It's easy to feel hopeless right now, especially when we're told to stay home and away from the very people that may need help the most. But now's not the time to give up, and metro Detroit is nothing if not resilient. So suck it COVID-19. You heard us. We have community on our side. It's all hands on deck, and everyone is capable of helping out in one of the following ways — and, if you're in the need of assistance, we hope this is a good resource for you, too.
20 ways to help metro Detroiters during the coronavirus pandemic
By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Apr 3, 2020 at 5:06 pm
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Donate hygiene products and non-perishable goods to Alternatives for Girls
While many close their doors during the coronavirus pandemic, Detroit-based nonprofit Alternatives for Girls is wide open for those who call or walk into their Crisis Resource Center — and they need help. AFG, which aims to help homeless and high-risk girls and young women, is asking for $50 donations to help feed those in need, as well as hygiene products, cleaning products, canned/non-perishable food and drinks, and grocery, gas, and clothing gift cards.
Photo by Ambaer Marie Smith via Alternatives for Girls/Instagram
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Sign up to be a delivery volunteer for those unable to leave their homes on Mediumize
Founded by 16-year-old Jonah Liss of the International Academy of Bloomfield Hills, Mediumize offers a one-on-one delivery service, pairing volunteers with the elderly or needy people who cannot leave their homes to buy groceries. The group has volunteers in 14 cities in metro Detroit, with aims to expand.
Photo courtesy of Mediumize
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Make sure our veterans are not left behind
They’ve put their lives on the line to make our lives possible, now they're among the most affected by the coronavirus, due to the closure of banquet halls where those brave men and women often rely on for services, including food. Food and supplies are running low and organizations like Roseville’s Vets Returning Home could use assistance. In addition to food and home essentials, people are also invited to help pay utilities or purchase bus passes or donate unwanted vehicles.
Photo by Glynnis Jones / Shutterstock.com
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Buy merch from your favorite music venue to rock when they reopen
We all have a favorite live music joint. But since we can no longer hang out in large groups, our favorite venues are stretching a buck to make sure they can open their doors again when the time is right. Some venues, like Corktown’s UFO Factory, have launched new runs of merch to help keep the lights — and fog machines — on.
Photo via UFO Factory/Facebook
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Support southeast Michigan’s undocumented immigrants
While the government continues to roll out grants, financial relief, and medical aid to those impacted by the coronavirus, some folks are not eligible for these relief programs, including Michigan’s undocumented immigrants. A group of friends dedicated to immigrant justice work have launched a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign to help our undocumented brothers and sisters navigate this uncertain time.
Photo by KelseyJ / Shutterstock.com
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Keep your favorite restaurant open by snagging a gift card, because we know you’ll be hungry later
While some of our favorite spots are offering curbside delivery or special prix fixe menus and meal kits to weather the ban on dine-in restaurants, others have had to close their doors, leaving massive overhead to pay and staff out of work. To help your favorite place weather the economic downturn, you can donate to their personal crowdfunding efforts or purchase gift cards from the restaurant directly. Or, you can refer to Save MI Faves, a database that streamlines purchasing gift cards for Michigan shops.
Photo via Bangkok 96/Facebook
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Donate to the Detroit Sex Worker Mutual Aid Fund, because it's going to be a while before we can experience human touch
Created by sex-worker collective ANSWER, the Detroit Sex Worker Mutual Aid Fund is a financial resource-sharing space created by Michigan-based sex workers to provide necessary support for fellow sex workers and their families. Sex workers who are based in Michigan or whose hustle is Michigan-centric in any way are invited to access the fund.
Photo via Shutterstock.com
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Support the cool cats, kittens, sloths, and alligators at Ann Arbor’s Creature Conservancy
While y’all are still trying to wrap your heads around Netflix’s Tiger King, there are some folks who have dedicated their lives to not being total assholes when it comes to helping exotic animals live their fullest lives. Ann Arbor’s Creature Conservancy is doing just that. Since being forced to cancel private tours and other fundraising programs, the nonprofit rescue habitat and education center needs your help. The center, which is home to a bald eagle, a cougar, an alligator, a kangaroo, and yes, a family of sloths, is asking for donations to keep food on the floor for its brood of amazing creatures. People are encouraged to donate or purchase annual passes or a private tour. Their social media accounts are staying active during the shutdown as they stream animal feedings and educational segments, because holy shit a timelapse video of tortoises eating lettuce is totally cute.
Photo via The Creature Conservancy/Facebook
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Support our friends in the event industry so they can eat (and so we can party later)
Hey! We know that guy! And you probably do, too. Of course, we’re talking about the figurative “guy,” being any one of our friends in the event, entertainment, and service industries who have been hit hard by job loss or the sudden inability to host events or gallery shows to make ends meet. The That’s Our Friend Fund looks to raise $15,000 through art auctions and collect donations from those with the means to do so to help our friends, you know, that guy.
Photo by Toya Golden for Playground Detroit/Facebook
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Calling all medical professionals! It’s all hands on deck
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the American Red Cross partnered for a new volunteer website for trained medical professionals to register to serve their fellow Michiganders by assisting hospitals in fighting COVID-19. The state has also relaxed regulations and licensure requirements for out-of-state health professionals. Other state residents can also use the site to find out how they can help in their local communities, give blood, donate money, or needed medical supplies, or assist public health officials in tracking infections.
