During a time of crisis, it is natural to want to help, express care, and give comfort to those most vulnerable. However COVID-19 sets many limitations on our ability to meaningfully connect with people. Some individuals must take extra precaution to self-isolate or are under institutional quarantine to stay healthy and safe. These stories highlight how communities are able to express human-centered design and connect with others in caring, thoughtful ways, despite the constraints of social isolation.
To explore stories about Care & Compassion, click on our collections or any of our tags below.
Volunteer groups like Invisible Hands, COVID-19 Neighborhood Volunteers and thousands of others...
Solutions Journalism Network
https://fierceforblackwomen.com/2020/11/12/rural-black-women-turn-to-each-other-mutual-aid-and-activism-to-survive-covid-19
Connie Green Freightman
Fierce for Black Women
12 November 2020
Text / Over 3000 Words
Across Mississippi and Georgia, mutual aid groups have formed and existing groups have expanded to address increased racial inequities in the health care system during the coronavirus pandemic. Several of the groups are specifically focusing on food insecurity and access to basic needs, while others are raising money for personal protective equipment.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/11/this-medical-team-is-working-to-reach-those-most-at-risk-for-covid-19
Eleni Avendaño
Honolulu Civil Beat
1 November 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
A group of health care workers and social workers formed to help connect hard-to-reach communities in Hawaii to COVID-19 testing and information about the pandemic. So far, they have been able to test more than 200 people who were showing symptoms or who had been at high risk of exposure. The director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority has also reported that compliance with mask-wearing and other safety measures has increased since the effort began.
https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/minority-us-contract/SG4OIZO7LJVENQKRWHJNA7EAPQ
Julie Watson
Associated Press
31 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
A contact tracing program jointly launched by San Diego State University and San Diego County is helping to combat misinformation and dispel fears for immigrants, refugees, and minorities in San Diego by employing ethnically and racially diverse community members. The contact tracers help those who need to quarantine devise a plan to do so safely, while also acting as community health care workers to help those families get the necessities they need.
https://gradynewsource.uga.edu/athens-community-fridge-changes-how-people-seek-provide-aid-for-everybody-owned-by-nobody
Kate Ross
Grady Newsource
22 October 2020
Photojournalism / 800-1500 Words
A community refrigerator full of free food in Athens, Georgia is a local solution to food insecurity in the area. The fridge stays stocked up through donations from locals and businesses who want to help their neighbors. The mini-food-bank serves as a form of mutual aid for those who are struggling to find their next nutritious meal.
https://www.startribune.com/virtual-rush-no-parties-university-of-minnesota-fraternities-and-sororities-navigate-pandemic-life/572784542
Ryan Faircloth
Minneapolis Star Tribune
18 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Students in fraternities and sororities at the University of Minnesota have moved many of their social activities to a virtual space and are taking precautions for those living in Greek housing to protect members and their community from contracting COVID-19. So far, efforts have largely proven successful in mitigating cases with only two students testing positive who were both able to immediately self-quarantine in private rooms.
https://selfevidentshow.com/episode-12
James Boo
Cathy Erway
Julia Shu
Self Evident
15 October 2020
Podcast / Over 15 Minutes
Early in the pandemic, APIENC, a community organization led by trans, non-binary, and queer Asian and Pacific Islanders in San Francisco, started a phone tree to offer help to people: getting groceries or meals, providing emotional support, or whatever else was needed in a community experiencing racial and other forms of bias on top of pandemic stresses. Only one person took the help – until the group held workshops on how to ask for help. Dozens of requests for help could then be met. This is the middle segment in the third in a series on anti-Asian racism during the pandemic.
https://gunsandamerica.org/story/20/10/12/gun-violence-durham-nc-grief-circle-covid19
Jason deBruyn
WUNC
12 October 2020
Radio / 3-5 Minutes
The nationwide surge in gun violence during the pandemic has forced support groups for grieving survivors to persevere in their work using different tools and strategies in a process that depends on intimate forms of counseling. In Durham, one "grief circle" associated with the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham still hosts anti-violence vigils after each killing. Its support group for parents and grandparents of victims, led by fellow survivors for maximum effect, shifted to Zoom and telephone calls. Among the beneficiaries of the support: the organizers themselves, whose work gives them purpose.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/how-nigerians-coped-with-mental-stress-during-covid-19-lockdown
Ifedayo Ogunyemi
Nigerian Tribune
10 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Funding from a professional coaching, therapy, and counseling academy has helped a certified life coach and non-clinical psychotherapist offer free sessions to people in Nigeria who are struggling to cope with setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which utilizes video calls and WhatsApp messaging, has broadened access for those who may not be able to seek help due to financial constraints.
