22 Ways to Lend a Helping Hand

If there is one common thread among our community, it’s the genuine desire to help and support others, be they family members, neighbors, or fellow humans across the world. For most of us, the coronavirus feels uncertain and scary, but in spite of those feelings, many are still moved to find ways to help. If you’re being called to help others at this critical moment, here are some safe ways to lend a hand.

FOOD BANKS

1. Blanchet House: Now serving to-go meals, Northwest Portland’s Blanchet House is seeing unprecedented demand. Donate at blanchethouse.org/donate.

2. Meals on Wheels: With more seniors confined to their homes, Meals on Wheels is seeing an urgent need to increase its services. Donate at mowp.org/donate. The organization has issued an urgent call for volunteer drivers at mowp.org/volunteer.

3. Oregon Food Bank: NIKE CEO John Donahoe pledged $1 million to Oregon Food Bank and hope to inspire others to collectively match their giving through Oregon Food Bank’s #EmergeStronger Community Challenge. Donate at give.oregonfoodbank.org.

4. Salvation Army Tualatin Valley Citadel: Provides a food pantry serving Washington County. Donate at hillsboro.salvationarmy.org.

5. Seventh Day Adventist Church: Hillsboro SDA Church Community Services is an approved agent of the Oregon Food Bank. On average they hand out about 4,500 pounds of food each month.

6. Sunshine Division Food Pantry: Serving the city of Portland. Donations can be made by phone, email or on the website. sunshinedivision.org/get-help.

7. United Way: United Way’s Safety Net mobilizes nonprofits across Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Clark counties to help individuals and families meet basic needs. Donate at unitedway-pdx.org.

THE HOMELESS POPULATION

8. Impact Northwest: This nonprofit’s mission is to prevent homelessness. Donate at impactnw.org/how-to-help/.

9. Portland Street Medicine takes health care to people experiencing homelessness. Donate at portlandstreetmedicine.org/donate.

10. Union Gospel Mission: Serving to-go meals and providing search and rescue outreach to deliver food and other essential services. Donate at ugmportland.org.

HEALTH and MEDICAL SERVICES

11. Multnomah County: The Joint Volunteer Information Center of Multnomah County is seeking donations of toilet paper, facial tissue, thermometers and other items. Please fill out this form.

12. Red Cross: Blood donations in Oregon and across the country have fallen during this national emergency. Find out how to donate blood at https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

ANIMAL SHELTERS and SERVICES

13. Cat Adoption Team (CAT) Cat Food Bank: Serving senior, and homebound residents in Washington County in partnership with Meals on Wheels. Donate food at the Sherwood shelter 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Donate at catadoptionteam.org/services.

14. FIDO: Accepting new, unopened bags of pet food and monetary donations. Donate money at fidoanimeals.org.

15. The Oregon Humane Society: The agency reports that the need to rescue homeless, neglected and abused pets continues. Donate at oregonhumane.org/donate.

16. The Pongo Fund: The Oregon charity has expanded emergency pet food services due to COVID-19 pandemic. Donate at thepongofund.org.

ARTS and CULTURE

17. Lan Su Chinese Garden: Help support the garden.

18. Oregon Children’s Theater: The Oregon Children’s Theater has organized an emergency drive in hopes of saving its summer performances at octc.org.

19. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: The festival has had to lay off staff and cancel all performances through Sept. 6. It aims to return Sept. 8. Donate at osfashland.org.

20. Oregon Symphony: The Oregon Symphony has canceled performances through May 11, furloughed musicians and laid off staff but plans to return for the 2020-21 season. Donate at orsymphony.org.

21. Portland Japanese Garden: Closed indefinitely, the Portland Japanese Garden has laid off staff, leaving a few to maintain the garden.

22. PDX Artist Relief: Subashini Ganesan, Portland’s creative laureate, and Kim Stafford, Oregon’s poet laureate, have launched an emergency relief fund for artists in the Portland area.