Photo via Shutterstock.com
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Take a virtual fitness class, because quarantine snacking has gone too far
A lot of folks are missing out on some very important fitness due to the temporary closures of their beloved yoga/barre/pole/ studio or gym. While the CDC says walking in uncrowded places while maintaining a safe distance of at least six feet is OK, nothing quite does the trick like getting your ass kicked by your favorite instructor. Thankfully, places like Citizen Yoga, Above the Barre X in Grosse Pointe, and PoleFit Revolution are among just some of the fitness studios offering online classes to strengthen your iPhone neck, because yeah, it’s a thing.
Photo viaScreengrab/Vimeo
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Rapid Response Fundraiser for Artists and Creatives
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit has partnered with the City of Detroit Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship to help local artists sell their work on MOCAD’s website. Local artists should send an email and a single sample of their work to MOCAD Membership Manager Wayne Northcross at [email protected] or the ACE Office at mailto:[email protected]. Chosen artists may sell a single piece of art on the site; if a piece sells, the museum will split the proceeds 50/50 with the artist. Buyers are responsible for shipping.
Art by Sarah C. Blanchette “I Need Something Wet,” 2018. $1,500 via MOCAD/Facebook
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Donate to your neighborhood food bank so no one goes hungry
A record 6.6 million American’s are unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic, making the need for feeding those who may be struggling during this time more important than ever. Thankfully, there are several metro Detroit organizations working to get food on tables. Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners Food Bank, and Brightmoor Connection are accepting monetary donations, as well as nonperishable food items. Brightmoor is also looking for mask and glove donations, too, so be sure to check with your local food bank to assess their individual needs.
Photo by David Rudolph
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Buy some exclusive COVID-19 gear from local shops or, you know, non-virus-related goods, because someday this nightmare will end
While we toggle between our pajama pants and blazer combos because, yeah, that’s what happens when we’re forced on our sixth Zoom conference call that day, we miss shopping. Like, real shopping. But our local shop owners and makers are hurting even worse and need us to do some serious online shopping to keep them up and running. Thankfully, some shops like Well Done Goods, Armageddon Beachparty, and Brightly Twisted are making clothing and accessories for the times: COVID-19 gear. Make sure to follow your favorite local shops to see what you can buy from the discomfort of your home. Sigh.
Photo via Well Done Goods/Facebook
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Tip a random Detroit-area service-industry worker
This website will randomly select a Detroit-area bartender or service-industry worker, so you can tip them anytime you have a drink or meal at home during the shutdown using Venmo or Cash App. It almost feels like you're really at the bar — and at least you'll help a bartender.
Photo via Shutterstock.com
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Stream or buy merch from local bands
Detroit’s live music venues (and the artists that were supposed to play) have seen their calendars decimated in the wake of the global novel coronavirus pandemic — but you can still support them. If you’re able, buy their merch online or reach out and ask if you can send them cash. Ask if they’re available for commissions, lessons, or custom tabs of your favorite tunes you can learn at home. If you can’t do that, stream their music, buy digital downloads, or tune in to a livestream session. There are also organizations like Michigan Music Alliance Artist Relief Fund, which supports Michigan-based musical artists who have lost income due to coronavirus-related gig cancellations. Lastly, go to a local show when this is all over.
Shadow Show/photo courtesy of Burger Records
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Help the Ruth Ellis Center continue its work with at homeless and at risk LGBTQ+ youth
Like many nonprofit organizations, the Ruth Ellis Center has been wildly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting access to their Highland Park-based drop-in center, which serves more than 500 LGBTQ+ youth annually, where they provide food, computer access, free laundry, safe sex education, case management, and job training. But the center also provides HIV medication and hormone therapy and other wellness programming. The center is asking for monetary donations, which will help provide food boxes and to-go meals for those in need.
Photo via Ruth Ellis Center
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Foster or adopt an animal in need — or check in with local organizations to see what supplies they may need
Shit is getting boring, y’all. And lonely. Lucky for you, there are lots of metro Detroit animals waiting to get out of shelters so they can shelter-in with us. While metro Detroiter’s recently helped Friends of Detroit Animal Control empty their shelter (woohoo!) of all their adoptable doggos, there’s a need for furever homes. Check wellness organizations like Detroit Dog Rescue, Rebel Dogs Detroit, or Ferndale Cat Shelter for adoptable animals or other ways you can help them help our fur-friends, like food and supply donations. P.S. Big dogs are having a particularly difficulty time finding foster homes, so if you've got the space, please consider opening your doors for a large pupper.
Photo via Shutterstock.com
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Get fresh produce from metro Detroit farmers
Of those whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers have been hit hard. Our green-thumbed heroes who were once kept busy with restaurant and farmers market demands are now shifting gears to harvest, grow, and supply the community with the food they need. Those hardworking folks of Fisheye Farms, Get Down Farm, and Oakland Urban Farm have food to give — and they need your green! Keep your eyes on organizations like farm-to-table Coriander Kitchen and Farm, who have also started doing limited meal-kit deliveries.
Photo by Tom Perkins
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