How to help the helpers

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the nation, the areas surrounding all eight Ivies are doing what they can to protect others. Here are some ways to help the helpers, categorized by Ivy area. If you know of other organizations helping out in these areas, please email [email protected] or post it in a comment below.

BOSTON/CAMBRIDGE

Boston Children’s Hospital is seeking donations for masks, gowns and other miscellaneous items and will accept all donations in original, unopened packaging. From outside the organization, please ship to

BCH-DONATIONS

MA2 Receiving

53 Binney Street

Boston, MA 02115

ATTN:  Brian Becquart

Anyone with questions may contact Erica Denhoff directly at [email protected].

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The Boston Foundation has a COVID-19 Response Fund established to rapidly deploy flexible resources to organizations in Greater Boston that are working with communities that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

To make donations by credit card, complete the form below. (Please note: Minimum credit card donation is $50.)

To donate by check (any amount accepted), make your check payable to “Boston Foundation, Inc.” with “COVID-19 Response Fund” in the memo field and mail to:

The Boston Foundation
Fund Administration
75 Arlington Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116

To inquire about transferring other types of assets, please contact our Fund Administration office at (617) 338-2213 or email [email protected].

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In response to the public health crisis created by COVID-19, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale have activated the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide emergency assistance in partnership with non-profit organizations to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing extreme financial hardship caused by the current COVID-19 crisis.

In addition to the online donation portal, donations can also be mailed and made payable to “Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund – COVID-19” and sent to the address below:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund
c/o Finance Department
Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

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The Cambridge Community Foundation has directed $50,000 into the Cambridge COVID-19 Emergency Fund with an additional $25,000 contributed by Rosemarie and Steve Johnson and $25,000 more from a generous donor. Google Cambridge has pledged an additional $100,000

As the Foundation adds to the fund through collective giving in the community, it will begin the immediate assessment of applications and deploy grants to Cambridge residents, nonprofits, and small businesses experiencing financial crisis. These one-time grants ranging from $200 to $1,000 will be made available on a rolling basis until funds are depletedApplicants must be Cambridge residents – or people whose main source of income emanates from Cambridge  Cambridge organizations with 501c3 status, or small businesses in our community with demonstrated loss of opportunity or income. To be clear, individuals or groups can apply to this fund; 501c3 status is not a requirement. 

Donations may be made here.

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Tufts Medical Center is accepting PPE such as masks, eye protection, precaution gowns and hand sanitizer, as well as N95 construction-standard masks. Donated supplies should be unopened and in their original packaging. Supplies can be dropped off at 25 Harvard St., Boston MA 02111 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information about donating PPE, contact [email protected]. More information can be found here.

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The Greater Boston Food Bank is asking for volunteers who can help – you can learn more and sign up here. You can donate here and form a team to fundraise here.

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Reservoir Church is partnering with Cambridge Public Schools to lead a fundraising campaign, Feed Cambridge Families, to provide support to any family in need. For more information, to give money or to donate digital gift cards, click here.

HANOVER

The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health system is asking for donations to its COVID-19 Community Relief Fund that provides financial assistance across the D-HH service region to organizations working to support those who are suffering from the economic, social, and health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, its Helping Our People in Emergencies (HOPE) Fund assisting employees experiencing financial crises due to unforeseen situations such as COVID-19 and the PPE Fund support the purchase of urgently needed Personal Protective Equipment and other supplies to combat the COVID19 outbreak. More information can be found here.

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Those in Vermont who want to volunteer to help with COVID-19 on the medical response side can register at www.OnCallforVT.org, and New Hampshire volunteers can register at https://www.nhresponds.org/ and click “register now.” These systems feed volunteers into the Medical Reserve Corps and other response teams, according to Alice Ely, executive director of Public Health Council of the Upper Valley.

ITHACA

The Cayuga Health System is accepting supply donations (more info here), response funds for supplies, equipment and other costs stemming from COVID-19 (more info here), and has said it would gladly accept homemade versions of surgical masks. Cayuga Health System is offering people the option to go onsite at Bartels Hall where it has stations set up with appropriate distancing or it can accept masks made from home. To learn more and sign up, click here.

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United Way of Tompkins County is seeking volunteers interested in helping with COVID-19 relief efforts.

For any questions about volunteer opportunities or to request volunteers for an upcoming community project, please contact Brandi Remington at 607-272-6286 or by email.

Read United Way of Tompkins County’s Volunteer Waiver Form here and fill out the form here.

NEW HAVEN

Yale New Haven Hospital has established two emergency funds which will provide critical support to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 PPE/Capital Provision Fund will be directed toward capital expenses, including personal protection (PPE) and medical equipment. The COVID-19 Support Fund will be directed toward operational expenses and staff support and will enable frontline clinical staff to continue to provide safe, high-quality care.

The Yale New Haven Health System is in need of the following: disposable head covers/gaps, disposable gowns, disposable gloves, N95 respirator face masks, powered air purifying respirators, disposable face masks, face-shields/goggles, coveralls/scrubs, shoe-covers, disinfection wipes & liquids and general purpose hand cleansers. All items should be in original unopened packaging. The following information would be helpful: product quantity and manufacturer, location the product was stored and for how long, expiration date (if possible) and product lot numbers (if possible). The health system asks that donors submit donation offers at [email protected] with contact information, including cell phone number, for staff to respond to. For other questions regarding Covid-19, please call The Yale New Haven Health COVID-19 call center at 833-ASK-YNHH (833-275-9644) seven days a week, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Yale New Haven Health System is also accepting hand sewn mask donations and asks that donors use this pocket pattern.

