The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an emergency in India with no signs of abating any time soon. Hospitals are jam-packed with patients sharing beds, oxygen supplies are running short, and doctors cannot cope with the incoming influx of 400,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the nation. Perceiving a humanitarian crisis of such a large magnitude can be difficult outside of India, yet your help will be invaluable to those that need it. Below is a comprehensive list of resources that you can use to fund and provide medical supplies, serve marginalized communities and provide critical support required for the country:
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Mission Oxygen
This initiative is providing free oxygen concentrators to hospitals started by 250+ startup entrepreneurs from Delhi. The group of entrepreneurs is procuring oxygen concentrators from China to meet the demand of 3000+ concentrators required direly in hospitals in Mumbai and Delhi. The non-profit has a goal of collecting $5,000,000. Every little bit goes a long way. Donate here.
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Youth Feed India
The marginalized communities are affected the worst as the second wave rages over the natives of Mumbai as thousands risk losing their jobs. Daily wage laborers, sex workers, transgender persons, and other vulnerable sections of society need urgent relief. In collaboration with several incredible grassroots organizations, Youth Feed India and Helping Hands Charitable Trust delivered ration kits that fed more than 150,000 individuals. Each kit costs Rs. 1000 and contains essential supplies(flour, lentils, rice, oil, salt, and sugar) that can feed a family of 4 for 15 days. Donate here.
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Feeding From Far
Feeding From Far is an initiative providing meals to the poor and unemployed struggling to feed themselves during the lockdown. They have distributed over 1 million meals to the needy since the first lockdown hit through cooked meals and ration kits. Since the first lockdown, they have been taking care of over 7,000 people in the largest & oldest dumping ground and slum in Mumbai – Govandi. Since most residents of Govandi are daily wage workers, rickshaw drivers, rag pickers, etc.- they are all unemployed and unable to afford basic food at the moment. These people have been jobless for the entire year, and due to the current ongoing lockdown in Mumbai, sadly, they are likely to die of hunger before the virus hits them. Help feed those who can’t feed themselves here.
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Mazdoor Kitchen
Mazdoor Kitchen is a citizen-run voluntary initiative working to provide meals and subsistence to daily wage workers in North Delhi. Through a sustained effort, the initiative has also developed a keen relationship with members of the community. Aside from food and ration, the kitchen now facilitates employment opportunities for the community by looking into a sewing unit to manufacture masks, employment through the kitchen itself, and supporting small businesses such as food carts. Support their work here.
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CARE India
With its 70 years of experience providing relief during disasters and delivering large-scale health programs on the ground, CARE India is well-positioned to support the affected citizens where the need is the greatest. The foundation works to do the following: provide PPE kits (protective suits and masks) to frontline workers, provide critical medical consumables like oxygen cylinders, medicines, etc., to COVID Care Facilities, set up temporary COVID hospitals and COVID Care Centres. Support CARE India here.
This guide is by no means complete. Several other foundations, people, and families provide help to the country as it struggles to combat the pandemic. The world is stepping up. Together we can help India make it through the pandemic.