COVID-19 Giving: A Curated List of Local Organizations
Updated on: March 25th, 2020
Even in the best of times, determining where to give can be daunting. The severity, scale, and urgency of the COVID-19 crisis can make it that much more challenging to identify where and how to give. We hope to make this process easier so that you can lean into a practice of loving kindness and intentional generosity when possible.
We reached out to Repair the World and Avodah, and compiled a list of local organizations they’ve selected who are providing direct services to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This guide features cities where Repair the World and Avodah have fellowships and service corps. If your city isn’t listed, check the websites of local Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), food pantries, community foundations, and local development corporations to see which organizations are staying open and providing essential resources to underserved community members. You can also check out this directory of COVID-19 funds from Giving Compass.
Please consider supporting one or more of these organizations if you are able, or host a Virtual Pop-Up Giving Circle to pool money with others and make a donation.
Atlanta:
- Concrete Jungle has started a grocery delivery service for food pantry clients who are quarantined or who have higher health risks. Each day they get more calls from clients who need to stay home in order to stay safe, and are having a hard time meeting the volume of calls they’re receiving because of the limited supply of their food pantry partners. Help Concrete Jungle provide food to its neighbors in need. Donate here.
Baltimore:
- Baltimore Hunger Project (BHP) is dedicated to eliminating the growing problem of weekend childhood hunger by consistently providing weekend food packages to children identified as food insecure, in a compassionate and dignified manner. In response to COVID-19, BHP has organized a fundraiser so that children are able to eat, even while schools are closed. BHP is also accepting donations of shelf-stable foods and ready to eat items, which can be donated through their Amazon wish list, and they are sending out volunteers to distribute food as needed.
Chicago:
- Erie Family Health is a family health clinic focused on HIV and HEP-C community education. Erie Family health is working on a campaign toward 100% undetectable cases of HIV/AIDS in the state of Illinois. Eerie is providing medical care and information to its community amidst the COVID-19 crisis, but its revenue is projected to fall by 70% in the coming weeks due to the crisis. To help Eerie continue providing dignified and informed healthcare to all, donate here.
- Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC) is a multiracial, grassroots organization led by concerned seniors in the Chicago metropolitan area. JASC uses the power of collective voices to work for economic, social and racial justice for all seniors and their communities. JASC is working to ensure that all who need access to safe housing can get it during the COVID19 crisis. Donate here.
- Legal Council for Health Justice (LCHJ) uses the power of the law to secure dignity, opportunity, and well-being for people facing barriers due to illness or disability. LCHJ is providing legal advocacy services to help their clients secure housing and leave during the COVID19 crisis, especially for homeless populations who are not always able to practice social distancing and for high-risk, low-income populations who continue to put themselves on the line to do essential jobs. Donate here.
- Broadway Youth Center provides wrap-around services to LGBTQ youth (with a focus on trans and gender nonconforming people of color) and those experiencing homelessness. From GED and leadership programs, food and clothing assistance, and job support to HIV/STI testing, hormone replacement therapy, reproductive healthcare, and general health services, Broadway Youth Center is the go-to location for many people who lack access to and comfort with the larger healthcare system. Donate here to keep their doors open to those who need it, and to help them provide COVID-19 testing and resources.
- National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) provides comprehensive legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers who are under immense risk in the COVID-19 crisis, many of whom fear deportation or detention if they seek testing or medical care. Donate here to help NIJC provide legal support to some of the most vulnerable members of our national community during the COVID19 crisis.
- The Night Ministry provides housing, health care, meals, and connectivity to members of the Chicago community struggling with homelessness or poverty. Night Ministry continues to offer essential health care services during the COVID19 crisis, but has stopped having volunteers serve meals, so it is collecting mostly non-perishable items to provide to community members who rely on its meal services. It is also accepting donations here.
Detroit:
- Gleaners Community Food Bank operates five distribution centers in Southeast Michigan and distributes an average of 100,000 meals each day to more than 500 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other agencies throughout southeast Michigan. Gleaners also provides food and nutrition education to more than 200,000 children a year. Every dollar donated provides three meals and 92 cents of every dollar goes to food and food programs. Gleaners will continue to distribute food to hungry neighbors in during the COVID19 crisis. Donate here.
Miami:
- Lotus House is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless women, youth and children. It provides sanctuary, support, education, tools and resources that empower members to heal, learn, grow and blossom into who they are truly meant to be. With a full house of 480+ women and children, public schools and childcare facilities closed, interruptions in supply chains of medical supplies, and the need for more meals, cleaning, sanitizing, protective gear and more, Lotus house is making a community-wide call for help with its COVID-19 relief fund.
