Trying to figure out how to help financially

[Oddball]

I am fortunate to be working during the virus shutdown. Swamped, stressed, and tired but so much better off than some. Relatives are fine too. Where to begin helping the community when help is needed everywhere?

Maybe start with the mom-and-pop businesses I frequent? The cafes, etc.? They should be eligible for loans, but will that be enough? Their employees could get unemployment insurance, but how much and when?

What about some favorite nonprofits, like museums and arts organizations? Can they get loans too? Or will they sink or swim on donations?

Maybe the food banks first?

I suddenly realize with embarrassing humility how little I know about the nuts and bolts of my community and what's needed to keep it running. I can't save it all but want to help as effectively as possible. It feels like ER triage.

Not talking zillions, just a few hundred $ here and there as able.

[Yppej]

Donate blood. The government is covering the financial stuff, which means you and I are with our taxes.

[iris lilies]

Yes! The blood thing is really important, really really important.

Dh is the blood donor in our house and he had just given a few weeks before this thing hit. I’m not sure that I want him going to the blood donation center unnecessarily.

[Tybee]

Donating blood is a great idea. As far as donating money, I'd wait and see what the needs look like down the pike--maybe six months from now.

[SteveinMN]

We've thought about this as well.

When they first closed barber shops and hair salons, I contacted my barber shop and asked if I could prepay for a couple of months of haircuts to tide them over. Their answer was that they were doing okay and to come back when they were open again (which, of course, I will). I do not know if they've changed their minds based on how much longer they will have to remain closed. But they can get in touch with me if they change their minds. Or announce a plan like that.

We haven't ordered restaurant curbside pickup or takeout because, honestly, we weren't in restaurants much before the pandemic arrived. Out of the habit, I guess. But there are some hole-in-the-wall non-media-darling restaurants we suspect are running on a shoestring that we'd like to see survive, so we plan to contact them and ask how to support them.

A local GoFundMe run by a local restaurateur has been raising money to have local restaurant staffs cook meals which are then supplied to first-line medical responders (ER nurses, doctors, etc.); we sent them a portion of the stimulus funds we're going to receive. That keeps some restaurant folks employed and takes one thing off the lists of people who already are working as hard as they can.

And I will have to look into donating blood. I have in the past, but stopped for a bit because it was getting physically difficult to do.

[JaneV2.0]

I've upped my contributions to local animal charities facing challenges. Local TNR groups are being hampered by stay at home orders just at the start of kitten season.

[Tradd]

I’d donate to your local food pantry. Cash (online donation).

[Oddball]

Thanks for the suggestions. It hit me in the middle of the night that the local food bank will be the best place to start.Turns out demand is up by 50% as folks lose jobs and as hoarding makes the most basic foods harder to find. Plus physical food donations are being nixed in favor of online cash gifts to avoid spread.

Blood, great idea, but is donating even safe right now? I'd hate to be an asymptomatic virus carrier and spread it in a mobile unit or donation room. Maybe if I wear a mask?

Never mind, found some answers:

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus--covid-19--and-blood-donation.html

[LDAHL]

We (well, mostly my wife) have been delivering groceries and prepared meals to various people affected by the current situation in a sort of DIY meals on wheels program. We are also continuing to pay our cleaning lady her usual fee while she’s confined at home. We plan on investing at least part of our stimulus check in gift cards from local restaurants to get them an immediate cash infusion prior to the time we can dine there again.

[Tradd]

We (well, mostly my wife) have been delivering groceries and prepared meals to various people affected by the current situation in a sort of DIY meals on wheels program. We are also continuing to pay our cleaning lady her usual fee while she’s confined at home. We plan on investing at least part of our stimulus check in gift cards from local restaurants to get them an immediate cash infusion prior to the time we can dine there again.

The thing with the restaurant gift cards is will they reopen? You might be out your $$. Perhaps getting carryout might be a better idea?

[SteveinMN]

Some restaurants are not offering carryout. If you want to help tide them over now, gift cards are it. Our stimulus donations to other restaurants have been to places where we're not sure they'll make it at all. It's money we can afford to lose. But we sure would like to see them stick around.

[LDAHL]

The thing with the restaurant gift cards is will they reopen? You might be out your $$. Perhaps getting carryout might be a better idea?

It is a risk, certainly, that they won’t be around to serve my pork cutlets when the all clear is sounded. But it provides them cash right now in amounts greater than a single meal or two and requires no expense on their part until I show up. We just won’t “invest” more than we can afford to lose.

[Simplemind]

As far as the gift cards go, I've heard that it depends on the business. Some may get the cash now and others don't get it until they are cashed. In that case, I don't see how helpful they are in the long run. We have been giving straight cash to our service people as if they had provided the service now. Yes, the government is supposed to be helping individuals and businesses but almost everybody I've talked to has been stalled or denied for whatever reason. The system is just caving at the moment.
Meals on Wheels almost doubled their clients in the past month and we have been putting our money there as well as donation to the local food bank. I have loved that while walking our dogs in the neighborhoods we have run across little stands with food. Not unlike free little libraries. They look to be set up by kids and have signs that say God Bless, take what you need. It fills my heart.

[Teacher Terry]

We are giving big tips on carry out and taking food to a shelter.