How to Help Those Affected By COVID-19 and Other Charities To Support During These Times

During these times of uncertainly and concern surrounding COVID-19, it’s easy to feel helpless and isolated. However, there is something we can all do help fight against it. It’s important that we can all do our part to get help to people and regions that have been affected.

Each of us can do our part against the ongoing health emergency caused by the Covid-19 virus. You can donate to help here.

With such a staggering number of people in quarantine and more becoming sick, needs quickly mount. Everything from basics, like food to emergency financial assistance to pay for things like rent is urgently needed as people experience lost wages due to illness or quarantine restrictions. For those who are already sick, paying medical bills has become an additional burden.  You can help people you know directly by providing them with care packages, paying their medical expenses, or providing them with someone to communicate with.

Between lack of food, shelter, and volunteers there is a great need for donations during this time.

Here are some other organizations that could use your help:

Center for Food Action
The Center for Food Action (CFA) provides food, housing, utility, and heating assistance, and offers counseling and advocacy services to northern New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents. Your online donation will help families and individuals keep food on their tables and a roof over their heads. CFA accepts monetary donations as well as food donations.

Community FoodBank of New Jersey
There are one million people in New Jersey that face hunger every day and nearly 300,000 of them are children. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, works with food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters to help feed our food-insecure neighbors. Every $1 you donate can help provide three meals to those in need.

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
Did you know that there are over 70 endangered and threatened species in New Jersey? Consider supporting New Jersey’s wildlife species with a donation to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, dedicated to protecting these species and their habitats.

Elijah’s Promise
The organization works to end hunger by serving food at its community soup kitchen, delivering meals, providing education and jobs in the food industry through its Promise Culinary School, and encouraging neighborhood agriculture with its community garden.

Family Promise
Family Promise of Morris County is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit organization “dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness faced by Morris County families by partnering with other public and private agencies, religious congregations and community volunteers to provide shelter, case management and mentoring services leading to self-sufficiency.” Their goal is to end homelessness one family at a time. To donate click here.

Flemington Area Food Pantry
Flemington Area Food Pantry provides food and personal care items to needy Hunterdon County families. The pantry reports, “We are going to have need for volunteers and supplies. But, now, because things are changing on a daily basis, we are referring people to our Facebook page, where we will share what manpower/supply needs we have.”

Food Bank Network of Somerset County
The mission of The Food Bank Network is to “distribute food and to provide other basic human needs to those less fortunate in the community in a manner which recognizes and advances self-worth and human dignity.” The method of distributing this food is through three food pantries, located in Somerville, Bound Brook, and North Plainfield, and a warehouse in Bridgewater.

HomeFront
HomeFront has worked for over 25 years to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness in Central Jersey. HomeFront works with clients to ensure adequate incomes and affordable housing and helps homeless families advocate for themselves individually and collectively. Each year, more than 1,200 HomeFront volunteers work to provide families with food, goods, and services.

Interfaith Hospitality Network
Interfaith Hospitality Network is nonprofit organization that provides shelter, professional support services and housing assistance so homeless families can find and sustain a new home. The organization works via a network of volunteers, donors and other partners throughout the community. Donations can be made online.

Jersey Cares
Jersey Cares partners with local nonprofits to identify needs and implement volunteer projects to meet these needs. They are committed to supporting our communities, partners, and volunteers. In light of the current health climate, they have created a Community Response Team to respond to needs as they arise.

Samaritan Homeless Interim Program
SHIP is a faith based, interfaith and community funded, assisted and supported, grassroots organization. The organization works to “create programs and services that increase the Somerset County and surrounding regions capacity to respond to the needs of the poor and working poor.” According to SHIP executive director Tom O’Leary, during the COVID-19 crisis, “S.O.S. will be feeding the needy not the fear.” For those looking to offer a financial donation to assist SHIP in purchasing the necessary items, make checks payable to SHIP (COVID-19 in the memo line). Checks may be mailed to SHIP, 87 East High St., Somerville, NJ 08876.
In addition to financial donations, the following items are needed:
– 9-inch to-go containers with no separators
– 6-inch to-go containers
– To go bags
– Cleaning products
– Food in pop-top packaging and microwaveable items.

SAGE Eldercare
Since 1954, the Summit-based nonprofit SAGE Eldercare has provided information, support, and services “designed to help individuals lead the most independent and active lives possible.” Although many events for seniors have been canceled, The SAGE Meals on Wheels and HomeCare programs continue to provide essential services. The participants of these programs live at home and rely on the delivery of food and assistance with daily activities. You can donate here

United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
The mission of the United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties is to mobilize donors, volunteers, and community partners to improve the lives of youth and their families. Their vision is to see that every child is successful, every family is financially stable, and every community we serve is stronger. As they continue to serve communities under these difficult circumstances, important resource links and UWMOC updates on their website: uwmoc.org/coronavirus.

United Way of Greater Union County
The UWGUC has established a COVID19 Emergency Fund to assist struggling Union County residents financially impacted by the outbreak. The fund will assist families who are out of work or, who are working less hours due to government-mandated closures of businesses and schools; did not have benefits or resources to weather the crisis; incurred other debt related to COVID19 (i.e. childcare expenses because schools are closed); are low-income, hourly wage earners, individuals without employer benefits such as paid time off. To donate to the fund, go online.