Our World looks very different today than it did just a few weeks ago. Most, if not all of us, are in some form of quarantine, the stock market is tanking, and our jobs are uncertain. But it is also a time when we are at our best... our most innovative, our most capable, our most generous.
In order to come out the other end of this stronger and more resilient, we need to:
arm ourselves with the most current and accurate information
help others whenever possible
have a good laugh every chance you get
So, from our hearts to yours, here is a little information on each of the above we would like to pass onto you:
COVID-19 Resources
This is not good 'ol Cousin Earl's "I read it on reddit so it must be true" list of resources. These resources are vetted by experts, based in science, and non-partisan. Sure, there are lots of other excellent resources, and you are welcome to list those in the comments if you find a particularly helpful. Just check in with these periodically as well:
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) - Click here Corona Virus one-pager - Click here
Towards Data Science - Best R resources (Shiny app, R packages, code and data) on Novel COVID-19 - Click here
National Association of School Psychologists - Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource - Click here
Donate - Nonprofits on the COVID-19 Front Lines
For the next week (3/24 - 3/31), we will be donating 20% of our sales to Meals on Wheels to ensure that grandmas and grandpas across the country can get food without the risk of going out to get it. So, get friends or family ported and help save a life.
In addition to Meals on Wheels, here is a list of non-profits we think are worthy of your support at this critical juncture:
Meals on Wheels - This organization delivers meals to the country’s elderly population. Many of its local programs are struggling with the additional costs of delivering meals during the outbreak. - Click here
No Kid Hungry - With coronavirus forcing mass school closures across the country, millions of children are losing the daily meals they depend on. No Kid Hungry uses donations to send emergency grants to food banks and local community groups. It diverts resources to feed kids in the hardest-hit communities. The organization also has plans in place to ensure families know how to find food while schools are closed and making sure kids get three meals a day. - Click here
CDC Foundation - This nonprofit organization for the CDC is raising funds to help respond to the public health threat when federal and state funding is not available. The foundation said it will use the funds to support state and local health departments in the US as well as support the global response including logistics, personal protective equipment, and critical response supplies. - Click here
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fundraiser for WHO with $10 Million Match - Powered by the UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, donations support efforts 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 efforts to develop vaccines, tests, and treatments. Facebook is matching the first US $10 million donated, so each contribution goes further. - Donate here
Center for Disaster Philanthropy - This US-based organization is supporting local nonprofits in areas with a high number of affected individuals and vulnerable populations to help them support hourly wage earners, gig economy workers, immigrant populations, older adults, people with disabilities, and other communities vulnerable to the physical, mental, and economic impacts of the pandemic. - Click here
The American Red Cross - As the number of coronavirus cases increases in the US, the number of people eligible to give blood and platelets for patients in need could decrease further, the Red Cross said. The organization is urging all eligible, healthy donors to donate blood and platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply flow and avoid potential shortages. - Click here
In addition to these above, remember your local restaurants (many offer takeout or delivery) and small businesses (check out their websites) who have been significantly impacted and will continue to be for quite some time to come. They... we need your support.
Laughter is the Best Medicine... Only Medicine for the Moment
While we all try to get along in close quarters, here is a link to 62 of the best COVID-19 memes of the last couple of weeks - Click here
In addition, we highly recommend you check out the El Arroyo sign in Austin, TX (it has its own Instagram account, coffee table book, etc.)
