BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — As the rate of coronavirus infections continues to rise in Massachusetts, Boston communities are showing up to support those hit hardest by the pandemic.
From setting up funds to help people who have lost income, to spreading messages of solidarity with small business owners, here are some of the Acts of Kindness happening around Boston during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Band Together With West Roxbury
We've all seen the empty shelves in the stores this week. At the outskirts of Boston, a West Roxbury community organization is collecting and distributing gift cards, cash, or food donations to help local families in need of food and essentials. You can click here to help them out. On the fundraiser's Facebook page, the group says it thanks "all neighbors and families for helping and sticking together during this time of separation. We hope everyone is able to get the resources they need."
Help Hospitality And Entertainment Workers
Two industries already feeling the pinch more than most are restaurant workers and entertainers. So a few local Bostonians have set up a GoFundMe account where the community can donate to a fund that will be split up into grants for hospitality and entertainment workers who are currently going without tips and gigs. Click here to make a donation.
Support A Small North End Book Store
A fund has been set up for I Am Books, a small locally-owned bookstore in Boston's North End that has been struggling since a possible COVID-19 case shut down a nearby school. The shop also had to close in response, and it doesn't plan to open back up until the end of April. The store will also miss out on what is usually a busy time during the New England Food Show, since that event has also been canceled over coronavirus. Click here to donate to I Am Books.
Methuen Kids Dance Classes Go Virtual
Dance Images, a kids dance school in Methuen, decided that despite the pandemic, their students still need to get moving. So, like many others in the area, they're transitioning to virtual dance and music classes instead. The owner said she plans to keep all 13 staff members on payroll as if the studio were open, and she left her students' families with this message to stand in solidarity with other small business owners; "If you know any small business owner, please reach out, order something online, consider your next purchase from them, book your event, sign your children up for what they are offering, do what you can to help us all get through this now and in the upcoming months."
Food Truck Workers Raising Money For Meals
Food workers are being especially hit hard during this time, that's why a group of Food Truck workers have set up a fund to help their fellow servers out. The group are from Saté Grill (momogoose), which is an "award winning food truck that has served the Boston and Cambridge community for over 30 years." To donate to help Boston's food service workers, click here.
Help Stranded Huskies
Northeastern University students have been told to vacate the dorms by Tuesday. That leaves them 72 hours to pack up their things and get out. Many are international students with travel restrictions in place, so costs like temporary accommodation, food, and travel are in dire need. If you'd like to donate to a GoFundMe set up by some Northeastern students to help their international classmates, click here.
Coronavirus Emergency Fund for the Jewish Community
Combined Jewish Philanthropies launched the fund with $100,000 from its crisis reserve fund, and raised over $370,000. CJP said the fund will address the higher need for groceries and food (including kosher goods), give financial support to Jewish homes for older adults, increase funding for CJP's Interest-Free Loan Program, help CJP assist seniors and others facing social isolation, support CJP's Ukrainian sister city of Dnipro, and more. Click here to make a donation.
You can send us stories about ways to help your local community, and acts of kindness during the coronavirus outbreak, by emailing WBZWebStaff@iHeartMedia.com
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