25 Organizations Helping Those Affected by Coronavirus

If you’re looking for a way to help those affected by Coronavirus (aka COVID-19) aside from just staying home, donating to these organizations are a great place to start.

I know a lot of us feel pretty helpless right now. Never in our entire lives have we been told that doing “nothing” is the biggest “something” that we can do. Some of us are worried about how we’ll pay our bills. Others worried about finding food in stores with apocalyptic-style bare shelves. Millions are out of work. Small business owners may never recover. Doctors can’t get basic supplies and have to make unthinkable decisions about who gets to live and who dies.

If you’re able to help (I’ll assume you want to, since you’re reading this), here are some organizations that could really use it. I choose a variety of “causes,” from feeding hungry kids to helping doctors get what they need. That way, there’s something for everyone regardless of your political leanings.

Organizations That Help Those Affected by Coronavirus

I was going to break this up into categories- like charities that feed the hungry, those that help displaced workers, etc- but many don’t really fit into just one section. So just read the short description after each one to find out what they’re doing to help those affected by COVID-19.

1. Action Against Hunger-Along with feeding the hungry, they scaled up their operations to “expand critical water, sanitation, hygiene, and health programs to save more lives.”
2. Feeding America– My favorite hunger relief organization is providing emergency food boxes, drive-thru pantries, and more. Check out their the COVID-19 Response Fund.
3. Food Bank for New York City – As one of the hardest hit states, NYC is facing a major hunger crisis. The Food Bank for NYC is working overtime to prepare, and you can help.
4. Meals on Wheels– Helps deliver meals to housebound seniors. With coronavirus affecting the elderly in such a devastating way, they need this service now more than ever.
5. No Kid Hungry– They’re one is working overtime to bring meals to children, many of which rely on school lunch for their single nutritious meal every day.
6. WhyHunger– Your donation helps food banks throughout the country. Also, if you are facing hunger yourself, use their locator to find food banks and services near you. 
7. GlobalGiving– Has numerous coronavirus relief campaigns, including one to help feed the elderly, one for children, and more.
8. CDC Foundation– Their All of Us campaign supports all areas of needs, from food for the quarantined to awareness campaigns to medical supplies.
9. Americares–  They are responding to the crisis by “educating the public about the virus, processing requests for assistance and sourcing personal protective equipment to protect health workers most at risk.”
10. International Medical Corps– They “provide expertise, equipment, training, and triage and treatment services” around the globe.
11. Project C.U.R.E.– During the crisis, they are donating essential medical supplies- like masks- to communities in Denver, Chicago, Philly, and other areas that they serve.
12. Direct Relief – Another organization working hard to provide vital medical supplies to hard-hit areas around the world.
13. Good360– They help provide PPE products organizations worldwide and work with corporate donors to secure necessary funding & equipment.
14. Heart to Heart International–They are helping by “distributing urgently needed equipment and medication to partners here and around the world during this global crisis.”
15. Seattle Foundation– For those in Washington who want your donations to go directly to helping out your own community.
16. Center for Disaster Philanthropy-Among other things, they’re focusing on helping hourly workers, gig workers, and others who have lost their sole means of providing for their families.
17. GoFundMe– Donate to their COVID-19 Relief Fund, the Help Hourly Workers fundraiser, or choose to support any one of the other 15,900+ coronavirus fundraisers. 
18. Dining Bond Initiative– Let’s you buy a “bond” that you can later use to purchase a gift certificate to a restaurant in your area. Or, alternatively, you can just buy gift certificates from local restaurants now to use later.
19. Support Local (by USA Today) – Similar to the above, except you’re buying a gift card to a local business now to use later.
20. Restaurant Workers Community Foundation– Half of the donations go directly to restaurant workers who are losing money right now. The other half goes to non-profits and towards zero-interest loans for restaurant owners.
21. Restaurant Opportunity Centers United– Like the above, they are “providing resources and financial assistance to restaurant workers impacted by the coronavirus crisis.”
22. Eater.com – Not a charity themselves, but they have a more complete list of additional organizations solely dedicated to helping the restaurant industry.
23. Alight – Provides lifesaving health care and sanitation needs in 14 countries affected by the virus.
24. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations – Help support research into a vaccine.
25. Modest Needs – Dedicated to helping hourly workers who won’t be paid. You can make a general donation and let them allocate it for you or choose from one of the requests on the site. All gifts are being matched up to $50K.