HOW CAN I HELP?

• Give blood: The American Red Cross is facing a major blood shortage and is in desperate need of donations. If you’re healthy and able, consider going to a community drive or donation center. Red Cross officials say that donating blood is safe, even during the pandemic. Environments will be sterilized to the max, and there’s no way to transfer coronavirus through a blood transfusion. Find a blood drive near you here. 
• Pick up groceries for elderly family members and neighbors. If you know someone who might need assistance, reach out and let them know you’re there to help.
• Make and donate face masks: The Deaconess Health System has a tutorial available. They also have a directory of organizations who are in need of face masks. You can also volunteer to make masks for Walla Walla through Walla Walla Solidarity. 

Donate money:

• Find your local foodbank
• National Domestic Worker’s Alliance: To support domestic workers like nannies, housecleaners, in-home caretakers and aids, you can donate to the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance. While some live-in domestic workers might be quarantined with the families they’re employed by, other domestic workers are isolated from their employers and unable to work. The organization is providing domestic workers with paid leave so they can stay home, stay safe and still get paid.
• Feeding America: Hunger is, unfortunately, a perennial problem, but it is made much worse when many social services and local institutions —such as public schools — are forced to close. Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, and it is currently stepping into high gear as it funnels food to food pantries across the country.
• United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund: Donations support WHO’s work, including with partners, to track and understand the spread of the virus; to ensure patients get the care they need and frontline workers get essential supplies and information; and to accelerate research and development of a vaccine and treatments for all who need them.
• Partners in Health (PIH): PIH is launching a comprehensive effort to support response across its network of supported countries around the world to contain and control the spread of the virus, ensure that patients are provided with dignified care and demonstrate to the world what aggressive action in vulnerable settings can achieve.
• Global Giving: The organization is using donations to send doctors, nurses and other first responders to communities in need. They will deliver essentials to the elderly and struggling families in quarantined cities. Any donations will also be put towards purchasing protective masks, ventilators and other medical supplies.
•  Meals on Wheels: Senior citizens are a high-risk population when it comes to the COVID-19 virus. As such, many seniors are staying in to avoid undue social interactions, while many others are homebound regardless. Meals on Wheels brings much-needed food to the elderly so they can stay inside, in the comfort and safety of their homes.

Local Walla Walla organizations accepting donations:

• Blue Mountain Action Council: A private, nonprofit, multipurpose agency serving residents in Southeastern Washington to meet the basic needs of low-income individuals and families.
• Walla Walla Mutual Aid Network: A coalition of community, civic, religious, political and government organizations and businesses that are uniting together to meet the needs of those affected most by COVID-19.
• Christian Aid Center (Walla Walla Rescue Mission): Donations help the Center continue to provide meals and shelter for homeless and low-income residents, as well as prepare for homeless individuals that must be quarantined.
• Operation Face Mask:  Donations will go to purchase supplies to continue providing free cloth face masks to front-line essential workers and community members who need them. This is a joint effort between the Walla Walla Valley Quilt Guild and Walla Walla Solidarity.
• Walla Walla Alliance for the Homeless: Donations provided will help the Alliance meet the needs of our unsheltered neighbors who are relying on shelter at the city’s Sleep Center during this pandemic.
• YWCA of Walla Walla: Donations help the YWCA continue to provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and to operate its emergency shelter for women.