We know this is a tough time financially for a lot of people everywhere — if you’re able to offer any help or support, these are just a few suggestions:
The Newton COVID-19 Care Fund has been set up to help people who have been financially impacted by the pandemic — you can donate at that link or request help if you need it. There’s also the Boston Resiliency Fund to support Boston residents most affected by COVID-19.
No Kid Hungry: Donate to help this organization make sure kids around the country are fed even while their schools are closed.
Save the Children has launched a #Savewithstories campaign to get food and books to kids who are out of school (and provide free stories read online by celebrities)
Rally for Restaurants: At this link you can find a local restaurant, buy a gift card, and keep these struggling businesses afloat until they can open again (or search for your favorite restaurant’s website and buy gift cards from them directly).
And if you’re ordering new books to keep your kids reading, you can support a local indie bookstore that might otherwise have to close forever (or donate directly to help booksellers in need through the BINC Foundation) — even while their physical stores are closed, many of them will ship to you, including:
Or find an indie bookstore anywhere in the country by searching here
If you can’t afford a monetary donation right now, just checking in on friends, relatives, and elderly neighbors can also be an enormous help to keep people connected and alleviate loneliness — every little bit makes a difference! One way to connect with others, offer help, and ask for help is by joining your neighborhood on Nextdoor.com, where you can communicate directly with neighbors and see what others are posting.
We wish you all the best in this difficult time — stay safe and be kind to yourselves!