COVID-19 - Communities Unite to Help

Urgent needs

Donate Good Stuff added over 2,000 donation sites over the past two days across the US, including 158 in Minnesota, for medical providers & community-facing workers.  These requests give a view into the situation people are faced with right now. They are full of urgency and gratitude:

• "Nurses only get one mask/day and they do trauma surgery" - Hospital

• "We were just told today we are only allowed 1 mask per week and we no longer can give out masks to patients" - Urgent Care Doctor
• "We are grateful for any amount given..for staff providing around the clock care"
• "We are in desperate need of masks" - Fire Department
• "We cannot get masks. Most of our residents are 85-110" - Assisted Living
• "We are down to 5 N95s" - VA Medical Center
• "I have 5 masks left and have not been able to get any more" - Pharmacy
• "We are trying to remain open and care for essential workers children." - Daycare​

People respond

It is uplifting and inspirational to see how quickly people are coming together all over the country to respond - providing materials, sewing, and logistics to get things where they are most needed.

Right here in Minnesota, we have the Twin Cities Mask Makers, and Treadle Yard Goods has provided free kits. Across the nation, there are armies of people mobilizing - #MillionMaskMayday, #MillionMaskChallenge among others.

Many ways to help

Mask-making is not the only way people are responding. Helping neighbors in need, reaching out to those who are isolated, and sharing beautiful, funny, & inspirational posts to keep anxiety at bay are all important contributions to the effort.

There is no question COVID-19 is serious. And it's true, we are short on supplies. But we can choose to focus on the difference we CAN make - staying at home, social distancing, washing hands, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, getting supplies out as quickly as we can, and keeping each other's spirits up in all kinds of creative ways.

We'll get through this together.