Donations of sewn masks are being accepted Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm at:

Yale New Haven Health System
Regional Operations Center
600 Derby Ave. (Route 34)
West Haven, CT  06516

Those interested in donating food for the staff at Yale New Haven Hospital during this time are asked to email [email protected] with their full name, mobile phone number, restaurant/company name, type of food, estimated quantity or number of people that can be fed, and date/time they are interested in delivering.

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The Greater New Haven COVID-19 Community Fund has been established in partnership with the United Way of Greater New Haven. To learn more about the fund and give, click here.

NEW YORK 

Parker Jewish Institute could use donations of the following items to care for some of New York’s most vulnerable residents: N95 masks with shields, gowns (impermeable & isolation), coveralls, head caps, shoe covers, goggles, hand sanitizer, wipes (disinfecting & hand sanitizing) and utility gloves. To reach out, call 718-289-2100 or 877-727-5373. The institute’s address is:

Parker Jewish Institute
c/o Purchasing Department
271-11 76th Ave.
New Hyde Park, NY 11040

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Columbia Surgery is in dire need of PPE and needs

  • Surgical procedure masks (FDA/OSHA approved)
  • N95 respirator masks (NIOSH certified)
  • Face shields
  • Hand sanitizers
  • ISO Isolation suits
  • Disinfectant wipes

To find a drop off location or schedule a pick-up click here.

If you are a Columbia donor or have other Columbia connections who want to donate, please contact: [email protected]

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Invisible Hands Deliver, recently profiled by PIX 11, is a group of engaged volunteers from communities at the least risk for severe COVID-19 reactions working to bring groceries and supplies to those in high-risk demographics in the greater New York area and parts of New Jersey. To learn more about the organization and to donate, click here.

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Food Bank for New York City is accepting donations here or at the following address:

Food Bank For New York City
Attn: Development
39 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006

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NewYork Presbyterian has two funds dedicated to COVID-19 work, a patient care fund for general patient care needs including the purchasing of ventilators and personal protective equipment such as masks, the hiring of additional clinical staff, capacity expansion, and clinical research, and a health care workers fund for the physical and emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. For more info and to donate, click here.

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NYC Health + Hospitals is accepting donations to help doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. To donate with credit card, click here (American Express, Mastercard and Visa accepted). To donate supplies or other items, contact [email protected].

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The Afya Foundation is sending Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospitals in the New York area large amounts of medical supplies including PPE. Needed supplies are listed here.

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Information on how to register to help, donate supplies or give a monetary gift to Mount Sinai Hospital can be found here.

PHILADELPHIA

Penn Medicine is asking for face mask and protective equipment donations for health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19. For information on what equipment Penn Medicine is accepting in bulk donations and where to send it, click here.

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Philabundance is building and distributing emergency food boxes across its nine-county service area and is asking for help to cover the cost of as many boxes as possible. To learn more and donate, click here.

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The Penn Vet COVID-19 Research Innovation Fund will be used to support the school’s research and essential clinical services engaged in the direct response to the coronavirus pandemic. This includes Penn Vet’s research on inhibitors that can block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from cell-to-cell, as well as lung injury and lung regeneration during and after a coronavirus diagnosis. To give, click here.

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Project HOME on Tuesday announced that it is launching HOME Made Projects and asking for DIY masks. For more info on how and where to send masks, click here. Project HOME is also accepting financial contributions here.

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The Philly Virtual Tip Jar has a growing list of restaurant workers who lost their jobs, at least for the time being. You can go here to find out how to donate to a server(s) directly via PayPal or Venmo.

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The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is coordinating with all Jewish-affiliated organizations, schools, synagogues and agencies in the region to assess and address emerging needs.

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The PHL COVID-19 Fund will provide grants to Greater Philadelphia organizations with a successful track record of serving at-risk populations such as the seniors, people with disabilities, and those who are experiencing homeless or are economically disadvantaged, in order to continue community safety nets such as food pantries and health services, and help with preparedness and protection such as hygiene supplies, access to accurate current information, and available services. To learn more and donate, click here.

PRINCETON 

Princeton University’s Emergency Management Group is asking departments, labs and centers to inventory PPE. This includes N95 masks, gloves, gowns, protective eyewear and any other personal protective equipment (PPE) not otherwise needed for operation of campus facilities. Princeton University Environmental Health and Safety has created a form to use to identify supplies that are available for donation.

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The Princeton Area Community Foundation, in collaboration with other community leaders, has created a COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund to help support nonprofits working with the most vulnerable residents in Mercer County and the surrounding region. To learn more and to donate, click here.

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The Princeton Children’s Fund is accepting donations to its coronavirus relief fund to benefit economically disadvantaged Princeton families impacted by work stoppage during the outbreak. To donate, click here.

PROVIDENCE

Rhode Island Department of Health State Laboratories reported being severely limited in capacity because of the nationwide shortage of critical supplies and reagents. For more information on their PPE, other medical and lab supply needs and to fill out a medical supply donation form, click here.

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The RI Responds System, an initiative that places recruitment and management of Rhode Island’s healthcare volunteers under one state-wide system, is seeking clinical and non-clinical volunteers. To find out more and register, click here.