ChooseATL Is Sharing Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors
By Metro Atlanta Chamber
OUR COMMUNITY: NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
In tough times, Atlanta shows up for its neighbors. Stories of unity and collaboration have been an inspiration to us all as we continue to navigate COVID-19, and ChooseATL has been capturing those stories in an effort to amplify the incredible ways our community works together when it matters most. From generous donations, volunteer efforts and innovative new approaches, Atlantans never stop rising.
Many of the resources here are captured within a thread on ChooseATL’s Twitter account. We encourage you to follow along for in-the-moment updates.
Businesses
Goodr Combats Food Insecurity with Atlanta Public Schools
Description: Goodr has joined forces with Atlanta Public Schools to provide emergency food to APS students at meal distribution sites during closure.
Link:
https://twitter.com/jasminecrowe/status/1238537853115797505
Truist Cares Pledges $25M To Support Those Impacted by COVID-19
Description: Truist Financial Corporation announced its Truist Cares Initiative to support the short-term and long-term needs of communities, clients and teammates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A pledge of $25 million in philanthropic support will aid in supporting basic needs, medical supplies and financial hardship across the nation.
Link:
Kabbage Launches HelpSmallBusiness.com
Description: Kabbage Inc. launched www.helpsmallbusiness.com to support small businesses financially impacted by COVID-19. The initiative is a call-to-action across the U.S., enabling anyone to purchase an online gift certificate from participating small businesses to provide them with crucial financial support.
Link:
https://www.kabbage.com/helpsmallbusiness
The Giving Kitchen Provides Support to All Regional Food Service Workers with COVID-19
Description: Food service workers in Georgia who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or those who are under doctor’s orders for a mandatory quarantine should apply for financial assistance through the Giving Kitchen.
Link:
https://thegivingkitchen.org/help
The FoodFindrUS Helps Families Find Free Food Assistance Quickly
Description: The FoodFinderUS App is a safe and secure mobile web application that gives food insecure children and their families a way to find free food assistance programs quickly.
Link:
Fox’s “The Resident” Donates Masks to Atlanta Hospitals
Description: Georgia-filmed Fox series, ‘The Resident,’ donated boxes of production masks, gloves and gowns to Grady Hospital in Atlanta for their medical staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
Link:
https://www.projectcasting.com/news/the-resident-coronavirus/
Invest Atlanta Launches the Business Continuity Loan Fund
Description: Invest Atlanta has established a Business Continuity Loan Fund (BCLF) with $1.5 million of funding from the City of Atlanta. The fund will offer small zero-interest loans to small businesses to address a lack of working capital and cash flows as a result of reduced consumer demand, the ability to fulfill product or service orders and other economic conditions.
Links:
https://www.investatlanta.com/business-continuity-loan-fund
Staplehouse Becomes a Soup Kitchen To Support Atlanta’s Restaurant Workforce
Description: Staplehouse joined forces with the Giving Kitchen to launch “The Giving Soup Kitchen” at the tasting menu restaurant on Edgewood Avenue. It’s meant to provide meals (at no cost) to out-of-work service industry workers caught in the wake of abrupt layoffs.
Link:
Uber Provides Discounts to Atlanta Families in Need
Description: Uber announced it will offer a 25% discount for trips to and from food distribution sites until April 10. Uber passengers can use the promotional code “APS2020” to access the discount.
Link:
White Oak Pastures Announces #RestaurantRaincheck Giveaway
Description: White Oak Pastures is purchasing gift cards to local Atlanta restaurants to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are giving away several $100 gift cards and are encouraging residents to support restaurants in other ways as well.
Links:
https://twitter.com/chooseATL/status/1240718231565893644?s=20 https://www.whiteoakpastures.com/
Six Flags Donates 1,600 Pounds of Food to Local Charity
Description: Six Flags Over Georgia donated more than 1,600 lbs. of fruit, vegetables and dairy to the Center for Children & Young Adults in Marietta amid school closures and quarantines.
Link:
UPS Provides Logistics Support to Multi-City Testing Program
Description: The White House, through the Rapid-Response Taskforce for Coronavirus Testing Sites, asked UPS to assist with logistics planning and operations to support the opening and regular operation of drive-up coronavirus community-based testing sites in several cities. UPS is ready to assist with transportation support as needed for the community-based testing sites.
Link:
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian Forgoes Salary Amid Airline Cuts
Description: Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian outlined a number of sweeping changes the Atlanta-based company was going to need to make in light of COVID-19. Among his announcements: Bastian will forego his own salary for six months.
Link:
Comcast Opens Xfinity Wi-Fi Network Nationally for Free
Description: Comcast is taking steps to implement the following new policies for the next 60 days, and other important initiatives: Xfinity free Wi-Fi for everyone, pausing data plans, no disconnects or late fees, news and information and 24/7 network monitoring.
