COVID hasn’t been easy on anyone. From literal illness and financial strain to unemployment and isolation, the virus has wreaked havoc on all parts of our everyday lives, including our relationships and sense of stability. As infection rates continue to hit an all-time high in America, nonprofits and social services are doing their best to offset the impact. So, in this season of giving, we reached out to several area agencies to see how you can give back, whether you favor in-person volunteering or other acts of kindness. (Obviously, monetary donations are always welcome, if that’s something you can afford.) If there’s a cause you care about, there’s most likely a nonprofit out there with a similar mission who needs your support this holiday — and beyond.
Freestore Foodbank
The Freestore Foodbank is “the largest emergency food and services provider to children and families in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana,” and since the start of the pandemic, they have distributed more than 24 million meals to those in need in partnership with more than 600 agencies across 20 counties. That’s a 46% increase over their typical numbers and Trisha Rayner, chief development officer, says they provided 419,476 meals to 8,400 families in November — “an increase of over 2,400 families this holiday season compared to last year.”
The Ohio National Guard has been assisting food banks across the state — including the Freestore — via federal funding since March, but their time is up Dec. 17 (unless that funding is extended). The Freestore’s Volunteer Communication Specialist Carolyn Frank says, “Without them we would not have been able to keep up the demand of the emergency boxes.” The guard has helped pack food boxes to last the Freestore until early January, at which point they will need physical volunteers at their Liberty Street Market and distribution center.
But, Rayner says, “The best way to support the work in the community is to donate at freestorefoodbank.org or donate to your local pantry. With COVID restrictions, we have minimized canned food drives and are using virtual food drives, where people can spark ‘virtual food donations’ with their company or family and friends.”
She says with the added impact of grocery stores being unable to donate as much as they would in a typical year, funding to purchase food is imperative.
“Every dollar can help provide up to three meals,” Rayner says.
Learn more and donate at freestorefoodbank.org.
Bethany House Services
Bethany House is dedicated to holistically assisting families facing homelessness by offering emergency shelter and other housing programs along with case management “provided by staff trained in trauma-informed care and focused on empowering families to reach self-sufficiency.”
Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator Gage Woolley says Bethany House had to shut down its two communal-style shelters in March in order to ensure appropriate social distancing for their families. They have since relocated to a hotel in Sharonville, where 23 families are staying.
“We need help providing dinners to the folks staying there,” says Woolley. “We look for volunteers to help cook — or cater — full meals for either all of the families (23, with an average of four per family) or about half the families (12).”
Adding, “We do ask to avoid pizza and pasta if possible as our families get that more than other food.”
They are also accepting “Bethany Basics,” which are items to help families transition from the shelter into their own homes. The list includes everything from sheets and pillows to can openers, silverware and laundry detergent. You can find the full list under the “donate” tab at bethanyhouseservices.org, which also shows what your cash donation can do. There is also a contact form online to get available dates and full details about providing meals.
United Way of Greater Cincinnati
The United Way is a community-focused health and human services nonprofit that serves 1.8 million people across the Tri-State through its assorted partnerships.
If you visit uwgc.org/#Volunteer, you’ll be able to scroll through tons of different opportunities, but Brian G. Gregg, chief communications officer, has highlighted a few.
- “Our Virtual Product Drive offers a safe and easy way to give. Complete a short form and you’ll receive a link to needed items, powered by Amazon Registry, which we’ll distribute to local organizations supporting food pantries, after-school programming, temporary housing for families, services for older adults and more. You can also choose United Way of Greater Cincinnati as your AmazonSmile charitable organization.”
- “Our Notes of Encouragement to isolated seniors is another creative way of helping. Pen an encouraging letter to lift the spirits of someone who may be alone over the holidays because of the pandemic. We’ll make sure they get into the right hands. (The United Way has) put out more than 10,000 Notes of Encouragement and is now doing a Holiday Notes of Encouragement, where all the notes will be sent to people through Meals on Wheels and the YMCA.”
- “Our Wish List partnership with The Cincinnati Enquirer offers tangible ways to see your donation in action. You can give to a specific cause, such as a child who needs a wheelchair.”
