebay for Charity who will donate some of their proceeds. There is also a list of brands you can shop with who will donate to the organization here on their site: Link
Social Media: Facebook Twitter Linkedin
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – NAMI has a list of questions and answers about the coronavirus for those who need it. It includes information on resources to help with particular needs. They also have a crisis help line, and they have message boards where you can join others to get educated about mental health.
Website: NAMI Homepage
NAMI’S Coronavirus Information and Resources
Phone: 800-950-6264
How to Help: Join the message boards or read some of their articles to increase your education about mental health to know how to better serve others. You can also donate to their cause through the site.
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Tumblr
- Harvard Health Publishing – This is an article about how to talk to your teens about the coronavirus.
Link: Article Link
Social Media: Facebook Twitter
- National Association of School Psychologists – The NASP has released an article about how to talk to children about the coronavirus. You can also find links to other helpful resources on their site.
Article: Article Link
Website: NASP
Social Media: Instagram Facebook Twitter
Small businesses owners:
- US Small Business Administration – The SBA is offering disaster loans to help small business owners who have been affected by the outbreak and quarantines.
Website: US Small Business Administration
