Lately, it feels like the world has come to a screeching halt. Our country is panicked, overwhelmed, and under the mismanagement of a maniacal con man. Every hour we spend refreshing our feeds or distracting ourselves with Netflix and Hulu, the Republican Party is raising tens of millions of dollars to keep Donald Trump in office for four more years. If you’ve never volunteered in an election, you’re not alone. Getting involved makes people feel uncomfortable. The good news is that you can get involved today, even while you’re sheltering-in-place. In fact, this could potentially be the best time to start getting involved. You have the chance to start at your own pace — without a commitment to a volunteer shift early in the morning at a campaign office. Barack Obama’s historic campaign wasn’t assembled by establishment think tanks or consulting firms in D.C., it was a grassroots movement of everyday people like you who were inspired to bring change to Washington. Defeating Donald Trump is absolutely necessary and we can’t afford to pass the buck to someone else. If you want to make a difference, you have to roll up your sleeves and get in the game. I’ve made a list of some things you can do today to send “The Donald” packing his bags to Mar-A-Lago permanently. I — along with the millions of Democrats counting on your support — hope you take something from this list and use the power of 21st century technology to get involved during these uncertain times.

Start Small, Start Today

If you’re like most first timers, getting involved in politics is out your comfort zone. The thought of driving to a campaign office then heading out alone to go knock doors in hopes of talking to strangers seems daunting at worst and unappealing at best. Starting small is a great way to catch the bug without giving yourself a nervous breakdown. There are so many ways you can begin your grassroots journey from home today, with little awkwardness to cause hesitation.

Make a list of your Democratic friends . Text them to catch up and talk about the election. Make sure they’re ready to get off the sidelines and in the game when life gets back to normal. You can even plan a post-pandemic house party with other politically enthusiastic friends.

. Text them to catch up and talk about the election. Make sure they’re ready to get off the sidelines and in the game when life gets back to normal. You can even plan a post-pandemic house party with other politically enthusiastic friends. Share pro-Democratic headlines . The impulse to share and retweet Trump’s stupidity and damage to the country is totally natural. However, we can’t forget to spread headlines and stories that show the Democratic Party in a positive light. We want to give people someone to vote for as much as we want to give them someone to vote against.

. The impulse to share and retweet Trump’s stupidity and damage to the country is totally natural. However, we can’t forget to spread headlines and stories that show the Democratic Party in a positive light. We want to give people someone to vote for as much as we want to give them someone to vote against. Call out the lies. When you see your pro-Trump friends on facebook share misinformation and bad faith attacks on Joe Biden and the Democrats, politely correct them and paste links to prove your point for everyone to see.

Utilize Your Unique Talents & Skills

(Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)

Never forget: the world famous Barack Obama “Hope” poster was created independently by Shepard Fairy, a grassroots activist and street artist. The poster became one of the most widely recognized symbols of Obama’s campaign around the globe, spawning variations and imitations for years — including some commissioned by the Obama campaign. Everyone brings their own unique talents to the table in grassroots activism. Whether you realize it or not, you specifically have something totally unique to offer this important cause. Think carefully about what you could do and begin today. Undecided (or unenthusiastic) potential Democratic voters are more likely to be convinced by your grassroots efforts than an official, targeted 30-second digital ad. Here are a few examples of things you could do:

Create a Facebook group, Twitter page, or Instagram. Perhaps you’ve noticed the same friends on Facebook are fed up with Donald Trump or you get a lot of engagement on your political tweets and Instagram posts. Make a page specifically for your political stuff and encourage folks from your personal page to check it out! You’ll develop a small online community that will be vital to getting out the vote in November.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the same friends on Facebook are fed up with Donald Trump or you get a lot of engagement on your political tweets and Instagram posts. Make a page specifically for your political stuff and encourage folks from your personal page to check it out! You’ll develop a small online community that will be vital to getting out the vote in November. If Adobe is your thing, make a design and post it online for friends (and strangers) to share.

for friends (and strangers) to share. Maybe you’re good at making videos. If that’s the case, document your volunteering experience and post it on YouTube . Someone could be inspired to go volunteer and make a video of their own; creating a ripple effect of community involvement.

. Someone could be inspired to go volunteer and make a video of their own; creating a ripple effect of community involvement. Make a homemade t-shirt, bumper sticker, or yard sign . With the internet and a dash of creativity, anything is possible. If people like it, you can even create an Etsy account and make some money!