Link:
https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19?linkId=84300755
Georgia Power Suspends Residential Disconnections for 30 Days
Description: As of March 14, 2020, Georgia Power has temporarily suspended residential disconnections for 30 days and will reevaluate the policy and time frame as the situation develops.
Link:
https://www.georgiapower.com/covid-19.html
BlackRock Commits $50 Million to COVID-19 Relief Efforts
Description: BlackRock has committed $50 million to meet the immediate needs of those most affected by the pandemic, addressing the financial hardship and social dislocation that has occurred.
Link:
Mailchimp Offering Free Standard Accounts
Description: To help communicate public information about COVID-19, Mailchimp is offering free standard accounts to eligible governments, schools, healthcare providers and nonprofits through June 2020.
Link:
Calendly Offers Free Zoom and GoToMeeting Integrations
Description: Calendly is offering Zoom and GoToMeeting integrations, previously premium tier features, free of charge through June. They will also be providing free premium plan access to teams helping to address the COVID-19 crisis.
Link:
Atlanta Startups Using Tech To Fight Coronavirus
Description: As Atlanta cases of the coronavirus continue to increase and the city encourages social distancing to fight the spread, several local startups and companies are using their tech for good to fight the virus.
Link:
Nonprofits and Donations
United Way and the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta Create the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
Description: The COVID-19 Response and Recovery fund provides immediate support to those most vulnerable to the economic and health-related issues caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Link:
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/united-way-of-greater-atlanta-inc/covid-19-relief-fund
Food4Life Creates Atlanta Survival Program
Description: In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Food4Life is operating a grocery delivery program to ensure that those impacted by the virus will not be forced to choose between decent foods and their health.
Link:
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-the-food4life-atlanta-survival-program
The Atlanta Community Food Bank Launches a “Text for Help” SMS platform
Description: The “Text for Help” SMS platform assists those who need access to food during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Text “FINDFOOD” for responses in English or “COMIDA” for responses in Spanish to 888- 976-2232 to get locations near you.
Link:
https://twitter.com/ACFB/status/1240325761090891788
Red Cross of Georgia Calls for Blood Donations
Description: The American Red Cross says there is a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations. They are urging healthy people to donate now to help patients who are counting on lifesaving blood.
Link:
MUST Ministries Feeds At-Risk Students and Their Families
Description: In order to support increased demand, MUST Ministries is calling upon residents around the region to help in food collection due to COVID-19. Must Ministries is donating the collected supplies to at-risk families and students. They have a list of items needed for MUST Rapid Response Food Boxes and are encouraging monetary donations as well.
Link:
https://twitter.com/MUSTMinistries/status/1238931102573748224?s=20
Open Hand Atlanta Seeking Donations To Help COVID-19 Victims
Description: A majority of the clients served by Open Hand are elderly or living with chronic or underlying health conditions – groups at a higher risk of seeing the negative effects of the coronavirus. In response to worries that services could be interrupted by the virus and an increased demand as result of the virus, Open Hand has ramped up their production of frozen and shelf stable meals. To help Open Hand meet increased financial demands and provide life-saving services to those who may be affected by COVID-19, the organization is asking for donations.
Links:
https://thegavoice.com/community/covid-19-threatens-open-hand-atlanta-how-you-can-help/
https://www.giveffect.com/campaigns/14473-our-clients-need-your-support
Hands On Atlanta Calls for Healthy Volunteers To Pack Bags for Students and Families
Description: Hands On Atlanta is rallying the community to help fight food insecurity and tackling our city’s most pressing needs during COVID-19. Explore how you can help today and ensure all of our neighbors can thrive tomorrow.
Link:
https://www.handsonatlanta.org/relief
Lifeline Animal Project, Drive-Through Adoptions at Local Animal Shelter
Description: Lifeline Animal Project has started a new drive-through pet adoption method to keep people who may be interested in adopting or fostering safe. This is available at all three of Lifeline’s locations.
Link:
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/drive-through-adoptions-at-local-animal-shelter-amid-coronavirus-outbreak
Love Not Lost Will Continue To Take Free Photographs for Terminal Patients
Description: Love Not Lost is a nonprofit organization that photographs people facing a terminal diagnosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, photographers will continue taking photographs for the terminally ill and their families.
Links:
https://twitter.com/lovenotlostorg/status/1240636559201894401?s=20
Meals On Wheels Atlanta Delivers 35,000+ Meals a Week to Senior Citizens
Description: Hundreds of volunteers are helping Meals On Wheels Atlanta to safely and efficiently deliver meals to Atlanta’s fragile and elderly seniors, with 35,000+ meals per week. Meals On Wheels is accepting donations to help with this process.
