What can non-healthcare Minnesotans Do to Help During the COVID Pandemic?

Gregory Thompson

April 3, 2020

1. Take steps to avoid becoming infected and transmitting the virus. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends washing your hands often, not touching your face, and avoiding close contact with sick people. If you are sick stay home!

Cover your cough and clean and disinfect surfaces. Even if you are not sick you should stay home unless you work in an essential job such as healthcare. The importance of taking these steps is to lessen the burden of infection on the healthcare system to “Flatten the curve.”

Flattening the curve is important to keep the number of people needing hospitalization below hospital capacity. For many Minnesotans the most helpful thing that they can do today is take steps to avoid becoming infected and infecting others.

2. Donate Blood, if you don’t have symptoms this is one helpful thing that you can do outside of the home. There is currently a shortage of blood and donations are needed. The FDA changed eligibility criteria for donation on 4/2/2020 to be more inclusive, please review these eligibility criteria to see if you are now eligible. If you are eligible make appointment with the Red Cross or Memorial Blood Center to donate before arriving at the blood bank.

3. Help with preparation and delivery, there are many people with high-risk health problems that are trying to isolate themselves from the virus. Help volunteer organizations feed these people by donating some time. Currently, many of these organizations have the volunteers that they need. But as the epidemic continues, they may need further support. Some organizations to investigate include the following; Meals on Wheels, Open Arms of Minnesota, Community Emergency Services, St. Stephens Minneapolis, and Loaves and Fishes.

4. Volunteer for childcare. Many health professionals and essential workers may find themselves needing child-care as there is an increased workload at the hospital. If you have childcare experience consider reaching out to friends and family that may need support. If you are a student in a health care program check out COVIDSitters. COVIDSitters is a group that started as just medical students but is now expanding to meet the child care needs of people working in the hospital.

5. Making homemade face masks. These masks are not as effective as medical-grade masks but may be useful if other sources of personal protective equipment dry up. Locally Blue Cross and Allina have partnered to guide skilled volunteers in making and donating these. This is also something that you can do in your own home if you have sewing expertise. Do realize that the hope is these masks will never need to be utilized. Thank you for including this last, and very important, comment.

6. Most importantly take care of yourself. This is a difficult time for many people in this country and a time when hospital systems will be stressed. If you need mental health services, please consider utilizing one of the below resources.

In a mental health Crisis-

Call **CRISIS (**274747) from a cell phone to talk to a team of professionals who can help you.

Text “MN” to 741741. Crisis Text Line offers free help for those who are having a mental health crisis or are contemplating suicide. Services are available 24/7 across Minnesota.

Not in Crisis- but still need mental health care. Reach out to your primary care doctor for help. If you do not have a primary care doctor consider contacting a local hospital and getting connected with care.

7. Other Opportunities- If you still haven’t found the right volunteer opportunity for you, consider browsing through the HandsOn Twin Cites website. They are a volunteer center that curates an active list of opportunities at nonprofit organizations.