. With the internet and a dash of creativity, anything is possible. If people like it, you can even create an Etsy account and make some money! Write letters to the editor. Local papers and websites get hundreds and thousands — or tens of thousands — of readers every day. Pen a letter to the editor and spread some blue ripples through your community.

Contribute Money

If you’re sheltering-in-place and you’ve lost your job, please do not make donating money to political campaigns a top priority. That being said, if you have $5, $25, or $100 to spare — every single Democratic candidate and cause could really use your help. Donald Trump filed for re-election hours after his inauguration and the Republican Party has been raking in hundreds of millions of dollars ever since. The RNC has outraised the DNC eight-to-one. Every dollar counts, so here are a few great places to donate if you’re feeling charitable:

Joe Biden’s campaign . Contrary to what the Bernie Bunch will lead you to believe, Biden does not have the billionaire class emptying their wallets for his campaign. He needs help opening field offices, hiring staff to organize communities, and blasting digital ads on every cell phone in America.

Contrary to what the Bernie Bunch will lead you to believe, Biden does not have the billionaire class emptying their wallets for his campaign. He needs help opening field offices, hiring staff to organize communities, and blasting digital ads on every cell phone in America. Fair Fight 2020 . Foreign interference and voter suppression will help keep Republicans in power. Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight 2020 are building voter protection teams with Democratic state parties or local leaders across the country to protect the right to vote.

. Foreign interference and voter suppression will help keep Republicans in power. Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight 2020 are building voter protection teams with Democratic state parties or local leaders across the country to protect the right to vote. Leave It All On the Field . To win in 2020, we need organizers to — well — organize! We need staff to get out into communities across the country and talk to voters about the future they want to see. We need boots on the ground! And we need to start yesterday. The folks at Crooked Media created the Leave It All On the Field Fund to support groups who are building their 2020 ground game right now in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia, and Florida.

To win in 2020, we need organizers to — well — organize! We need staff to get out into communities across the country and talk to voters about the future they want to see. We need boots on the ground! And we need to start yesterday. The folks at Crooked Media created the Leave It All On the Field Fund to support groups who are building their 2020 ground game right now in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia, and Florida. Get Mitch or Die Trying . Mitch McConnell has stolen a seat on the Supreme Court, tried to take health care away from 20 million Americans, and stopped the Senate from doing anything that isn’t confirming extreme right-wing judges to lifetime appointments. Not only is he up for re-election in November, but more importantly, the Republican party is defending 22 Senate seats, and they only control the Senate by three. Get Mitch or Die Trying will fund Senate races in the 10 most competitive states.

. Mitch McConnell has stolen a seat on the Supreme Court, tried to take health care away from 20 million Americans, and stopped the Senate from doing anything that isn’t confirming extreme right-wing judges to lifetime appointments. Not only is he up for re-election in November, but more importantly, the Republican party is defending 22 Senate seats, and they only control the Senate by three. Get Mitch or Die Trying will fund Senate races in the 10 most competitive states. Candidates in your own backyard. Wherever you live, your money is needed. There are congressional candidates looking to flip Republican seats, pro-choice state Assembly candidates seeking to protect reproductive rights, and city council candidates who share your worldview. All of them need your help. Log on to your local Democratic Party headquarters, find out who’s running, and how you can give to their campaigns.

Practice “Political Altruism”

Imagine it’s November 4th, 2020. Donald Trump won the Presidency, Republicans have kept the Senate, and maybe even taken back the House. If you don’t get involved, this is a very real possibility. This is the most important election of your lifetime; make that your mantra. If you are deeply dissatisfied with our current leadership, you must understand that you have to get involved to make a difference. As I hope I’ve made clear, there are a myriad of ways you can get off the sidelines today — even while you’re sheltering-in-place. Be creative and think about all the big and small ways you can spread the word or help the cause.

Do you walk your dog or run outside where you’re seen by neighbors? Go on Etsy or a candidate’s website and buy a hat or t-shirt to show local support. Post a picture online while you’re at it.

Did you plan on having food delivered by DoorDash but opted for a quick meal at home instead? Donate that $15 to Fair Fight or Joe Biden; they need money.

If you come across a positive story about a Democrat, share it online and send the link to friends.

Each and every day, even if you never meet them, you’ll be presented with opportunities to give children in cages hope. Maybe you won’t be visiting Planned Parenthood anytime soon, but you can still help protect a woman’s right to get an abortion. The future of this country and the planet are in your hands and the last thing you want to wake up thinking on November 4th, 2020 is, “I could have helped and I didn’t.” Start today and you’ll thank yourself tomorrow.