Sierra Club in greater Philadelphia - how can we help?
Jim Wylie
Sierra Club volunteers in the Philadelphia area would like to contribute to helping our own communities and our neighbors in this stressful time due to the COVID-19 virus.
Please reach out to your neighbors and friends. Especially older folks that may be living alone. Ask if they need assistance getting supplies or just need someone to talk to.
Our volunteer leaders have suggested the following opportunities to help others in the Philadelphia area – while staying safe at home:
Food - Philabundance
Many food banks are struggling because their normal volunteer workforce is generally older (at-risk) and food sources are limited (grocery stores and restaurants). But Philabundance is up and running - accepting food and monetary donations. We recommend giving to Philabundance online.
Volunteer - The Philly Pledge
You may have heard of The Philly Pledge being promoted by Mayor Kenney and Ben Simmons from the 76ers. The site asks for contributions to Philabundance (as above) and has a link to the PHL Covid-19 Fund, which is a collection of opportunities to donate, volunteer from home and ways to apply for funding for non-profit groups that are set up to help with COVID-19 response.
Masks - Sew Facemasks Philadelphia
Recommendations on DIY facemasks vary widely. The Inquirer analyzed the situation and compiled a good list of references on the subject. Bottom line - DIY masks may be better than nothing - as long as we also wash our hands and the masks frequently. The biggest risk for the public is falling into a sense of complacency - a facemask is not a perfect shield against the virus.
Tip Jars - Love Your Local
Help out of work restaurant workers. Many communities are setting up virtual tip jars to help the thousands of restaurant workers that get most of their income from tips - which are not happening these days. Virtual Tip Jars that we have found: Covidtipjars.com, Virtual Tip Jars, serviceindustry.tips, Philadelphia Citizen, Greater West Chester, Chester County.
That’s our A-list of suggestions. Other giving and volunteer opportunities that have been suggested are:
- The Sierra-Philly-Volunteers list collaborated on this list of Local Resources and Diversions - feel free to improve. (open to edit)
- Time to start your home garden - https://coopgardenstest.wordpress.com/
- Suburban Foodbanks:
- Chester County - https://chestercountyfoodbank.org/
- Montgomery County - https://montgomerycountyalive.com/business/Food-Pantries.cfm
- Delaware County
- Bucks County - https://www.bchg.org/our-pantries.html
- Suggestions from Phoenixville Area Transition Team
- For Philadelphia, go to https://phlcovid19fund.org/covid-19/ to find out how to make donations and volunteer (including online) for frontline organizations. For a comprehensive list of Philly mutual aid organizations and key information, go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Ibrh174MhAzx5UIcSUkmrnku8fyuJR0XMBWDGMEASU/edit#
- Eastern Service Workers Association (ESWA) Needs Your Help to Assist Low-Income Workers Hit Hard by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Eastern Service Workers Association (ESWA) is open every day, organizing food collections and distributions; advocating for those who have lost their jobs and income; and keeping in touch with our membership of low-income service, temporary and part-time workers who are the most vulnerable to public health and economic crisis.
ESWA URGENTLY NEEDS:
· Volunteer drivers to do no-contact food deliveries and pick-ups
· Non-Perishable Food collections (amongst your neighbors, friends or associates)
· Paper products, cleaning supplies, hand soaps and hygiene supplies
· Volunteers to join our phone tree to check on low-income families
· Volunteers to advocate for workers who are struggling to survive
Call ESWA Today at (215) 545-9055, or drop off donations at ESWA’s office at 1518 South St., Philadelphia, PA. You can call ESWA from outside the office and a volunteer will come out to accept your donations. You Can Make A Difference!
