Praying
Making Masks
Donate Masks While homemade masks do not meet the standards for working with COVID-19 patients, they can be used in other parts of the hospital, like surgical wards, to free up CDC-compliant masks for coronavirus treatment. If you can sew, you can help. Visit We Need Masks and Mask Match for sewing guidelines and donation information. If you have other personal protective equipment, like N95 respirators, gloves, protective eyewear, or disinfectants, check out #GetUsPPE to find out where you can donate those items.
Writing Letters
Making Phone Calls
Praying
in Adoration
Sanitizing the pews and doorknobs
Cleaning the glass windows on the cathedral's interior
Sweaping the cathedral's interior
Praying
Picking up groceries for homebound parishoners
Advent House - Food Collections
“We encourage you to bring your nonperishable goods any week, as well as toiletries.”
St. Vincent DePaul - Food Pantry
Meals on Wheels
Donating Blood
With social distancing in effect, most blood drives, which are usually hosted at schools, college campuses, and workplaces, have been canceled. In the United States alone, as of March 18, nearly 4,500 drives have been canceled, resulting in a loss of more than 150,000 blood donations. But there’s still just as much need for blood transfusions as there was before the coronavirus crisis began. The American Red Cross website has a feature to help you find a place to donate blood, which includes non-hospital locations, such as Red Cross chapters, blood donation centers, and police precincts. Additional safety measures and hygiene protocols are in place.
The Red Cross is also seeking plasma donations from people who have recovered from COVID-19. Researchers are currently studying whether antibodies present in survivors’ plasma may be useful in treating patients, and early reports show encouraging results.
Homeless Shelters During COVID-19
• The City Rescue Mission has stopped accepting all personal donations from individuals for fear of viral contamination but still welcomes monetary support online at bearescuer.org.
• New Hope Community Center may need more food in the near future but right now needs sanitizer, cleaning products, gloves and masks.
• Advent House needs volunteers, including those willing to pack and deliver sack lunches and dinners for the homeless. Call (517) 485-4722.
• Visit facebook.com/lansingmutualaid for more information about Lansing Mutual Aid.
Animal Shelters
Some local animal shelters are in need of monetary donations for food and supplies. Others are looking for temporary foster homes. If you are able, consider fostering an animal for the duration of the pandemic. (If you’re self-isolating, quarantined, or working from home, it’s a great way to enjoy a little companionship with a new friend.) Or donate funds so that shelters can continue to provide food to the animals under their care.