Local Resources Available {Giving Back During Crisis}
How to Get Involved in the Local Community
Words by Mallory Lehenbauer Photo by the Central Texas Food Bank
Organizations and nonprofits all over the Eastside are working hard raising funds and resources to support the community during this time. Even through Austin’s Stay at Home order, there is still a way to help the Austin community or take advantage of the resources, depending on your current situation.
Many organizations are in need of donations and funds to support the homeless community, locals who have recently lost their jobs, medical staff on the frontlines, and others affected by COVID-19.
Community First Village
Community First Village serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs, Mobile Loaves and Fishes food trucks, housing at Community First Village, and jobs through Community Works Village. Getting groceries and essentials have become increasingly challenging for the men and women who live in the Village. For a list of their immediate needs, click here. {Read more about Community First Village here.}
mlf.org/community-first
Casa Marianella
Casa Marianella welcomes displaced immigrants and promotes self-sufficiency by providing shelter and support services. In addition to shelter, Casa offers access to legal and medical resources, food, clothing, English classes, and other resources. As part of their services, Posada Esperanza is their family shelter, which is a full-service transitional housing program for immigrant mothers and their children who are escaping domestic or cultural violence. Right now, they are in need of H-E-B gift cards and items from their Amazon wishlist to support their residents who lost work due to COVID-19. Gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to 821 Gunter Street. {Read more about Casa Marianella here.}
casamarianella.org
Central Texas Food Bank
The Central Texas Food Bank has more people to feed than ever before. The best way for the general public to support them right now is to make monetary donations. This gives the Food Bank the flexibility to purchase the specific items they need to support their growing public network of patrons. The Food Bank also encourages those who want to support the community during this time to start a virtual food drive with friends, colleagues and their social networks at centraltexasfoodbank.org/virtualfooddrive.
centraltexasfoodbank.org
Red River Cultural District (RRCD)
The RRCD is Banding Together with the Austin live music community to support the venue workers, musicians, creatives, service industry, and production workers who rely on the entertainment industry’s ability to generate income. Donations will help provide basic relief to those in the Austin music and art communities who have been economically impacted by the cancellation of SXSW and COVID-19.
gofundme.com/f/bandingtogether2020
Multicultural Refugee Coalition
The Multicultural Refugee Coalition’s mission is to create livelihood opportunities for refugees. They are joining forces with makers across the country to produce one-size-fits-most mask covers for medical staff in an effort to reserve N95 mask supplies. Each donation of a mask will not only aid in the protection of our community’s medical professionals but will also help to provide work for staff as their studio transitions to at-home production.
mrcaustin.org/donate-a-mask
All Together ATX
In response to COVID-19, Austin Community Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin partnered to create All Together ATX. This community-led philanthropic fund will provide flexible resources to nonprofit organizations working with communities that are disproportionately impacted by the virus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. Donations will stay local to support people in the Greater Austin area with immediate needs including food insecurity, basic needs, medical needs, employment, and child care.
alltogetheratx.org | unitedwayaustin.org | austincf.org