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2020/1008/The-strength-of-people-s-hearts-Venezuelan-doctors-neighbors-unite
Megan Janetsky
Christian Science Monitor
8 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Facing a shortage of supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic and with little help from the government on the horizon, doctors and community members across Venezuela "created a grassroots support network" as a means of making sure doctors would be properly outfitted to treat patients. Between pooled resources and various donations, the effort has resulted in "3,000 face masks, 2,000 meals, gallons of sanitizing alcohol, hand disinfectant and soap, and boxes of gloves" being delivered to medical professionals.
https://laist.com/2020/10/08/trump-coronavirus-racist-asian-american-women-la-fight-back.php
Josie Huang
LAist
8 October 2020
Multi-Media / 800-1500 Words
Responding to growing attacks on Asian Americans, based on racist reactions to the pandemic, one young woman self-published a handbook, "How to Report a Hate Crime," in multiple languages. Though limited funding kept its print run small, the booklet found an audience through social media. Then its author connected with the victim of a verbal assault, inspired her to push back against police department apathy, and sparked a number of new hate-crime reports and better training for Los Angeles police officers.
https://whyy.org/articles/we-stand-very-strong-community-sharing-helps-african-businesses-in-philly-stay-afloat-during-covid-19
Miles Bryan
WHYY
8 October 2020
Radio / 3-5 Minutes
Philadelphia's community of African business owners has created its own security net in the wake of the shutdown, which left many businesses closed or in debt. A traditional African tradition known as "susu" provided the mutual aid entrepreneurs needed to stay afloat. Susus provide an informal loan network in which members contribute regularly and take turns tapping into the group funds. During the lockdown, financial support was given to those participants who were most in need. The informal loan clubs were crucial to the owners who are typically immigrants and were denied federal aid at greater rates.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/07/metro/global-online-forum-invites-people-share-their-stories-questions-about-covid-19
Armand Manoukian
The Boston Globe
7 October 2020
Text / Under 800 Words
An online forum focused on providing an outlet for those who are seeking a way "to share their experiences with COVID-19" has gained a global community with participants from five countries engaging in discussions. Although the forum does not require users to identify themselves and could pose a risk for the spread of misinformation, the main purpose of the site is for anecdotal storytelling that helps users feel a sense of connection and companionship.
https://www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/features/MusicVenuesDetroit.aspx
Kate Roff
Metromode
7 October 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
The music industry has been uniquely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, as described by the co-owner of a boutique music venue in Lake Orion who says, "We were the first to close and will be the last to re-open." To adapt to the constraints of the pandemic and generate revenue, artists and businesses have turned to livestreaming performances and partnering with entities such as the Downtown Development Authority and a local hotel to host concerts that respect the social distancing guidelines.
https://www.today.com/pets/americans-are-starting-give-pets-during-covid-19-crisis-t192819
Jen Reeder
NBC News
2 October 2020
Multi-Media / 800-1500 Words
As the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on the U.S. economy, some people are struggling to afford the cost of care for their pets, so a network of animal services leaders have joined together to transform the role that animal shelters play during the crisis. From providing food pantries and free veterinary care to housing animals whose owners have been hospitalized, the network of leaders are turning shelters into "pet support centers and resource centers" rather than intake centers.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/01/916272046/in-philadelphia-black-doctors-bring-coronavirus-tests-to-street-corners-and-chur
Nina Feldman
NPR
1 October 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Comprised of doctors, nurses, and medical students, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium is helping to bring free coronavirus testing to Black Philadelphians who are "contracting the coronavirus and dying from COVID-19 at greater rates than everyone else." The program, which offers testing via mobile test units to around 350 per day, has gained the recognition throughout the city, resulting in funding from city leaders, foundations, and individuals.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/well/mind/laughter-may-be-effective-medicine-for-these-trying-times.html
Richard Schiffman
The New York Times
1 October 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Because studies indicate that humor has positive health benefits, some doctors and psychotherapists are now using humor tactics in their practice and prescribing prescriptions for their patients to find ways to laugh more as a means of staying healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. Although doctors risk the possibility of sounding insensitive or making light of pain, formal humor programs and laughter lessons have shown success with patients.
http://nmindepth.com/2020/09/28/mutual-aid-groups-rushed-to-the-rescue-during-covid-19
Elizabeth M. Miller
New Mexico In Depth
28 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Mutual aid groups in New Mexico are packing and delivering groceries and other staples to New Mexicans in need during the pandemic who have not been adequately served by existing social safety nets. Groups like Albuquerque Mutual Aid, McKinley Mutual Aid, and Santa Fe Mutual Aid Network accept cash donations and donated goods. Volunteers then distribute the goods to people whose immigration status, health risks, or lack of transportation block them from receiving traditional government aid. The groups are planning to coordinate their work to be more efficient so they can continue after the immediate crisis.
