There’s one thing you can count on when Alabama faces a crisis -- folks will reach out to help one another. Here are ways we can help each through the coronavirus pandemic. Know of other resources or unmet needs? Email Jonece Starr Dunigan at jdunigan@al.com.

Statewide Resources

United Way’s 211 call center

Hometown Action - a social justice group focused Alabama’s rural, small towns is creating a network of community care teams to make sure needs are being met and that no one feels isolated during the pandemic. To join a community care team, click the link.

Alabama Department of Public Health Hotline - 1-888-264-2256

Get tested for COVID-19 by Assurance Labs - Click the link to see hours and locations, as they are constantly changing

Comcast 60-Day COVID-19 Plan - Free Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.S. available to anyone who needs them

Online AA Meetings - Resources for online AA meetings during COVID-19

Social Security Administration: all local offices closed, find updates here on how to get what you need during the crisis

Veterans Affairs in Alabama - Website and updates

Unemployment Resources - Resources from the Alabama Department of Labor

National call to action: call to action for assistance and awareness of needs

National Council of Independent Living: continually updating resources from the NCIL on legislation and information relevant to people with disabilities and the community at large

Administration for Community Living: resources and updates from government, policy impact, and more

Southeast ADA Center Resources: a resources list from the Southeast ADA Center

Southern Economic Advancement Project: information on various southern state actions and programs

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: information on the new law

UAB Resources - Resources on coronavirus and who to contact from UAB

Help out your neighbors and become part of a mutual aid group

Birmingham Mutual Aid – a list of those providing resources in the Birmingham area

Birmingham updates - You can also sign up for text updates by typing BHMCOVID to 888-777

Bham Strong - A coalition of organizations and partners committed to doing work locally throughout the crisis

Mobile Mutual Aid Facebook group

Mutual Aid Montgomery

Black Belt Community Foundation fund

Mental Health Resources

Central Alabama Wellness: a state mental health resource

Social Distancing Resources, Entertainment, Mental Health, and much more - credit to Shreya Pokhrel

Managing stress and anxiety: CDC resources

Managing stress and anxiety: NPR resources

Resilience: the parents’ guide to resilience and what it means

Here is also 11 mental health apps to get your through the pandemic

How to help the healthcare workers

Bham Cares feds Birmingham’s hospital workers

Local Food Resources

Restaurant delivery: local restaurant delivery and curbside pickup

Support your local food service workers

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Alabama Department of health has prohibited the on-site consumption of food and beverages at all restaurants, bars and breweries. This led to the cancellation of multiple events and drag shows. Here’s an article about the five ways you can help the food service industry, including making pick-up orders at your local restaurants, but below are other ways you can help:

Birmingham Virtual Tip Jar - tip service workers in the Birmingham area who are out of work at this time

MGM Service Workers COVID-19 relief fund - fundraiser for service workers in Montgomery

Aid for Montgomery’s service workers - If you’re a service worker in Montgomery who is in need of assistance, fill out this form with your name and Venmo and Cash App information and volunteers in Montgomery can help you.

Alabama Hospitality Workers Relief Fund

Donate a meal to service workers in Birmingham-area

Online Learning Sources for Students

Elementary

Middle and high school

All grade levels

Apps for Students with Disabilities

Numerous apps are available to assist students with disabilities who have issues accessing education. Smartphones have opened the door to a world of possibilities, far beyond what we could have imagined years ago. While they are commonly used to communicate with others, keep up with social media, and perform simple tasks, smartphones have innovations that allow accessibility and functionality to the blind and visually impaired. With the help of a smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet, the blind can virtually "see" and become more independent.

Apps are Available to Make Learning Easier

Your student should check out these apps:

Help for small businesses

Atlas Alabama - a one-stop online hub to help business owners quickly find information about loans and assistance, unemployment claims, tax relief programs, and other initiatives in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Support your local book store by participating in this virtual book fair created by the Magic City Poetry Festival

Resources for LGBTQ+ community

Multiple GoFundMe’s have been established for LGBTQ bars across the state. The money will be used to pay the DJs, bartenders and other employees of the following bars:

Quest

Al’s on Seventh

Our Place

ICON

Drag queens across the state are stressing the importance of social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak. However, they rely on shows for their income. Those shows aren’t happening due to bar and restaurant closures. Those who want to support their local drag queens can do so by donating to their cash apps, which is a payment service people can use on their phones. Their cash app links can be found on the “Support a Queen” website.

Montgomery Pride United’s emergency relief fund

For artists, crafters and innovators

Participate in “Postcards for Quarantine”, a project by the Alabama Contemporary Art Center in Mobile which helps Alabama’s senior citizens and local artists.

Madison County’s Individual Artists Emergency Relief Grant Fund

There are multiple Facebook groups where you can make a hand-sewn face mask for medical professionals in Madison, east Alabama, Birmingham

If you have access to a 3D printer, you can help print out face masks and shields through this Birmingham coalition

Help out the homeless

Donate to Be A Blessing Birmingham via PayPal, or you can send donations to the founder of the nonprofit Erica Star Robbins via Venmo (@starrobb) or CashApp ($StarRobb)

River City Church in Montgomery is looking for volunteers to help with the “Clean Machine”, a trailer which has three washer and dryers and two shower units for the homeless. Those who are interested can email Patrick Aitken at RiverCityMissions@gmail.com

Resources: Follow our live updates. Find all of our coronavirus stories. A continuously updated vital information post. A free text-messaging service so you can receive the most urgent coronavirus updates on your cellphone. And ask questions. To sign up, subscribe to Alabama Coronavirus Urgent Alerts. A new weekday newsletter is available. You can subscribe here. Also, download our mobile app where you can receive on-the-go notifications.