Adobe Stock
As COVID-19 continues to keep businesses closed, resources are starting to strain, and the community is beginning to feel the effects.
But we can do something about it. Social distancing is one way to do our part, but there are many other ways to help the community during this time of need.
Here are 30 ideas.
FOOD AND DRINK
1. Give a loaf of bread.
The Proof Bakery is giving customers the option to donate a loaf to a person in need. You can give to whomever you want, but if you leave the form blank, the bakery will donate the loaf themselves to a food-insecure family.
2. Have food delivered to a family in need.
8020 Concepts — the company behind HG SPLY CO. — has a Comfort Food Package Program. Pick a meal and a family to give it to, and the meal will be delivered to their door.
3. Send treats to a community hero.
When you buy a Community Heroes package from Dwell Coffee & Biscuits, the shop will deliver a dozen spring biscuits to a local hospital, fire department, or police department. Personalize your order with a note, or add a dozen coffees to go with their treats.
4. Donate $4 to help feed essential workers.
When you order from Branch & Bird online, there's an option to donate $4, which goes toward a meal to help essential staff and clients of nonprofits.
5. Send coffee to a family in need.
Sons Coffee has two ways to pay it forward — send coffee to a friend or donate coffee to a family in need. Visit Sons’ website for more details.
6. Buy a coffee for a frontline worker.
Coffee shop 5AM Drip is doing a Brew It Forward campaign, letting customers purchase a cup of coffee for first responders, nurses, and others working the front lines.
7. Virtually tip baristas and restaurant staff.
Local spots like Crude and Spiral Diner have started virtual tip jars to help support staff who are currently out of work. Check on your other favorites to see if they’re doing the same.
8. Fill a local food pantry.
Grapevine nonprofit GRACE’s food pantry is accepting staple items including rice, beans, and dry pasta. The organization is also accepting items for its clinic such as multivitamins and Claritin. You can donate on the organization’s website.
9. Send a coffee care package.
Craftwork Coffee Co. is letting patrons send care packages to anyone for $25. Care packages include a mug, a 12-ounce package of Craftwork’s house blend, stickers, and a card.
10. Contribute to the food bank.
Tarrant Area Food Bank provides meals for hungry children, families, and seniors. A $10 donation can provide 50 meals for local families.
11. Help Meals on Wheels provide food for the elderly.
Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County is asking for donations to continue to deliver meals to seniors during this time.
12. Support employees in food service.
When you donate to the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation's Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, you will be directly supporting food service employees impacted by lack of work.
13. Feed families outside the Fort.
Mission Central is accepting donations to help fund its food pantry, which is open to the public Tuesday – Friday and serves families in Hurst, Euless and Bedford.
NONPROFITS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
14. Remember those who are victims of domestic violence.
While SafeHaven of Tarrant County is not accepting in-person donations at this time, you can still make monetary donations through the organization's website.
15. Give directly to those affected by COVID-19.
United Way of Tarrant County is helping local families who’ve been affected by the pandemic through the United Way Emergency Relief Fund. All proceeds — that’s 100% — cover basic needs like food, rent, and utilities; and you can donate to the cause through the organization’s website.
16. Attend an online volunteer training session.
Refugee Services of Texas is offering online training sessions to help the community know how to respond to refugee families. RST is also accepting emergency funds.
17. Connect the workforce with nonprofits.
Get Shift Done for North Texas connects the affected North Texas hospitality workforce with local nonprofits to serve and provide hunger relief to North Texas communities.
18. Donate blood.
American Red Cross and Carter BloodCare are looking for donors to help with shortages during this time. One donation could help save three lives.
19. Provide resources for The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is accepting donations in order to keep up with its increasing demands for residential, food, and social services.
20. Help children who are victims of abuse.
Alliance for Children is accepting donations to ensure their child abuse programs stay up and running.
21. Pay it forward with basic necessities.
Help the Center for Transforming Lives by donating non-perishable foods and basic household necessities. The organization is also accepting monetary donations.
22. Help at-risk children.
HOPE Farm, which helps provide resources and build leadership skills for at-risk boys in Fort Worth, is in need of various items like school supplies and household products for families affected by COVID-19.
RETAIL AND THE ARTS
23. Buy a gift card from your favorite shop.
This is an easy way to support local businesses. Even if you can’t enjoy going to restaurants or perusing your favorite shops, buying gift cards from these spots can go a long way.
24. Buy a T-shirt.
Workman by Design, Support Our Fort, and Support the Fort are all selling T-shirts online to help support local businesses. Support the Fort features designs specific to local favorites like FunkyTown Donuts and Main At South Side.
25. Fund the dreams of local creatives.
Hear Fort Worth and Film Fort Worth are raising money for local artists, musicians, and performers who have recently lost work through the Creative Industry Relief Fund.
26. Buy from Printed Threads.
Printed Threads will donate $10 from every shirt sold to support ACH Child & Family Services, which provides services like foster care and adoption.
ANIMALS
27. Purchase a Fort Worth Zoo membership.
The Fort Worth Zoo is offering discounted memberships through April 30. If you already have a membership, the zoo is also accepting donations via its website.
28. Donate to Don't Forget to Feed Me's Maverick Fund.
The Maverick Fund is collecting donations to help households continue to take care of their pets. Both dog food and monetary donations are accepted, and you can find out more through Don’t Forget to Feed Me’s website.
29. Gift supplies to local animal shelters.
If you can't adopt, the next best thing to help local animal shelters is to donate food, cleaning supplies, and other resources to help them save as many pets as possible.
30. Give to animals with special needs.
Allie’s Haven Animal Rescue has a specific fund that goes directly towards dogs with special medical needs.
