URGENT: Donate today to support groups fighting the coronavirus crisis

As our nation works to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, we must come together to protect people currently incarcerated in our jails, prisons, immigration detention facilities, and trapped in refugee camps, as they are some of our most vulnerable populations. 

People locked up in America's jails and prisons generally have increased underlying chronic health issues, are unable to access even the most basic medical care, and cannot practice social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. And, it’s no secret that most jails and prisons and detention centers have struggled to meet very basic hygiene standards. 

Likewise, the thousands of asylum-seeking families dangerously trapped in refugee camps because of U.S. policy at the border with Mexico are extremely vulnerable. Many are sleeping outdoors, malnourished with weakened immune systems and limited to no access to medical care. There’s also an inherent inability to distance themselves from one another due to risks of kidnapping and violence.

During the coronavirus crisis, we will keep this page updated with information about groups that have urgent fundraising needs to support their communities and their work. We’ll update this page as these groups hit their goals, and add in new groups as needed. All donated funds will go directly to these groups. We can do our part to protect vulnerable communities and families during this coronavirus pandemic.

• National Bail Out Collective: The National Bail Out Collective brings people home from incarceration by supporting bail and bond funds across the country for people in jails operated by criminal justice systems and immigration detention centers. NBO reunites families, creates a national community of leaders who have experienced incarceration, and supports groups across the country working to keep people safe and free. NBO’s work can help alleviate some of the worst effects of the coronavirus’ impact on incarcerated communities.

• The National Domestic Workers Alliance’s Coronavirus Care Fund: The National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) is the nation’s leading voice for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007, NDWA works for respect, recognition, and inclusion in labor protections for domestic workers, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color. For many in-home care workers, nannies, and house cleaners the threat from coronavirus is especially severe. Without access to health care, paid sick leave, or job security, they are being forced to navigate this crisis alone — without a safety net. The money you donate to the Coronavirus Care Fund will provide immediate financial support for domestic workers, and enable them to stay home and healthy — protecting themselves, their families, and their communities while slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

• Global Response Management: Global Response Management (GRM) is an international NGO that provides lifesaving and high-quality emergency and trauma care in low-resource and high-risk areas. GRM has a medical clinic set up in the refugee camp of Matamoros, Mexico, where thousands of families are stuck due to the Trump administration’s Remain in Mexico policy. These families are sleeping in tents outdoors awaiting their asylum hearings in the United States, without access to any other medical care. Global Response Management is rising to the occasion to build the medical care systems to respond to these incredibly dangerous circumstances.

• National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls: The National Council is a network of formerly and currently incarcerated women and girls committed to reimagining communities. we are seeking funds for a little bit of staffing and a considerable amount of immediate financial relief to ensure that our members, leaders, and organizers can lean into this moment instead of being overwhelmed (or worse, sickened). The impact of these funds will be immediate in terms of health, safety, and alleviating suffering, and will also position our leaders to take advantage of the incredible opportunities afforded by this crisis, such as the platform to make a strong public health case for releasing significant numbers of people from jails and prisons. We are seeing this emerge in multiple jurisdictions around the country and are eager to push for more releases, but we are hobbled if our key leaders are out of commission. Funds for immediate community food and sanitation support: The National Council’s network includes many local organizers who are supporting circles of formerly incarcerated women around the country. These organizers and women in circle are our backbone leaders, and keeping them healthy and somewhat secure in this time is essential to ensure that our decarceration work can continue. We’re seeking to rapidly raise funds for food vouchers, food pantries, and sanitary items (diapers, soap, cleaning supplies etc).

• Farmworkers’ COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund: Justice for Migrant Women and other farmworker-serving organizations are raising immediate funds to help keep farmworker families safe from COVID-19 as they work to feed us. Funds raised will be given directly to the farmworker community during these uncertain times. The financial support will help farmworkers purchase basic needs for their families, like groceries and hygienic supplies; pay for utilities and other expenses; and assistance to offset medical costs and to aid in purchasing medical supplies. Fundraising for the Farmworkers’ COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund is through Hispanics in Philanthropy.