Find places supporting the Black community now.
If you’re a person from a marginalized community (or an ally), you probably could’ve predicted that COVID-19 would have a profound effect on marginalized populations. Well, before all of the articles came out illustrating in concrete numbers what we all knew to be true, I held my breath waiting for the inevitable. After all, it makes sense to conclude that those who already suffer on a day-to-day basis when things are “going well” would certainly suffer more in the midst of a global pandemic. Of the various groups, Black people in the US are dying at a much higher rate. Outside of the US (predominately in China) we are facing discrimination as well. The entire situation is heartbreaking.
Many of us have probably spent moments feeling both numb and powerless during this time. If you’re like me, a Black woman (among other identities), you’ve probably felt these things combined with the awareness that an entire generation of path pavers, storytellers and history keepers of your culture are being wiped away. For weeks, away from both places I call home, I’ve spent time trying to find a list of organizations I could donate to (or volunteer with) that would positively impact Black people. It was, for me, surprisingly difficult to find…until today. Thanks to my fellow Wellesley alumnae, I provide you with a list of varying organizations to give to below. I intend for this list to grow as other suggestions come in and am grateful to feel like I can contribute something during this time. It is quite possible that a list like this already exists somewhere (and I somehow I missed it), but my thought is that creating one more can only do more good. If you don’t have the monetary resources (which I’m sure many of us currently do not) please, please consider sharing this resource far and wide instead.
You may wonder why you need to give when there is government aid available like the stimulus check or unemployment, etc. Whilst many are fortunate to have received their stimulus checks, the reality is that the bill leaves out people who are undocumented, incarcerated or who do not have social security numbers, bank accounts, or home addresses (many of these people are disproportionately Black). Additionally, those who haven’t used direct deposit (remember bank access is also a privilege) or are on social security and haven’t filed in years, will have to wait weeks if not months to receive their checks whilst attempting to stay afloat.*
Whether you received your stimulus check today and are looking for somewhere for those funds to go, or would like to donate in general, I hope that this list provides you with an avenue to give. The organizations are in no particular order and there are options that will assist the trans community, elderly, farm workers, young girls & more. I’ve included a direct link to donate, as well as a summary of the organization’s goals/mission statements and any related news articles.
ORGANIZATIONS YOU CAN DONATE TO:
- Cook County Black Chamber of Commerce Covid-19 African American Relief Fund (scroll down on their main page and donate here)
‘Your support and contributions will enable us to get funds directly to the Black Communities by meeting our Immediate goal of $1M and the long-term post-Covid-19 goals of $100MM to improve health conditions of our community while helping to keep black businesses in operation during this crisis. Your generous donation will fund our mission of distributing grants to small black businesses, fresh produce to seniors, donating safety gear/clothing to the front-line workers in our black communities, distributing educational health mailers to residents and providing emergency housing for homeless and low-income families, and individuals affected by COVID-19.’ - Health Equity Solutions (donate here)
‘COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has real implications for people of color in Connecticut. As such, Health Equity Solutions (HES) has re-prioritized our work to focus on the pandemic response. We are gathering information and input from our partners, sharing this input and policy recommendations with decision makers, sharing information and policy updates with our networks, and participating in state-level workgroups to ensure that Connecticut avoids preventable increases in health disparities. Intentionally centering the needs of underserved communities — by reporting and utilizing race and ethnicity data and increasing outreach to connect communities with services, for example — can promote equity now and in the long term.’ - Masks for the People (donate here)
‘Your donation will help provide FREE masks, hand sanitizer and testing kits for the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, violence interrupters, elderly in our community, and most vulnerable black and brown loved ones in urban and rural communities.’ Read more about the cause via CNN. - Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative (donate here)
‘We are invested in visibilizing AND humanizing Black trans folks at all intersections. That’s why we are committed to getting survival kits to Black trans sex workers in Atlanta.’ - Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund (donate here)
‘These funds are only intended for members of the most vulnerable, displaced and marginalized target-groups who are residing in the prioritized counties of Fulton, Dekalb, Clayton, Douglas, Cobb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale. Funds are targeted towards Black, Indigenous, and peoples of color. We will give special consideration within these communities to women/femmes, non-binary and queer folks, the poor and working class, people living with disabilities, and undocumented and refugee members.’ - Black Youth Project 100 (donate here)
‘We are pooling funds to offer support to Black folk in the NYC area impacted by COVID-19. We will offer financial support, quarantine supplies & any other support needed. Please donate whatever you can and share this link with your networks.’ Read more about BYP100 here. If you need help you can apply via the same organization here. - Focus: HOPE (donate here)
‘The Focus: HOPE food for seniors program is extended through the duration of the coronavirus crisis. The food delivery program serves Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties, going wherever the need is one door-step at a time.’ Their mission is to work to overcome racism, poverty and injustice in the Detroit (a majority Black city) area. CBS Local covered their delivery program! Read the story here. - National Black Food & Justice Alliance (donate here)
‘We focus our work on black food sovereignty, self-determining food economies, and land. We approach food sovereignty, land and self-determining food economies through the lens of healing, organizing & resistance against anti-Blackness.’ During this time they are getting resources to Black land stewards, farmers, and organizers. Learn more about them here. - Rana Zoe Mungin’s GoFundMe (donate here)
On April 27, 2020, our dear sister and friend Rana lost her battle to Covid 19. She was 30 years old. In her struggle to get treatment, Rana was dismissed by medical professionals at every turn. She was turned away twice at the hospital, and one EMT went as far as suggesting she was having a panic attack. Her pain and symptoms were not taken seriously until she was unable to breathe unassisted. She spent over 30 days on a ventilator, but by the time her symptoms improved, her body had simply endured too much. This is a story that is all too familiar for Black women. While Covid-19 ultimately took her life, institutional racism played a significant role in Rana´s death. Rana was a writer and a middle school teacher. She was a profound advocate for ending institutionalized racism and combating the disparities and inequalities faced by minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to losing a loved one, Rana´s family is managing funeral expenses, medical bills and suddenly becoming a one income family. Your support will allow Rana´s family to manage these unexpected expenses in this time of stress and uncertainty. - The Lower Eastside Girls Project (donate here)
‘Today we operate a full-service arts, science and civic engagement Center for Community on Avenue D adjacent to the low-income NYCHA housing projects. We run programs that serve girls and young women throughout New York’s five boroughs, and collaborate with a range of National and Global partners.’
In response to COVID-19, we are:
- Providing short-term cash infusions for non-food necessities
- Sourcing produce from local organic farms, and distributing food and takeout meals for families of 4+
- Sending books, art supplies, computers and sewing machines to members
- Daily check-ins from staff, assessing the needs of each family
- Providing online mentoring and tutoring
- Running a ‘virtual’ online Girls Club to enable our staff to continue to teach classes and provide safe social spaces for our members
Learn more about The Lower Eastside Girls Project’s response to Covid-19 here.
— —
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but I wanted to start somewhere. If you have more recommendations please feel free to share them (below) so that I may add them.
Stay safe. Stay encouraged. Take care. Be an ally. Practice peace.
— —
*Related, if you are one of these people (but you do have bank access) the IRS created a tool where you can enter your bank info instead of waiting on the paper checks to arrive. You can monitor the status of your check using the tool as well.
