Ways To Serve On MLK Holiday During A Pandemic
If you’re like me, you normally plan to serve in some way on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday, but the pandemic is making that difficult. However, there are alternatives to serve even while you’re home. Here’s how:
Build and send care packages –
Share virtual joy and make at-home care packages for those in need. Share Charlotte has a number of nonprofit organizations they promote. Those nonprofits have setup Amazon Wish Lists to direct the community to what they may need most.
Teaching and learning opportunities –
A day of service this year can be a great time to teach and learn about the risks and disparities communities of color face with COVID-19. Dr. King was a proponent of public health access. Global Citizen 365 is hosting a national conversation on “Justice and the COVID-19 Health Crisis.” The event will take place via Zoom 3pm EST, Martin Luther King Day (January 18).
Global Citizen 365 also hosts a virtual read-aloud recording to teach the next generation of change agents. The organization is looking for volunteers to film an animated selfie-video. Those interested should contact Global Citizen 365.
Give To Sustain Life
What better way to ‘serve’ than to help sustain life. The American Red Cross is in dire need of blood donations of those survivors who have fully recovered from the coronavirus. Those who have fully recovered from the virus are encouraged to donate convalescent plasma. Health officials say their blood may contain antibodies that can help critically ill COVID patients. To learn where to donate blood, enter your zip code in a search tool the American Red Cross has set up.
Another way to help sustain life is to become a bone marrow donor. The Be The Match program is in need of volunteers for bone marrow. A bone marrow donor can save the lives of people with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma as well as blood disorders like sickle cell anemia. Donors are especially need from communities of color (Black and African-Americans).
https://twitter.com/BeTheMatch
Give Time or Companionship
The pandemic has forced many to choose physical health and the basics (food and water) over mental wellness. That has meant several in our elderly community have suffered silently. Programs like Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center program needs volunteers to share with seniors. They suggest volunteers at home facilitate virtual classes for senior citizens based on seniors interest or hobbies. Classes include cooking, seated exercise, art, music and more. Contact Self-help Virtual Senior Center to sign up.
