Door County Emergency Support Coalition connecting those in need with those who can

Runners in New York City are no longer able to freely exercise in public parks due to the number of other people now seeking escape in the parks during the quarantine. To compensate—and to lend a hand—a group of runners are now doing "runs" for people in need to pharmacies and other essential businesses to fetch supplies. Right now most of the errands run are for other members of the club, but they are also available for non-runners.

Many people are motivated to help out during the pandemic, but without proper hygiene tactics, helping could just be harmful. A group started by medical students in the Netherlands called StudentsAgainstCorona rallies volunteers to contribute in a way that focuses on hygienic above all else. Different "hubs" of the organization have popped up all over the world, and the ratio of volunteers to those requesting help is about 10:1. Students are performing duties like picking up groceries or delivering medicine, and all of them practice strict hygiene rules to prevent the spread.

A new initiative called #Task4Help recruits local university students to deliver groceries and other supplies to people who need to be self-isolated during COVID-19. It was originally started by an app called UniTaskr that posted freelance opportunities for students, but now it has over 10,000 students using the app to help out. One user describes the service as easy to use and delightful.

SQD, Ink. (short for Self-Quarantined Delivery) is a student initiative at Pepperdine University that provides a free grocery delivery service to those who cannot do it themselves, i.e. the elderly or people with autoimmune disorders. Since its founding it has been picked up by student volunteers across the country and now has over 80 volunteers in cities like Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The group relies on technology—social media, Venmo, and Factime—to conduct their business. The student founders are now looking to formalize their business model to become more efficient and scalable.

Aging seniors in rural Maine are high risk for COVID-19, so a musher and her team of dogs are set on delivering groceries to those who need it—by sled. Hannah Lucas, a resident of Caribou and an employee of the local convenience store, uses her skill set and team of Siberian huskies to deliver groceries from her place of work so people wouldn't have to leave their house. She aims for 4-6 deliveries a day and is booking days in advance.

Foster families in Oregon are facing unique challenges during the stay at home order of COVID-19, so a new program called My Neighbor aims to alleviate some of their burdens by utilizing their local networks. The Department of Human Services partnered with nonprofit Every Child to create a program that connects Oregonians willing to help out in any way they can to foster families who are looking for support for things like getting groceries or cleaning supplies. They have already received requests from 260 families and foster children and filled 189 of them.

A village in Germany has implemented a local hotline for at-risk community members to use if they need help obtaining essentials during the coronavirus pandemic. The group of volunteers managing the hotline work under the guidance of a doctor to make sure they're reducing risk to themselves and those they're serving.

When COVID-19 hit the U.S., Hotel Vouchers 4 All was created as an emergency response to finding housing for San Diego residents experiencing homelessness. Funded by donations, the initiative has partnered with a local motel to negotiate lower rates for individuals to stay and socially distance during the pandemic. It also helps provide meals, clothes, PPE, and access to health services, but with limited funding and a lack of support from the city, it’s sustainability hangs in question.

An app called Homeis was originally designed to be a social network for immigrant groups in the U.S., but during the coronavirus pandemic it has turned into a lifeline for many undocumented people whose fears of deportation are compounded by the virus. Community managers on the app (some paid, some volunteer) now field questions from hundreds of thousands of immigrants about getting tested, how much power ICE has in hospital settings, the risk of getting infected in detention, and other coronavirus questions. The app is now a source of advice, support, and community during the COVID-19 crisis.

The state of Kerala, India has been particularly effective in their fight against COVID-19. Kerala happens to have a grassroots democracy with community leaders and the consent of the people, as well as a decentralized health care system. These factors contributed to their other tactics, which include free lunches, a local helpline, and 28-day quarantines. Their efforts have paid off thus far—low mortality rates and high recovery rates—but the fight is not over.