Link:
https://twitter.com/MOWAtlanta/status/1241809764243431430?s=20
A.G. Rhodes Homes Launches Letter-Writing Campaign to Support Residents
Description: As a result of the risks posed by COVID-19, visitors are being restricted from visiting residents at A.G. Rhodes for their safety. With that in mind, A.G. Rhodes put out a call for a letter-writing and words of encouragement campaign with flower delivery options and activity and games delivery options. A.G. Rhodes has been overwhelmed by the positive support.
Links:
https://www.agrhodes.org/ways-to-help/
https://twitter.com/AGRhodesHomes/status/1240622671827787784?s=20
Random Acts of Kindness
Georgia Coronavirus Maps Project
Description: Standard Co has created a series of dashboards to monitor COVID-19 cases across the U.S. The company prides itself on relieving suffering through tech and data and has created a COVID-19 dashboard for Georgia, updating the data every day at noon.
Link:
https://dashboards.securedatakit.com/public/dashboard/e430d0a4-0135-4211-95f7-0a089582f620
Old Fourth Ward Distillery Pivots Production, Provides Free Hand Sanitizer to Locals
Description: Old Fourth Ward Distillery has shifted its production to hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 crisis, offering two free, 2-ounce bottles per person.
Link:
Love Beyond Walls Distributes Portable Handwashing Stations for the Homeless
Description: As part of their “Love Sinks In” campaign, Love Beyond Walls has created portable handwashing stations across the city. Their initiative is helping bring soap and water to homeless populations, providing them with critical support during this time.
Links:
https://www.lovebeyondwalls.org/
https://twitter.com/LoveBeyondWalls/status/1242060959981633537?s=20
Random (Hospital) Pizza Sending Random Pizzas to Local Hospital Staff
Description: The Random (Hospital) Pizza website was created to support hospital staff as they fight COVID-19 in our local community. Every time someone makes a one-time payment, a pizza will be delivered to a local hospital’s front-desk for all staff to enjoy, keeping our medical professionals fed and boosting their spirits.
Links:
https://www.randompizza.io/random-hospital-pizza
https://twitter.com/whit4th/status/1240674398069305347?s=20
Residents in Midtown Cheer from Apartments To Thank First Responders
Description: In Midtown, residents cheered for first responders from their apartments as they worked nearby. Many of the residents are students at Georgia Tech.
Link:
https://twitter.com/GeorgiaTech/status/1241907309804163073?s=20
Dunwoody Residents Create “Everything Will Be OK” Signs
Description: As concerns over the global COVID-19 pandemic intensify, residents of Dunwoody are spreading a simple message to support their local artists: “Everything Will Be OK.” Yard signs with the positive message have popped up on lawns and windows all over the city of Dunwoody, hoping to show the community’s solidarity in wake of so much uncertainty.
Link:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/signs-pop-spread-cheer-georgia-town-69749674
Sports
The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Partner with Goodr
Description: The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm are teaming up with Goodr to offer two weeks of groceries for families in need at pop-up locations around the region.
Link:
The Atlanta Braves Establish $1 Million Relief Fund
Description: The Atlanta Braves, through the Atlanta Braves Foundation, has created a special disaster relief fund to help gameday workers and certain other affected members of the baseball community with special financial needs that may arise before Braves baseball begins.
Link:
https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-atlanta-braves-establish-1-million-relief-fund
Matt Ryan To Donate $100,000 to Atlanta in Wake of Coronavirus Outbreak
Description: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will donate $100,000 to help relief efforts in Atlanta in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Ryan’s donation will be equally distributed to two charitable organizations: the Atlanta Community Food Bank, providing food to those in need, and Giving Kitchen, offering emergency assistance to food service workers.
Link:
Colleges and Universities
Morehouse College Establishes Student Emergency Assistance Fund
Description: In support of students experiencing hardship, Morehouse College is asking alumni and friends to support their students with a gift to the Student Emergency Assistance Fund.
Link:
https://ignite.morehouse.edu/project/20382
University of Georgia MBA Student Creates Facebook Group To Sew Masks for Hospitals
Description: Kayla Hittig (BBA ‘11, MBA ‘15) created the Facebook group, “Sewing Masks for Atlanta Hospitals (COVID-19),” to help supply medical masks to local hospitals amidst their shortage. Hittig’s goal is to create 400 masks by the end of her first week.
Link:
https://twitter.com/TerryCollege/status/1242457887072555008?s=20
Georgia Tech Students and Professors 3D-Print Thousands of Rigid Face Shields for Healthcare Providers
Description: Using 3D printers on campus, Georgia Tech professors and students have created thousands of rigid face shields for healthcare providers to protect themselves as they diagnose and treat COVID-19.
Link:
