As communities around the nation continue to deal with the evolving effects of COVID-19, many of us are looking for ways to connect with those in need. 

The impacts of the virus have touched every industry, affecting the work and livelihoods of front-line responders, healthcare workers, restaurant industry staff, and beyond. Other issues, such as food security and healthcare access are touching ever-widening groups of Americans. 

Help Others Experience the Power of Giving 

Giving is a powerful act; even better, it’s an experience that can be shared. One way our customers have been maintaining relationships and driving revenue during this time is with our Charity Choice eGift card, which allows the recipient to apply the gifted amount to a charitable organization of their choosing. 

Recipients may select from hundreds of nationally recognized charity organizations, or search for local charities that could benefit from their support. It’s an easy way to connect with the most important people— and give them the opportunity to connect with the world at this uncertain time. 

In order to help Sendoso customers give back during this time, we’ve made it even easier to access our Charity Choice eGift option within the platform. Charity Choice partners include organizations caring for those impacted by COVID-19, like American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, and United Way.

We’ve also compiled a list of five excellent charities whose work is helping to make ends meet, get dinner to the table, make progress on a cure, and more. Each of the charities mentioned below is tackling some of the most pressing aspects of the pandemic. Because most of these organizations are so new, they may not be available via Charity Choice yet. But we hope one of these causes might speak to you.

5 Ways to Provide Support through Charity During This Time  

1. Supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Frontline Workers

One of the biggest challenges of this pandemic is the crucial mission of keeping our frontline responders (nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, EMTs, police, and firefighters) safe while on the job. To accomplish this, we must meet the massive demand for disinfectants, masks, shields, and other PPE items that keep these heroes safe. 

Good360 is answering this call, shipping “goods for the greater good” to some of the hardest-hit areas both domestically and internationally. Through its network of corporate partnerships, the organization has been able to ship life saving supplies and equipment to New York, Atlanta, and Seattle. 

This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has a Charity Navigator rating of 91.47, with an impressive 98.9% of expenses directly to the people and organizations it serves. According to Charity Navigator, Good360 “serves a network of more than 80,000 nonprofit organizations and has distributed over $9 billion in goods to those in need.”

2. Support Restaurant Workers 

Social distancing created an immediate and devastating impact on the restaurant industry, affecting the lives of the estimated 12 million people who prepare, serve, and facilitate dining out for the American public. While some restaurants have moved to a delivery and curbside pick-up model to survive, the fact remains that millions of workers now face financial insecurity as a result. The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation is a non-profit aimed at providing funding, loans, and relief to affected workers and establishments. As of April 27th, 2020, the RWCF has raised over $4.6m dollars for restaurant employee relief. 

Though the RWCF is not rated by Charity Navigator, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit reports that “For Restaurant Workers’ COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund, every individual donation that comes through our Crisis Fund portal on our website goes 100% to direct assistance, grants to nonprofits providing services to restaurant workers and zero-interest loans to small businesses to get up and going again. For those donations, 0% goes to RWCF overhead.” The organization reports that they are “encouraging our nonprofit grantees to use a portion of our grant for their general operating needs.”

3. Improve Healthcare Infrastructure 

At the frontline of the pandemic are the doctors, nurses, researchers, and laboratory technicians whose efforts can directly impact the lives of community members and the outcomes of mitigation efforts. In support of these aims, the CDC Foundation programs have raised over $47m in funds for supplies, personnel, testing, and research. “The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit and the sole entity created by Congress to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s critical health protection work,” according to Charity Navigator, who gave it an overall score of 98.23, with over 90% of funds directly benefiting its programs and initiatives. 

According to its Coronavirus Croundfunding Campaign website, donations to its coronavirus campaign will be directed to “funding medical supplies, increasing lab capacity, deploying emergency staffing to the U.S. public health agencies, providing support to vulnerable communities, addressing health communication needs, boosting clinical research to improve health outcomes, building capacity and infrastructure for global response efforts, and much more.” 

4. Help Fight Food Insecurity 

A variety of circumstances—both general and specific to COVID-19— are contributing to food insecurity for families across the country. Food banks are seeing an increased need for services, schools are struggling to meet the nutritional needs of their student bodies, and families are finding it harder than ever to stretch their food budget and bring nutritious food to the table. 

Feeding America is working to help food banks fulfill their mission to keep families fed. Its mission statement, Feeding America is “a nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America.

Feeding America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a 94.38 overall score from Charity Navigator. Over 98% of its operating expenses are used to directly support its programs and initiatives.

5. Provide Vulnerable Population Assistance 

Often, vulnerable populations and the frontline responders who serve them may find themselves underserved in times of national crises such as pandemics and natural disasters. To answer the need for supporting underserved populations, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy has launched the COVID-19 Response Fund, which it describes as “focusing on support for nonprofit organizations working directly to respond to the pandemic among vulnerable populations in order to help build their capacity to address the most pressing needs. These include social service organizations focused on supporting low-income households, small businesses, immigrants, refugees, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, older adults, people with disabilities, and other communities vulnerable to the physical health, mental health, and economic impacts of the pandemic.” 

The CDP has garnered a 92.22 overall score through Charity Navigator, with over 94% of its operating expenses going directly to the programs and initiatives it supports. It has distributed over $4.6 million in donations to support more than 21 nonprofit organizations directly involved with the response to the pandemic.

With the goodwill and generosity of many, we can support those most deeply affected by the crisis. Now more than ever, these organizations rely upon your financial support to create better outcomes for all. No matter where you direct those funds, we thank you for supporting others when they need it most.

Request a demo below to learn more about Sendoso’s Charity Choice eGift options and other new platform features!