http://nycreopens.com/drag-queens-and-restaurateurs-an-unlikely-partnership-amid-the-pandemic
Eli Rallo
NYC Reopens
25 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
In New York, restaurateurs who have struggled to stay open amid the coronavirus pandemic are partnering with drag performers who have lost work due to the pandemic to offer patrons a new dining experience while also trying to increase business. The dining performances are offered outdoors and some restaurant owners are hoping to continue the partnership even after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
http://enlacelatinonc.org/heroes-of-the-pandemic-when-the-world-is-burning-i-feel-i-must-help-put-out-the-fire
Victoria Bouloubasis
Andrea Patiño Contreras
Enlace Latino
24 September 2020
Multi-Media / Over 15 Minutes
A group of health professionals known as Latinx Advocacy Team & Interdisciplinary Network for COVID-19, or LATIN-19, is helping to bring coronavirus-specific health care access to North Carolina's Latino community. Because the group operates across county lines, they have become well-known amongst the local communities, helping to not only provide much-needed health care services, but also increase awareness around the dangers of the virus.
https://hechingerreport.org/a-parent-led-effort-to-close-the-digital-divide
Javeria Salman
The Hechinger Report
24 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
When Clark County School District moved to an all-remote plan for school, it distributed 10,000 devices, close to 20,000 students had no way to connect their online classes. A parent, with the help of a SCSD teacher and a board of education member, created a Facebook group to help spanish-speaking families express if they needed a device for their kids and help fill those needs. The group gained traction and attention and has since received 550 device requests, fulfilling 162. The group relies on monetary and computer donations from individuals and businesses.
http://planetdetroit.org/2020/09/detroits-chefs-reinvented-their-food-biz-in-response-to-the-pandemic
Dorothy Hernandez
Planet Detroit
24 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
When the coronavirus pandemic caused restaurants to close their doors due to safety and health concerns, some Detroit restaurant owners pivoted their businesses into food delivery services and community grocery store operations. Although not all solutions have been profitable, some businesses are finding that they could be sustainable even after the pandemic.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/19/vigilantes-on-a-mission-to-reunite-owners-with-their-stolen-bikes
Donna Ferguson
The Guardian
19 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
Facebook groups are reuniting bicycle-theft victims with their property by creating a place to report thefts and alerting others to be on the lookout for the bikes. A pandemic-inspired boom in bicycling, as a means to avoid public transportation, has fed a concurrent boom in bike thefts. Police praise the Facebook groups' public spirit and effectiveness, but warn of risks when confronting those trying to sell stolen bikes. More than 90% of bike theft reports to police hit a dead end, lowering faith in the police as a solution.
https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/09/how-one-pacific-islander-community-is-responding-to-the-pandemic
Wilfred C. Alik
Honolulu Civil Beat
11 September 2020
Text / Under 800 Words
Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii have formed their own Covid-19 task forces to stop the virus’ spread, rather than wait for the government to respond. Despite a lack of resources, the task forces conduct community outreach providing protective gear and food and have partnered with community groups, recognizing the role of active community engagement and participation to achieve success. The task forces use a model that recognizes the significance of cultural nuances and language challenges, which has added to its success in keeping the infection rate among Pacific Islander communities relatively low.
https://thegroundtruthproject.org/how-a-3-billion-usda-coronavirus-program-is-helping-feed-south-carolina-families
Sam Ogozalek
The GroundTruth Project
10 September 2020
Text / 800-1500 Words
A new initiative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is helping connect farmers with those who are facing food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic. The program, known as Farmers to Families, allocates monetary contracts to companies that go towards distributing boxes of produce to families. In South Carolina, one farm has been able to distribute over 5.2 million pounds of food throughout the southeast region of the state.
https://www.boulderweekly.com/news/gaining-traction
Emma Athena
Boulder Weekly
10 September 2020
Text / 1500-3000 Words
The nonprofit Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE) began SafeLot, a program providing an approved parking lot where people living in vehicles can spend the night safely. Safelots have sprung up nationwide, particularly during high unemployment thanks to the pandemic. In Boulder, they've created tension with the regional agency charged with reducing homelessness. Its Housing First approach, emphasizing more permanent housing solutions, strikes some as contradicting safelots' shorter-term fix. Safelot advocates say it offers stability that acts as a bridge to a more settled lifestyle.
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