Donate to Local Food Banks
Our food banks, shelters and charities have received a massive influx of requests for help during this crisis.
Donate to Person 2 Person here
Donate to Open Door food bank and shelter here
Donate Personal Protective Equipment
There is a critical need for personal protective equipment for medical workers at hospitals and long-term care facilities. This includes:
- N95 Respirators
- Face Masks/Surgical Masks
- Face Shields
- Surgical Gowns
- Gloves (nitrile, or non-latex)
- Thermometers
- Thermometer Covers (if applicable to type of thermometer)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Other Medical Items
The public, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations may donate these items through the Connecticut United Way/211. To donate to the state's supply for distribution in medical facilities, fill out the form here.
Thank you to UConn Storrs engineers, scientists, and researchers, UConn Health, and the UConn Foundation for working collaboratively to address the critical shortage of medical supplies and PPE. Read more about the university's efforts to increase the supply of PPE and medical equipment to protect healthcare workers on UConn Today. To find out how you can help UConn address the PPE shortage, click here.
Volunteer
The state is looking for non-medical volunteers to assist with food banks/pantries, meal delivery services, and homeless shelters as need for these services has increased.
The CT Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, United Way of Connecticut, and the Office of the Governor have established the Disaster Assistance and Response Technology (DART) database to match volunteers to in-need nonprofits. Register here as a non-medical volunteer.
Volunteers should be 18 or older and should not volunteer if at risk or compromised. Those who are immunocompromised, over 60, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or live with or care for someone in any of those categories should avoid being in public.
The state is also asking for retired healthcare professionals to volunteer their services during this emergency. To sign up visit CTResponds.ct.gov.
If you have a background in medical care you can also contact your local health department to volunteer. Locate your local health department here.
If you are a nurse, you can register to volunteer through the Connecticut Nurses Association web site: www.CTNurses.org/coronavirus
Donate Blood and/or Plasma:
The American Red Cross has partnered with the US Food and Drug Administration to seek plasma donations from individuals who have fully recovered from COVID-19. This plasma, also called convalescent plasma, will be used to treat patients with serious or life-threatening COVID-19 patients. Click here to learn more about the program.
Our country and state are facing a blood shortage, and the American Red Cross is asking for those who are able and willing to donate blood. To allow for social distancing, donors can call the Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross to make an appointment. Interested individuals can also make an appointment using the Red Cross web site, here, or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Download it here.
CHEFA Announces FY 2021 COVID-19 Grant Program
The board of directors of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) voted at its April 15 meeting to replace their three grant cycles for FY 2021 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FY 2021 CHEFA COVID-19 Grant Program will focus on funding statewide efforts that are currently, or plan to be, launched by 501(c)(3) Connecticut nonprofit entities to respond to the crisis.
The efforts can be focused on statewide programs to support CT communities and residents or can be sector specific funds focused on one or more of CHEFA’s four core priority areas of health care, education, child care, and cultural.
Organizations seeking details may contact Betty Sugarman Weintraub, CHEFA Grant Program Manager, for more information at 860-761-8428 or bweintraub@chefa.com.
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving:
Last month the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving launched the COVID-19 Response Fund to deploy resources to support residents significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Foundation recently announced a second round of grants totaling $1.1 million to support community-based organizations.
Among the recipients is Integrated Health Services, which is slated to receive a $20,000 grant to support organizational stability and to provide health and behavioral health services in partnership with Goodwin University.
Learn more about the fund or consider making a donation here. |