D.C. Organizations Doing Good During COVID-19

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By Bekah Redwine

Right now is a crazy time for all of us; the circumstances that we are dealing with are extremely unexpected. GW students have been told to leave their on-campus housing, forcing many to return home to their parents. This is also leaving hundreds of students without a source of income or a permanent place to quarantine. If you are in the D.C. area and are willing to help, there are several organizations that are working for those in need. If you need help, the organizations listed below are great resources.

D.C. Solidarity Housing

A group in Washington D.C. has created a Google Form where people can offer a place to stay to students who are unable to remain in their on-campus housing. This group seeks to help “first-generation, low-income, queer, or otherwise marginalized students.”

Here is the form to offer up a place to stay:

Here is the form to request a place to stay:

TwentyTables

You may be one of the hundreds of GW students that receives a daily email from Alex at TwentyTables. If you typically delete these emails, I urge you to take the time to check out the mission of TwentyTables. They work to combat food insecurity all over D.C.,, not just at GW. With $6 lunches provided by various vendors, students can use their GWorld funds, cash, or credit card to get a variety of food with consistent access. Additionally, with each meal purchased at a TwentyTables vendor, the company donates a meal to one of their charitable partners in D.C.. If you are able to afford a meal at TwentyTables, you will be helping the

hard-working vendors and the greater D.C. community as well. They are working to provide consistent access throughout COVID-19, so the food trucks are still in Potomac Square. Currently, TwentyTables is doing something called “Feed the Front Lines,” where for every $700 raised they will assign one of their food truck partners to provide 100 meals free of charge to hospital workers, first responders, medical staff, and everyone who needs a meal in D.C.

Virtual Tip Jar

A Google Sheet has been created in order to help those who work in the food service industry in D.C. by allowing people to virtually tip using Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal. Servers and bartenders can fill out a form to be added to the sheet, and those who want to donate can browse the sheet to find their favorite restaurant or server. It even includes information on whether or not the server/bartender has healthcare or children. If you want to donate but don’t know which server to donate to, the sheet has a “randomize” button which selects a random person on the list for you to tip.

Martha’s Table

Martha’s Table is a local non-profit that seeks to provide quality education, health, and wellness resources to families. They have rolled out a program to help those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak which will put more than $300,000 in the hands of D.C. residents. Families with a child enrolled in the Martha’s Table early education or enrichment programs will be given a stipend from the organization, and will also be able to access educational materials through technology. Since their educational centers are closed for three weeks, families with children enrolled will also receive gift cards valued at $15/day for the three week period. Their food delivery service to homeless DC residents, called McKenna’s Wagon, will continue to operate every day as well. Visit their website to find out more about volunteering.

Hook Hall Helps

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) started Hook Hall Helps in order to support restaurant and food service workers during this time. Their website allows for people to donate, sign up to volunteer, and even instructs people on how to apply for unemployment. Volunteers can help assemble care kits and do other tasks; they are open to suggestions.

The Table Church

The Table Church has created a network of volunteers who are willing to run errands for those who are unable to leave their homes due to being immunocompromised, quarantined, etc. Volunteers can sign up on a Google Doc and will bet be making direct contact with those who have asked for the delivery.

First Book

With so many schools closing, young students are often the most vulnerable. First Book, a Washington D.C. bookstore, is collecting monetary donations to help low-income students who need books and hygienic supplies.

We all need a bit of extra care during this time. Helping someone in need can be a form of self-care other than using face masks!