Learn more or give at uwgc.org.
Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society
It’s not just people who need help this holiday season.
“The biggest thing people can do to help the animal shelter during the holidays — and beyond — is adopt or foster an animal,” says Ray Anderson, media and community relations manager. “Fostering is going to become the future of animal sheltering as it allows us to expand our capacity.”
Anderson says that in the past several weeks, they have had more than 80 stray dogs come through their Northside shelter — and they only have 100 kennels. “Fostering quite literally saves lives and it’s how we’re able to achieve our no-kill mission,” he says. “It also gives us a better understanding of how the animal behaves in a home, rather than the overwhelming environment of the shelter, and makes them better candidates for adoption.”
If fostering isn’t for you, you can also donate directly or order supplies from their Amazon Wish List. Anderson says their most-needed items are “wet and dry dog and cat food, cat litter and cleaning supplies, particularly paper towels.”
Cincinnati Animal CARE, now Hamilton County’s official animal welfare agency, is also accepting volunteer dog walkers. Learn more at cincinnatianimalcare.org.
Strategies to End Homelessness
Strategies to End Homelessness oversees “the work of 30-plus local nonprofit organizations that provide homelessness prevention, street outreach, emergency shelter and housing services,” says Stacie Berger, communications director.
At the start of the pandemic, Berger says they had to close their congregate shelters to keep residents safe and helped move them into hotels and motels via government funding. But, as winter approaches, Berger says they could use assistance.
“Winter weather is dangerous for people experiencing homelessness. Providing shelter is critical to prevent hypothermia or even death. But, the pandemic has made it more important than ever,” she says. “Due to the reduced availability of shelter (for social distancing), there are already 35% more people unsheltered or on the streets compared to the first 10 months of last year.”
She also notes that homelessness is expected to spike in January as CARES Act Funding and the Centers for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium both expire.
“Each year we raise money for agencies and groups that work to increase shelter capacity during winter,” she says. “If your readers are in a position to provide support, and would like to be sure that their donations go right to where the rubber meets the road providing basic shelter during the winter, we’d ask that they consider a donation to wintershelter.org.”
While Strategies to End Homelessness doesn’t take volunteers directly, they can connect you with one of their partner agencies for opportunities.
Berger also says “one of the most important parts of our work is to dispel myths around homelessness.” She says you can help that cause by signing up for their email updates or engaging on social media.
“In Greater Cincinnati, 25% of all people experiencing homelessness are children, under age 18. And a full 55% of all people experiencing homelessness are under the age of 35. Small, collective social actions can change public perception, inform and influence conversation,” she says.
Learn more at strategiestoendhomelessness.org. (And if you need help finding shelter or other homelessness-related services, call their Central Access Point Helpline at 513-381-SAFE.)
Brighton Center
Launched in 1966, the Brighton Center is a local organization with the mission to “create opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment, and leadership.”
Lauren Copeland, development director, says last year they “partnered with 46,445 individuals from infants to older adults through 41 different programs on their journey to self-sufficiency.”
As a result of COVID, the center has seen a 300% increase in the number of families accessing their emergency services (which includes a food pantry), as well as an increase in the amount of people who need assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments.
“Families have had to navigate unchartered territory (as a result of COVID),” Copeland says. “Parents have lost their jobs, families are navigating distance education with schools being closed, families are struggling to meet their basic needs, and are having to make difficult decisions between paying for rent, utilities, putting food on the table, and childcare.”
Brighton Center works to help with all of those concerns and says they could use both monetary contributions as well as volunteers to assist with their daily food pantry operations and their home delivery program (a good choice for those who want to volunteer but are not comfortable being on-site).
The center is also hosting an “Adopt a Child” event, where you can buy items off their Amazon Wish List to gift to a family. Or you can make blankets or personal care packages to donate, host a food drive, or make greeting cards for “older adults, homebound customers and women in our recovery center,” Copeland says.
If you can donate your time, contact volunteer@brightoncenter.com or visit brightoncenter.com/get_involved/volunteer for their various opportunities. And visit brightoncenter.com to find out how to give financially.
This article appears in The Holiday Issue.