By Christina
Zdanowicz and Julia M. Chan, CNN Updated 5:42 AM ET, Sat March
14, 2020
(CNN)The national blood supply
is low, empty shelves signal foreboding at food banks and vulnerable
communities are at risk.
As coronavirus spreads across the US, people are worried
about keeping their families safe. But, what about your fellow man? For people
in need, dealing with coronavirus is an added stress.
The
organizations that support them are asking for help in this time of
uncertainty. Some are facing serious challenges as the virus spreads, while others are coming up with creative ways
to anticipate their needs.
This is
how you can help.
There is a serious need for blood
More
than 600 blood drives across the country have been canceled due to coronavirus
concerns, the American
Red Cross said Friday. That's about 18,000 blood donations that
were never made.
"In
my 31 years, I've not been as concerned about what could happen to the blood
supply as I am now simply because of the degree of influence the coronavirus is
having over public decisions," Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Blood
biomedical services, told CNN.
It's
important that people donate now while parts of the country are still healthy,
Hrouda said. About 80% of Red Cross blood collections come from blood drives
hosted by sponsors like schools, churches and businesses.
Blood
supplies must constantly be replenished because blood is perishable. When blood
drives are canceled, that threatens the inventory, he said. A unit of red blood
cells can last for 42 days, while platelets only have a five-day shelf life.
Hard-hit coronavirus areas, like the Pacific Northwest, are
struggling even more. The region's blood supply is "in danger of
collapse," Bloodworks
Northwest, a blood services and research nonprofit, said in a
statement.
How you
can help: Blood donors are needed, as are sponsors to host drives.
All types are needed, but blood type O and platelets are what's most needed,
said the American Red
Cross. To find a blood drive near you, click here.
The shelves at some food banks are going unstocked
Canned
food donations are declining and one food bank in Stamford, Connecticut, can't
keep its shelves stocked.
Unfortunately,
people seem to be stockpiling canned goods at home, said Kate Lombardo with the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.
"There's
another population that needs to be able to hunker down for the possibility in
case they are quarantined," Lombardo told CNN. "Most people don't
have that extra $100 to $200 to spend on food to ready their household for two
weeks' worth of groceries."
Pasta,
spaghetti sauce and cereal are usually always on the shelves, but these days,
even those items are gone, she said. The food bank has had to use donations to
purchase food to replenish their supply.
"It's
just frightening for people who live hand to mouth on a daily basis,"
Lombardo said. "There's already a stress factor of poverty, let alone the
additional stress coming from a pandemic."
The
food bank provides food to 90 agencies and programs, like food pantries and
soup kitchens, which give the food to those in need.
Soup
kitchens are feeling the ripple effect, too. Brooklyn soup kitchen and women's
shelter Community Help
in Park Slope, Inc. says it will not close, despite the uptick
in coronavirus cases in New York.
The
soup kitchen has moved from serving indoor seated meals to take-out, so there
aren't large gatherings of people, said Executive Director Denise Scaravella.
"We're
not turning anybody away. We have donations for cold lunch supplies,"
Scaravella told CNN. "Volunteers are showing up, we are cooking and we are
handing the food out. We just aren't having people to come in and eat."
How you
can help: Various food banks and food pantries have different needs.
The Food Bank of
Lower Fairfield County is asking for canned food donations,
while CHiPS said
it needs disposable containers and utensils after switching to take-out. To
find your local food bank, search your zip
code or state on Feeding America's nationwide directory. If you'd like to
donate food to your local pantry, check out the "twelve most wanted" list from the San Antonio Food Bank for
suggestions.
Some homeless shelters are ready if the virus hits a susceptible
population
There
haven't been reported cases of coronavirus in the homeless population that we
know of, but there's a fear of it hitting this already vulnerable group.
The
suggestions to wash your hands and self-quarantine aren't a feasible option for
the homeless, said Giselle Routhier, policy director at Coalition for
the Homeless in New York.
"The
recommendation to self-quarantine is impossible for homeless New Yorkers,"
Routhier said. "That is why it is crucial that New York ensures that
everyone has a real home."
The
Union Rescue Mission is a shelter on Skid Row in Los Angeles. It's taken aggressive
measures to make sure the people it serves stay safe.
The
shelter moved bunk beds to make sure they are six feet apart and it's already
set up a quarantine area for anyone exhibiting symptoms.
"We've
set up a family quarantine in a family wing and have two families exhibiting
likely flu symptoms, but since we can't test and hospitals did not test, we
can't confirm any cases yet," said shelter CEO Rev. Andy Bales. "We
are erring in the side of caution."
The
shelter added several stations so people can wash their hands with hot water
and follow good hygiene, he said. Door knobs, door handles and elevator buttons
are being disinfected 9 times per day.
How you
can help: Homeless shelters like Union Rescue Mission are asking
that people share essentials like toilet paper, soaps, hand sanitizer and
disinfectant wipes. Masks, gloves and protective equipment are also welcome, as
staff at shelters need to be able to protect themselves while serving those in
need.
To
report a person who needs help on the street, you can call 311 to connect with
homeless outreach in your city, or dial 211 to reach local, essential community services. The Veterans Administration also
operates a 24/7 hotline for homeless vets at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) and an
online chat service.
Homebound elderly need meals
While
the public worries about working from home and isolating, a huge segment of the
population already does that: the elderly.
Often
elderly people may have trouble shopping and cooking if they have mobility
issues.
Meals on Wheels programs
provide hot meals daily to seniors and those who are homebound. Getting a hot
meal is important for nutrition, but it's also a chance for a senior to have a
visit and not feel so isolated, said Steve King with Meals on Wheels of Tampa.
"We're
preparing frozen meals that in the event that we run too short and can't get a
hot meal to somebody every day, we can give them frozen meals for a seven-day
period," King said.
Meals on Wheels
America said its local programs are having to adapt.
"Delivery
methods are also being adjusted to lessen the risk of person to person
contact," said Meals on Wheels America spokeswoman Jenny Young.
"Volunteers may no longer enter the home and they may deliver more
shelf-stable or frozen meals at one time to lessen the frequency of
delivery."
Losing
that personal connection will be tough, so the organization said many local
programs will call its seniors to check on their safety and wellbeing, she said.
How you
can help: Look out for neighbors. If you're going to the grocery store,
offer to pick up whatever they need. Or, ask if an elderly neighbor needs a
ride. To donate to Meals on Wheels America, click here. You can also sign up to
volunteer. If you are a senior experiencing hunger, enter your
zip code here to find a provider in your area.
If you would like to help organizations supporting people during the
coronavirus outbreak nationally click the button below.
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