Nonprofits serving our region in the wake of coronavirus

By Alyssa Cobbs, program officer, strong families

Coronavirus, COVID-19, epidemic, quarantine – these are all terms we are reading and hearing about in any news format we come across these days. It can be alarming and misinformation abounds. While there is still much we do not know, at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, we are focusing on how we can best prepare and support nonprofits in our community. Increased spread of the virus and social distancing (quarantine or containment) methods to limit the spread of the virus will impact the people in our region, but they will also impact the nonprofits that serve those people as needs increase.

Here are a few things we do know:

The best thing we can do is be informed and prepared. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the most reliable source of information for individuals. You will find specific information here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
COVID-19 is not specific to any racial or ethnic community, but some residents of our region are already facing increased racism and discrimination.
Community resiliency and interpersonal relationships are important in times of emergency – do you have a phone tree or email list to stay informed and to check on your family, friends and neighbors?
The best method of prevention is to stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently with soap and water (for 20 seconds!), cover your cough and clean and disinfect items you touch frequently.

If you want to help, we encourage you to support organizations that work with the people and families who are most vulnerable in our community. We know that 48% of families in metro Atlanta do not have $400 on hand in case of an emergency, and for people who work in industries without sick leave, there will be increased challenges if they have to be home from work for 14 days. Studies have also shown that following natural disasters, 90% of small businesses fail within a year unless they are able to reopen within five days. Now is the time to increase capacity for organizations that work with those in our community that may not have access to financial resources or health care.

Local health clinics may see an increase in patients in the near future. Consider donating to organizations such as:

Organizations working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness or with lower incomes may need increased support to help with access to food, supplementing lost wages and housing costs. Consider donating to organizations such as:

If we see an increase in specific needs for our community, we will continue to keep you updated with ways that you can help. If we do not see an increase due to COVID-19, these organizations will still be able to use their increased capacity to serve individuals and families in our region on an ongoing basis. Contact your philanthropic officer to learn more or make a grant.

If you work with or for a nonprofit organization, we encourage you to review the nonprofit guide to COVID planning that the Georgia Center for Nonprofits has released. Reach out to me at acobbs@cfgreateratlanta.org if you identify increased needs in your services as a result of COVID-19 so that we can continue to share updates about community needs.

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