Join the Fight: 5 Organizations Combating COVID-19 You Can Help Today.

As we approach the fifth month of the COVID-19 epidemic — and with no clear end in sight — it is easy to feel powerless. Frontline workers who put their lives at risk may be lauded as heroes, but that does little to provide them with tangible relief. And for those “lucky” enough to be stuck at home, the combination of isolation and uncertainty can be a recipe for despair.

One of the best ways to avoid this despair, I have found, is to actively contribute to the fight against the virus. This may seem like a daunting task for anyone who isn’t a doctor or nurse — how can we help when we’re stuck in our house, after all? Still, there are many ways you can contribute even from the safety of your own home. X-Mode has been exploring how location data can be used in this fight, but we also want to recognize the important work being done by other nonprofits, charities, and mutual aid groups. Presented here are five organizations that are helping to combat the spread and effects of COVID-19, and how you can help them.

Feeding America

According to the United Nations, the effects of COVID-19 could drive 265 million people across the world into food insecurity, nearly doubling current numbers. Dozens of already-struggling countries face the risk of severe famine. With that in mind, the first organization we want to highlight is one focused not on fighting the virus directly, but on providing relief to the hungry: Feeding America.

Feeding America recognizes the disproportionate effect that the COVID-19 outbreak has on the country’s most vulnerable populations, and has redoubled its efforts in response. In addition to launching a special Response Fund to collect supplies and money for food banks across the US, the organization is “partnering with school districts and local government agencies to ensure that the 22 million children who rely on school meals have access to food outside of the classroom.”

Feeding America is a great organization contributing to a vital cause. There are a number of ways you can help them out today. Whether you decide to donate to their Response Fund, or give food directly to your local food bank, helping in the fight against hunger is well within your power.

Direct Relief

Direct Relief is an organization, both in the US and abroad, that “equip[s] doctors and nurses with life-saving medical resources to care for the world’s most vulnerable people.” They tackle crises across the globe, whether that means providing relief to wildfire victims in Australia, or supporting pregnant mothers in developing countries. During the global pandemic their work has only become more important — and more difficult.

Direct Relief’s main area of focus right now is on providing masks, ventilators, and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers in infected areas. This effort is crucial in these times, especially as health systems across the world face shortages of lifesaving equipment. They have also worked with Camber — one of X-Mode’s partners — in the effort to integrate mobility data into the fight against COVID-19. If you support this important work, there is no better time to donate or fundraise for Direct Relief.

Resources for Immigrants and Refugees

At X-Mode, we believe that all people, regardless of their country of origin or immigration status, deserve the same access to treatment during this pandemic. During times of crisis it is vulnerable populations — especially immigrants and refugees from the global South — who suffer the most.

Fortunately, there are a number of organizations working tirelessly right now to support these populations the world has left behind.  This may mean providing direct assistance, like the efforts of the International Rescue Committee in more than 40 countries. But it also may mean sharing information; here is a list of resources put together by Informed Immigrant, including an application for emergency funds and a list of healthcare facilities where undocumented immigrants can receive treatment.

I would urge you to check out these websites, as well as other immigrant-focused organizations such as FWD.us and the National Immigration Law Center. As we grapple with the effects of COVID-19 on our own lives, it can be easy to forget how much more catastrophic it has been for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Acting Local

The organizations we have highlighted so far, for the most part, have been focused on the big picture. These are national and international groups that recognize the global nature of this pandemic, and use their resources to react on a large scale. This kind of widespread response is necessary, and the work that these groups do should be applauded.

At the same time, we should not forget the importance of smaller, community-based organizations right now. It is these groups — neighborhood councils, local churches, mutual aid orgs — that are able to fill in the gaps that larger, more bureaucratic organizations tend to miss. It is also a great way to get involved in your own community, and give back in a way that is both tangible and empowering.

These organizations come in all shapes and sizes. In New York City, a burgeoning network of mutual aid groups has grown amidst the crisis, including the Corona Carriers — bicyclists who deliver supplies all over the city — and The Astoria Mutual Aid Network, designed to serve the citizens of Astoria and make train rides unnecessary. Groups like these are not just a great way for neighborhoods to support themselves during the pandemic; they are a great model for the benefits of increased community organization.

Finding a mutual aid organization in your own community might take a little Googling, but it’s a great way to get involved. And if no one has started organizing in your area yet, you can be the first!

During this time of global crisis, we all must come together in order to survive. In addition to spotlighting organizations like the ones above, X-Mode has spent the last two months exploring how our location technology can help fight the spread of COVID-19. Check out our past blog posts on the subject, and stay tuned for future updates. If you think you or your organization could use location data to help fight the virus, check out our free ADX offering today.