The coronavirus pandemic has left a worldwide impact on just about every walk of life and social status. But through hardship has blossomed a plethora of support within our community. There are many resources and ways you can lend a (sanitized) hand in these challenging times. From donating blood and making face masks, to volunteering for Meals on Wheels or supporting unemployed food and beverage industry workers, this list compiles various ways to either help or find help in the Queen City.

 

Freestore Foodbank The Freestore Foodbank is asking for donations so that they can provide meals and stability to those impacted by the economic effects of the pandemic. Just $1 can provide three meals. Visit freestorefoodbank.org to make a donation. Photo via facebook.com/FreestoreFoodbank
Restaurant Workers Relief Program at Mita’s Downtown Cincinnati’s Mita’s has teamed up with chef Edward Lee’s The LEE Initiative program to transform the restaurant into a relief center for employees in the food and beverage industry that have been affected by coronavirus-related closures. The center provides aid for restaurant workers who were laid off or experienced a significant pay reduction or reduction in hours. The relief center will be open 5-8:30 p.m. daily. Bring your ID and employment paperwork (like a pay stub) that shows you were recently employed at a restaurant. If you’d like to donate to the Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, visit leeinitiave.org. To volunteer or donate supplies, email reservations@mitas.co. Photo via facebook.com/mitascincinnati
Donate Blood Stay at home orders threaten blood shortages nationwide. Hoxworth Blood Center is looking for eligible blood donors to schedule a donation as soon as possible. Don’t worry, there is no risk of contracting the virus from donating — it is a completely safe and sterile process. You can find a donor center closest to you at hoxworth.org/donors/locations. Photo via facebook.com/HoxworthBloodCenter
Cincinnati Area Senior Services Cincinnati Area Senior Services is providing Meals on Wheels deliveries to households with seniors who are in social isolation and cannot buy groceries for themselves. You can help by volunteering as a delivery driver. Submit your name, contact information, and a preferred neighborhood to cassdelivers.org/contact. Photo via facebook.com/CincinnatiAreaSeniorServices
Donate a Bottle of Karrikin Spirits Co. Sanitizer In response to the drastic shortage of hand sanitizer, Karrikin Spirits Co. has started making its own at its Fairfax distillery. The sanitizer is being produced in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines, with more than the recommended alcohol percentage to help kill germs. Since their master distillers have immediate access to alcohol, the restaurant says, “It’s important to us that our staff has everything they need during a time where we find ourselves unemployed. Hand sanitizer is now an essential item in our homes and businesses and will continue to be in the post-COVID-19 world.” Each 4 ounce bottle costs $3 and supports both your health (sanitize!) and the well-being of Karrikin and its staff. And if you want to pay it forward, you can buy a bottle to donate to a health care worker or first responder on the frontlines. The distillery is making its product accessible only to essential health care workers, those in goods manufacturing, first responders and local businesses. Donate a bottle via their website. Photo: Karrikin Spirits Co.
United Way of Greater Cincinnati Covid-19 Regional Response Fund A donation to COVID-19 Regional Response Fund gets individuals directly affected by the pandemic the resources they need during this global crisis as well as helps nonprofit organizations who are serving the community. Photo via facebook.com/UnitedWayofGreaterCincinnati
Make a Face Mask for a Health Care Worker College Hill shop Silk Road Textiles — which carries ethically traded fabrics and yarn — has put together DIY face mask kits for people who want to help health care workers who may be exposed to COVID-19. Each kit costs $15 and includes instructions and supplies to make 15 masks. Kits are available by calling 513-541-3700 or emailing silkroadcincy@gmail.com. Photo: Provided by Silk Road Textiles
Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Bored at home? Consider following Keep Cincinnati Beautiful on Facebook to find tips and ways that you can tend to your neighborhood while also following appropriate social distancing measures. You can take a walk and clean your block, beautify your yard, plant a garden and more! Photo via facebook.com/KeepCincinnatiBeautiful
Community Matters Community Matters provides a community market food pantry for more than 600 families living in Lower Price Hill, the demand for this service has nearly doubled in the past few weeks. Typical suppliers of food like small businesses, religious organizations, and schools have been closed, so the organization will need help in meeting increased demands. You can help in one of three ways while still maintaining social distancing: Collect and donate new or used brown paper bags for use in pantry delivery; donate canned goods and other cupboard items like feminine care items, diapers, baby formula, cleaning supplies, shampoo, etc.; and organize your own food or supply drive for when things get back to normal. Assist the team at Community Matters with making calls to connect with potential food and supply drive partners. Photo via facebook.com/cmcincy
Buy a Meal for a Health Care Worker Neighborhood restaurant and natural wine bar Pleasantry OTR is putting together special meal packages for health care workers in local emergency rooms and ICUs. Meals cost $10 and can be purchased on their website. Pleasantry says, “Imagine that instead of ‘distancing’ right now, you were leaving home each day to interact with hundreds of people who all have in common the fact that they are sick. The doctors, nurses, techs and administrators do their work with care, with professionalism, and with selflessness. But they’re not immune to anxiety and they certainly feel overwhelmed during intense times like these. Through your generosity, we would like to nourish and support these teams, to show them how appreciated they are!” The restaurant has donated more than 1,400 meals to area workers. Photo via facebook.com/PleasantryOTR
Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky is requesting emergency volunteers to assist seniors during this time of social distancing. Volunteers will be needed in three main areas — kitchen, distribution, and delivery. Don’t want to leave the house? No worries! Meals of Wheels is collecting cards, letters, and drawings that will be given to seniors alongside their meals. Gather your quarantine buds and get creative! Visit muchmorethanameal.org for tips on how to make your project safe and impactful. Photo via facebook.com/MuchMoreThanAMeal
Zoom Food Zoom Food is a service that provides safe and free deliveries of groceries and other necessities to those who need it. Zoom is founded by a group of high schoolers who were inspired by efforts in New York to protect their neighbors from COVID-19. You can request a delivery or sign up to volunteer at zoomfooddeliver.com. Photo: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
NEST Community Learning Center NEST (Nutrition, Education, Safety, Transformation) Community Learning Center aims to support low-income children in suburban Cincinnati. In response to COVID-19, NEST has collaborated with the Loveland School District and other community partners to provide a Food Services Program during school closure to meet the needs of children who are eligible for free or reduced lunches. You can volunteer by sorting and packaging foods or simply donate at nestclc.org. Photo via facebook.com/NESTcommunitylearningcenter
Strategies to End Homelessness Social distancing is nearly impossible to accomplish in emergency homeless shelters. Strategies to end homlessness is asking us to donate so that they can provide adequate solutions to dealing with this unprecedented situation. A donation will support partner agencies Bethany House Services, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati, The Salvation Army, and the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati. Photo via facebook.com/StrategiestoEndHomelessness
GoFundMe The COVID-19 global pandemic has left many in financial hardship and in need of support. Many have lost their jobs or had to lay off employees. Health care professionals on the frontlines have been working hours on end with little relief. Making direct donations can be extremely impactful. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform where you can find fundraisers to support those in your community who are in need. There are numerous Greater Cincinnati campaigns that aim to support those impacted by COVID-19. Photo via facebook.com/gofundme