Special ways to help the Nantucket community during the coronavirus outbreak.
1. Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s COVID-19 Response Fund
Help NCH care for the island, defeat COVID-19, and emerge stronger than ever as a tight-knit community. If you cannot donate financially, medical supplies, homemade face masks and volunteer time from reserve physicians and providers are also needed. For more information, click here.
2. Community Foundation for Nantucket’s Nantucket Fund for Emergency Relief
The Community Foundation for Nantucket has always been a loyal supporter of the island’s nonprofits, but in their time of need, CFN is doubling down on their commitment with the Nantucket Fund for Emergency Relief. The fund will award grants on a rolling basis to nonprofits that are addressing the community’s most important needs, with ReMain Nantucket matching new donations up to an additional $250,000. For more information, click here.
The Nantucket Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with ReMain Nantucket to launch the “Keep the Rock Solid.” Go to their website and discover ways to contribute to local businesses and nonprofits, whether by buying gift certificates, offering assistance or making direct donations. For more information, click here.
4. Nantucket Food, Fuel & Rental Assistance
Though the NFFRA typically welcomes food donations, at this time, the safest and most helpful way to help is with monetary gifts. Funds will help vulnerable community members struggling with the cost of food and rent during the pandemic. Volunteering to help distribute items is also always welcome! For more information, click here.
Restaurants all over the country are suffering from the effects of COVID-19, and eateries on Nantucket are no exception. Rally for Restaurants connects you directly to your favorite restaurants so that you can buy a gift card, order takeout or rally government officials to take action. For more information, click here.
Healthcare professionals, Town employees, teachers and school employees, artists and musicians, postal workers, retail and service workers, nonprofit employees, families and single people are just a few of the groups on the long list of those who benefit from Housing Nantucket. Donations will help to assist these groups facing insurmountable living costs on Nantucket for months to come. For more information, click here.
Stay-at-home orders, while keeping us safe from COVID-19, can have an adverse effect for victims in unhealthy relationships. A Safe Place helps to combat this by providing free and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. For more information, click here.
8. Fairwinds Counseling Center
Though Fairwinds regularly helps many people with chronic anxiety and mental health issues, COVID-19 has caused a sharp uptick in the number of people searching for help. Donations help to increase their capability to host online services and free support sessions. For more information, click here.
Vulnerable seniors are at the greatest risk amid COVID-19, and the efforts needed to protect them require additional emergency funds. The Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund ensures local communities like Nantucket have what they need to continue to deliver a vital lifeline to our elderly. For more information, click here.
Creative spirits of all kinds are hurting in the wake of the coronavirus. Support visual artists on Nantucket through Artists Association of Nantucket (www.nantucketarts.org). For musicians, ask them if you can give a tip directly through their Venmo account, or ask if their music is on a site like Bandcamp, which has a fair trade music policy. For more information, click here.