Headlines 

The Nonprofits and Companies Helping to Fight the Pandemic

It’s been a tough few weeks for everyone. At times, it can feel like the world is unraveling. Whether you’re dealing with sickness, social distancing, working from home for the first time, and/or trying to homeschool kids, it isn’t easy. We all want to get back to normal.

We don’t know when that will be, and what normal will look like, but we wanted to point out a few of the organizations, companies, and brands (big and small) that are chipping in to help. While the government has been struggling to administer tests and get enough supplies for health care workers, these organizations have directly helped on the front lines, donated proceeds and supplies, or helped prioritize especially vulnerable customers.

Nonprofits on the Frontlines

If you'd like to donate directly to the charities helping Covid-19 relief, here are a few you might consider.

  • Feeding America has a Covid-19 Response Fund that is helping to ensure food banks across the country can feed those in need right now, including the children who rely on school meals to eat.

  • Doctors Without Borders is sending aid to the countries hit hardest by Covid-19 and strengthening the infection controls in its already established programs, as well as maintaining existing help in the 70-plus countries it regularly assists.

  • The World Health Organization is coordinating efforts across the world to respond to existing cases, and prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading.

  • Oxfam America is organizing efforts to increase delivery of clean water and sanitary supplies to refugees and those living in higher-risk environments.

  • The Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donations if you're in a position to do so.

  • World Central Kitchen is delivering chef-prepared meals to those in need.

Also be sure to look at local food banks as well as neighborhood Facebook pages that are organizing mask-making and care package efforts.

Grocery Stores That Are Helping Seniors
Photograph: MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement

Seniors and immunocompromised citizens have been put in a tough position: brave the masses of people sometimes literally fighting at grocery stores and risk catching something, or wait at home as they run out of supplies. In response, stores across the country are offering special shopping hours for seniors and those with underlying health issues that don't want to be out with hoards of people during this health crisis. You can find an exhaustive list here.

  • Trader Joe's is opening its doors to seniors every day from 9 am to 10 am.

  • Giant Food is reserving an hour every morning from 6 am to 7 am.

  • Stop & Shop is opening earlier, giving customers 60 and over the opportunity to shop every day from 6 am to 7:30 am.

  • Costco is offering an hour every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 am to 9 am to member 60 years and older.

  • Walgreens senior hour is Tuesdays from 8 am to 9 am.

  • Walmart is offering a shopping hour from 6 am to 7 am every Tuesday for customers 60 and up.

  • Target's first open hour on Wednesdays is reserved for the elderly and those with underlying health concerns.

Companies Donating Masks and Supplies

Health care workers on the front lines have been desperately searching for masks amid a shortage. Brands are answering the call by either producing masks themselves or donating their stockpiles. Others, including a YouTuber, are putting together care packages, or donating sale profits directly to charity. Here's a few we've seen.

  • Apple donated 10 million face masks to health care facilities.

  • AstraZeneca said it will donate 9 million face masks.

  • Razer, the tech company that typically makes laptops and mice, started making surgical masks instead. The CEO tweeted that they intend to donate one million masks.

  • Fashion designer and Project Runway alum Christian Siriano, said he and his sewing staff started making supplies for workers in New York City.

  • Designer Brandon Maxwell's brand started making gowns and mask covers for medical workers.

  • Pornhub donated 50,000 masks to New York City workers.

  • Harbor Freight is donating its entire supply of personal protective equipment to hospitals.

  • Pocketalk is donating 600 of its translation devices to qualifying medical facilities, first responders, and testing sites.

  • Elijah Daniel, the comedy YouTuber and rapper, organized what he calls Cult for Good, which is handing out care packages for the homeless population of Los Angeles, including soap, food, water, and menstrual hygiene products. After Covid-19 test donations from Vivera Pharmaceuticals, the Cult relief teams will soon be offering free on-site rapid coronavirus tests.

  • Allbirds is donating a pair of Wool Runners to medical professionals fighting Covid-19. Email together@allbirds.com if you qualify.

  • Airbnb hosts will provide housing for 100,000 health care workers, first responders, and relief workers around the world.

  • Nomad, the tech accessory brand, is using its relationships with suppliers in China to produce medical supplies at a reduced cost for health care workers, first responders, and essential businesses. Any profits gained will be donated to charities and relief efforts.

  • Everlywell developed an at-home Covid-19 test that it is providing to health care companies in need for the cost of production only.

  • One hundred percent of every sale of Popsocket's Dogtor and Open Your Heart grips go to Doctors Without Borders and Feeding America, respectively.

  • For each Theragun device sold—all of which are currently $150 off—the company is providing 100 meals to Feeding America.

  • All profits from Everlane's 100% Human collection are going to Feeding America's Covid-19 Response Fund.

If we're missing any great companies or efforts, send us an email or comment on this Facebook post so we can include them.


If you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Here’s how this works. You can also support our reporting by purchasing a 1-year print + digital WIRED subscription for $5 (Discounted).


WIRED is providing unlimited free access to stories about the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up for our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the latest updates.


More From WIRED on Covid-19

Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-charities-nonprofits-companies-helping/

Related posts