New Orleans:
- CrescentCare was founded as a NO/AIDS Task Force in response to the AIDS Epidemic. It is now a federally qualified health center that focuses on community healthcare. CrescentCare offers a broad range of health and wellness services for anyone and everyone who is seeking healthcare services in Greater New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana. It is one of the few sites in New Orleans testing for COVID-19. Donate here.
- UNITY of Greater New Orleans leads a collaborative of over 60 agencies providing housing and services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Its mission is to coordinate community partnerships to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness. It works with folks who are some of the most vulnerable to the virus, continuing to provide services, educating, and creating safe housing as well as having an outreach team to address community needs. Donate here.
- EXCELth Primary Care Network provides comprehensive services ranging from pediatric to geriatric care, as well as behavioral health services, care coordination, social services, dental care, and pharmacy services. EXCELth continues to provide healthcare to the most vulnerable and set up systems to provide COVID-19 testing. Donate here.
New York City:
- Met Council gets emergency food to seniors, specifically holocaust survivors, and to those who are food insecure. As the current situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve, Met Council continues to be a resource for our clients who need help the most. Donate to the Emergency Crisis Fund to help Met Council provide cleaning supplies, additional emergency food, and to adapt to clients needs.
- Lenox Hill Neighborhood House (LHNH) is a 126-year-old settlement house that provides an extensive array of human services—social, educational, legal, health, housing, mental health, nutritional and fitness— for people 3 to 103, on the East Side of Manhattan. LHNH’s Women’s Mental Health Shelter and Casa Mutua supportive housing residence, along with its Food Services, Facilities and Operations teams, remain open and operational. All donations at this time will directly support LHNH’s work to address the COVID-19 crisis.
- Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) fosters financial stability and opportunity among lower-income New Yorkers by providing access to safe and affordable credit in the form of interest-free loans. HFLS is providing loans to those who are impacted by COVID19 and offering emergency loans to people in NYC and some surrounding areas. Donate here.
- St. John’s Bread and Life works to alleviate hunger and poverty in Brooklyn and Queens. It serves nearly 3,000 meals to hungry New Yorkers every day. As more New Yorkers face financial and food insecurity, St. John’s Bread and Life has more mouths to feed than ever. Donate here.
- Food Bank for New York City is committed to ending hunger by organizing food, information and support for community survival, empowerment, and dignity. Its network of 1,000+ soup kitchens and food pantries across NYC is already reporting an increase in the number of New Yorkers they are serving, a demand they expect to increase significantly in the coming weeks and months. Donate here to help to ensure that New Yorkers in need are not turned away.
- The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH) is delivering hundreds of bags of wholesome food to those alienated within our communities. Right now, TCAH has a need for grocery bags because they have been pre-packing food for all clients. Help them purchase grocery bags here.
Philadelphia:
- Broad Street Ministry (BSM) is a community dedicated to alleviating the pains of hunger and homelessness in Philadelphia. BSM’s Breaking Bread program gives nutritious meals to anyone who needs it while also providing a mailing address, clothing, personal care items, and other services for individuals who are underserved. In response to COVID-19, (BSM) has stopped its volunteer shifts, though they are in need of additional items to provide life sustaining services to vulnerable populations. You can donate to BSM through their Amazon Wishlist or fundraiser.
Pittsburgh:
- East End Cooperative Ministry provides community nutrition services through a food pantry and soup kitchen, as well as an emergency shelter, transitional housing, workforce development, a recovery house, and social services for children, youth, and families. There are increased needs in the community during the pandemic. Donate here to help East End Cooperative Ministry serve a larger volume of people.
Washington, DC:
- Food and Friends (FaF) delivers meals, groceries, and personalized nutrition counseling to those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses that limit their ability to provide nourishment for themselves . Amidst the crisis, FaF is delivering 2-weeks-worth of groceries to its clients, to ensure that they have what they need and don’t need to leave home. Donate here to help them continue their services.
- Pathways to Housing works to end homelessness and support recovery for people with complex health challenges. With an array of physical and mental health services, housing support, employment services, and community services, Pathways to Housing is keeping its doors open for those at heightened risk at this time. Donate here.
- Miriam's Kitchen provides healthy meals, case management, advocacy, housing support, and food services to those facing homelessness, poverty, and food insecurity. Miriam’s Kitchen currently serves as 1 of 4 remaining homeless service organizations providing food in Washington, DC amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Support Miriam’s Kitchen as their needs grow in this crisis.
Looking for more COVID19 resources and other ways to give or make a difference? See our full list of resources here.