A little light during COVID-19! During times of anxiety, uneasiness and fear, I choose to look for the good. I choose to look for God because He is ALWAYS good, He is always faithful! One of the ways I have been able to seek Him & cope is by serving those around me. I hope this guide can inspire your creativity to help those around you and share some of YOUR light with the world during a dark time.
WAYS TO DONATE:
- Food Gatherers: Michigan’s first Food Rescue Program (founded by Zingerman’s) providing direct food assistance in the form of hot meals, nutritious snacks or emergency groceries to low income adults, seniors and children in Washtenaw County. Click here for information on donating food OR click this link to make a monetary donation!
- Feeding America: a hunger relief non profit organization with over 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies. With the closures of schools, disruption of jobs and elevated health risks… more Americans will turn to food banks for support. Click here to give to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund OR donate to a food bank in Michigan: Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, Flint, Lansing or Oak Park.
- The Pregnancy Center of Toledo: a faith based non profit organization that provides hope and healing to women facing unplanned pregnancies. I partnered with the center on my sweatshirt line, Bella Vita and they offer free resources to mothers and families in need including education, parenting classes, parenting mentorship, baby supplies, Bible studies & more. Right now, they are in great need of baby formula, diapers and wipes. You can purchase items directly from their Amazon wishlist and ship directly to the center!
- Meals on Wheels: a program that delivers nutrious meals to our senior citizens. In addition to the meals volunteers check in on our elderly, provide social interactions and asses for any safety hazards to ensure our elderly neighbors are safe. Meels on Wheels created a COVID-19 Response Fund to give local programs the resources they need to keep our seniors safe during COVID-19. Please donate here.
WAYS TO VOLUNTEER…
- Uplift Graduating Seniors by contacting your college or high school and ask if they need letters or emails of encouragement to share with the members of the 2020 cohorts. My high school, St. Ursula Academy is accepting emails to share with the students who will not be able to participate in a graduation ceremony. To my fellow SUA alumnae, please contact Yolanda with the subject line: Alumnae Encouragement.
- Donate Blood to the American Red Cross. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, you are still able to set up an appointment and donate blood. They are in GREAT need of blood! Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, those battling cancer and many more. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Click here to find a local blood drive near you.
- Make Masks for our healthcare heroes! If you know how to sew, please consider using your talents to make masks for our healthcare heroes. My girlfriend Stacy Fork, Owner of the Gown Shop in Perrysburg is offering high quality garment bags as materials for these masks. Please email Stacy Fork for more information.
- Create Easter Cards for retirement homes. Contact your local retirement home and ask if you can drop off colorful home-made cards OR mail a batch of cards for their team members to hand out to elderly in our communities.
- Support Local Businesses by shopping, sharing their pages & engaging in their social media channels. One of my favorite local boutiques is Sofi Stella. Use my code “MODEL15” for 15% off of your purchase! Shop Sofi Stella here!
SHOP FOR GOOD…
TULA: get a mask & give a mask!
Purchase a pack of TULA Star Bright Hydrogel Masks (at 50% off) & 100% of proceeds go directly to getting more medical masks to COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers.
KENDRA SCOTT: buy a bracelet & give back to Feeding America.
50% of all proceeds from their Everlyne Bracelets will directly support the Feeding America® network of food banks, empowering children to live healthier lives by providing nutrition to those who face hunger while schools are closed.
EVERLANE — 100% of proceeds from their Human Clothing Collection will benefit Feeding America’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
If you have any other ideas, organizations to donate too or ways to volunteer, feel free to email me at sarahjudellc@gmail.com. I would love to add your suggestions to this list and keep as a resource for the next few weeks!
Lots of love,
Sarah Jude
