Updated: How you can help others in Pittsburgh during the coronavirus crisis

Want to help? Here’s how you can support organizations and efforts helping people affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

By Pittsburgh news partners

The novel coronavirus is changing how we live and work in very disruptive ways. 

These organizations are helping to provide food, money and other assistance to those impacted by the shutdowns.

Here are some ways you can contribute: 

Food assistance:

• Donate to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank as it feeds local families during the pandemic. Or volunteer.  
• Donate online to the South Hills Interfaith Movement to help them restock their three food pantries and provide other critical services, such as utility and financial assistance.
• Restaurant Workers Mutual Aid Fund is collecting food donations at the Irma Freeman Center.
• Feeding the Frontline PGH is a grassroots fundraiser supporting local restaurants and giving food to frontline workers.
• Restaurant and Food Service Emergency Fund is a GoFundMe page, aiming to distribute $150 to qualified workers.
• Volunteer for 412 Food Rescue. The food waste nonprofit is in great need of volunteers.  
• Support the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation in making care packages and delivering goods to LGBTQ+ folks in need. To coordinate donations, email Sarah@hughlane.org. 

Financial assistance:

• Give to the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation Emergency Fund, collecting donations for crisis fund that helps people with rent and other things.
• Donate to the United Way Worldwide COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. Call 211 to inquire about getting local assistance.
• Give to the Emergency Action Fund to help regional nonprofits respond to community needs in the pandemic.
• Donate to the Pittsburgh COVID-19 LGBTQIA Emergency Relief Fund, created by SisTers PGH. It will prioritize members of the LGBTQ community who often experience disproportionate rates of violence, poverty and housing insecurity. The fundraiser has a goal of $100,000 and will begin taking applications for relief on March 20.
• Donate to a Refugee Assistance Fund launched by Hello Neighbor, which aims to provide $250 in cash assistance to refugee families enrolled in its program. The families will receive funds by May 1

Medical 

• Donate to the Western Pennsylvania Fund for Choice, which funds access to safe abortion care for low-income people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

• Support the Western Pennsylvania COVID Avengers who are 3D printing, laser cutting, packaging, shipping, and delivering complete clear plastic face shields to help protect medical professionals in our region.

• The Mental Health Support for COVID-19 Frontline Workers is a document of therapists in the area offering four free appointments for frontline workers. Providers can email to have their name added to list.

• Donate blood or volunteer to help with the blood shortage. Several blood drives are coming up at the JCC.
  
• Donate personal protection equipment to Pittsburgh-area medical providers, and medical providers can request what they need. This group will do pickup and drop-off.
• Donate to the COVID-19 relief fund through the Allegheny County Medical Society, supporting things like 3D printed PPE.
• Help get protective masks to trans and queer Pittsburghers who need them by supporting the Pgh MasQUe ProjecT.

Helping affected workers and businesses:

• Make face masks with the help of Abram’s Nation. Organizations in need or anyone who is able to assist with production in the greater Pittsburgh region can contact medicalmasks@abramsnation.com.
• Tip directly to service workers whose livelihoods are hurting with this virtual tip jar. 
• Support local artists through the Pittsburgh Artist Emergency Fund, which provides up to $250 to help with rent, bills, food and other essentials.  
• Donate refunds you receive from canceled performances, at the request of the Pittsburgh Stage Employee Bailout, if you can.
• Donate money to help hourly workers who won’t get paid during the COVID-19 shutdown.
• The Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation Pandemic Grant Program has been established to provide area EMS agencies and their first responders with basic needs items in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations for the PEMF Pandemic Grant Program are being accepted through Greater Giving here.
• If you have personal protective gear to donate to frontline workers — or if you’re a frontline worker who needs some — contact PPE Connect PGH.
• Raise emergency funds for service industry workers with this fundraiser by TABLE Magazine and Community Kitchen.
• Volunteer to help COVIDsitters as the organization provides child care, tutoring and pet-sitting for local health care workers.
• To support the Mr. Small’s Employee Relief Fund, which will benefit their 40-person staff, you can make a donation via their GoFundMe campaign.
• Support Pittsburgh makers with this new online store through PG&H.
• To help visual and performing artists, the entertainment and events industry and small businesses, you can support Redfishbowl’s RafflePGH Program. The new virtual hub includes benefit raffles and auctions, promotional livestreams and features with venues, collectives and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19.

Youth:

• The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank is looking for help to continue regular distributions of diapers by requesting monetary donations. Another option is to order diapers online on Amazon to be delivered to 201 N. Braddock Ave., Suite 124, Pittsburgh PA 15208.

• Beverly’s Birthdays is collecting much-needed items for parents including diapers,  formula and canned goods. Drop off anytime in an outside box at 9799 Laurel Ave, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 or send donation. 

• Donate breast milk to the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank. Visit the site, call 412-281-4400 or email info@midatlanticmilkbank.org to learn about the donation process. 
• Help the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. The organization is struggling to provide the care and structure its vulnerable students need during this time of school and business closings. Donations can be made here. Those in need of help can follow this link.
• Support youth in foster care and their families by donating to the Foster Love Project Emergency Relief Fund.

Seniors:

• Check in on a senior buddy or help if they get sick as part of the Lawrenceville/Bloomfield/Garfield “Buddy” System. 
• Drive for South West Meals On Wheels needs more volunteers, as many of the volunteers are seniors who have been encouraged to stay home. Kitchen help is also needed. 
• Call to check on seniors you know who may be feeling isolated or fearful. Also follow CDC and WHO guidelines to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
• Send a note or card that will be shared with residents, patients and team members of the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. Visit Sr.Care.org/RaysOfSunshine for details.
• Volunteer to assist with deliveries and to make friendly phone calls to seniors.
• Make check-in calls or deliver food and medication to seniors in need as part of an effort by Archangel Gabriel Parish in Mckees Rocks/Stowe/Kennedy/Robinson area.

Other

• Casa San Jose is collecting funds for coronavirus response to support Latino families in Pittsburgh.

• Donate to a Refugee Assistance Fund launched by Hello Neighbor, which aims to provide $250 in cash assistance to refugee families enrolled in its program. The families will receive funds by May 1.

• Make check-in calls or deliver food and medication to seniors in need as part of an effort by Archangel Gabriel Parish in Mckees Rocks/Stowe/Kennedy/Robinson area.

• Make face masks with the help of Abram’s Nation. They have created the sewing template and, while supplies last, will provide the fabric to those who have access to sewing machines and can join the cause to help with production. Organizations in need or anyone who is able to assist with production in the greater Pittsburgh region can contact medicalmasks@abramsnation.com.
• Donate Personal Protection Equipment to Pittsburgh-area medical providers through this website where medical providers can request PPEs that they need. They do the pickup and dropoff.
• Donate blood or volunteer to help with the blood shortage.
• The Woman’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh is requesting monetary donations for the increased demand of supplies and expanded services. Please email Kristin Brown.
• Help animals in need by making a monetary donation or donating pet supplies to any of the following: the Humane Animal Rescue, the Pittsburgh Cat, Animal Friends or Hello Bully.
• Let your neighbors know if you’re making a grocery trip and ask if they have any essentials you can pick up and leave at their door.
• Use your bike (or car) to help Operation Face Mask Pittsburgh get protective gear to those who need it.

Some additional websites with lists offering support and ways to help:

Pittsburgh COVID-19 Resilience Network

NEXTpittsburgh, PublicSource, The Incline, Pittsburgh City Paper and Kidsburgh  collaborated to build this resource. Email  halle@publicsource.org with suggested additions to this list.