10 Ways You Can Help Online During COVID-19
By: Natasha Warcholak
Tags: Volunteering, Activism, Covid 19

It’s a scary time in the world right now — we typically have some control over our daily routines, our employment, what groceries we eat and the company we keep, but it feels difficult to stay grounded when we’re surrounded by this much uncertainty. We’ve revisited old hobbies and started searching for our crinkled Post-It notes — ideas we’d get to one day if we had the time. Instead of a constant in the chaos, we’re finding the uncomfortable fact that we might come up short, or we can’t find the motivation to get started at all. But it’s ok to feel this way, and you’re far from alone. Volunteering and organizing digitally for a cause that you love can give you that same buzz from a high-energy fitness class, or that warm and fuzzy feeling that you’d get after driving back from a night with your best friends. And we’ll get those things back one day soon, but until then I want to show you why getting active online can help get you through this time — and how you’ll be able to continue your work when the world starts turning again.

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

What you can do in your community

Now that the world is coming together to battle COVID-19, from essential workers on the front lines to the average citizen whose social distancing, many of us feel that we’d like to be doing more to help at home, but aren’t sure what opportunities are out there. You can make an impact right now — here’s how:

Donate Money or Medical Supplies

Reformation and Outdoor Voices, two companies that usually make women’s athletic clothing, have shifted resources to make masks for essential workers. By supporting these brands, you can donate 5 masks or buy a non-medical grade mask for yourself or a loved one.

If you want to design your own, you can also learn how to make your own mask! Use them to protect yourself or donate them to friends, family and those most at-risk in your community. Before mailing or dropping off masks to local organizations, 1 — Call first to make sure they’re accepting donations, 2 — Ask if there are any special instructions that you might need to follow before donating.

Advocate for Essential Workers

Every time we order supplies for our family, shop at a grocery store or support one of our local restaurants, we’re relying on essential workers. But unfortunately, many of these workers are employed by privately owned companies that either cannot provide personal protective equipment or can’t guarantee a safe work environment.

You can help protect essential workers by:

Calling your Senator to voice your support for important legislation. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ro Khanna are proposing an Essential Workers’ Bill of Rights, which guarantees workers on the front lines access to personal protective equipment, hazard pay, guaranteed sick leave of at least 14 days, and protections for those employees who speak out about dangerous working conditions.

Photo by Hannah Wei on Unsplash

Supporting local businesses by ordering for take-out and contactless delivery.

Wearing a mask and remaining six feet away from other people while you’re out and about.

Protect the Post Office

As the granddaughter of a post master, the United States Postal Service will always have a special place in my heart. But as a citizen, it is hard to imagine what a world without reliable access to mail could look like. The good news? Here’s what you can do right now to help the USPS:

Write a letter or send a care package. You can show your love and stay connected, all while helping a good cause.

Buy stamps or gifts. Did you know the post office sells books, stationery and tote bags? The USPS also comes out with limited edition stamps each year covering the National Parks, wildlife and historic scenes/sites. Stock up now and show your support!

Photo by Mathyas Kurmann on Unsplash

Sign a Petition. The USPS may become the only way we can safely and fairly conduct elections — from the presidential all the way down to city council — until the end of this pandemic. Show your elected officials how important this is by signing this petition online — it takes less than two minutes, and it’s a concrete way to make an impact.

Protect the Integrity of Our Elections

By registering voters, volunteering as an election officer, or stopping voter suppression in its tracks, you can help ensure that everyone who’s eligible to vote can cast their ballot.

Headcount is a non-profit that sees the opportunity to combine the excitement and community that defines live music with the opportunity to empower young people to vote. When social distancing is over, you’ll be able to see a Headcount booth at major music events near you. Until then, they’re organizing online voter registration drives — check it out here.

Photo by Eco Warrior Princess on Unsplash

Become an election officer. You can help check voters in, ensure order and privacy in the voting process, and make sure each vote is properly counted by working as an election officer, through your county’s office of elections. For more information, visit your county’s volunteer page or find the office of elections directly.

Fair Fight. Voting is a right to each US citizen, but voter suppression prevents multitudes of eligible voters from being counted in every election. Stacey Abram’s nonprofit Fair Fight works to address this issue by state, enlisting volunteers from across the country in the regions that are most heavily affected. Get a more detailed look at some of those opportunities here.

I hope this post leaves you with more hope about some of the little things we can all do for the world right now.

One person can make an incredible difference, and that person can be you. Thank you for reading and take care,

N.W.