As Americans Struggle Financially Amid the Pandemic, New Report Shows Private Donations Pouring in across Illinois and U.S.

Photo courtesy FeedAmerica
Photo courtesy FeedAmerica

 

As Americans Struggle Financially Amid the Pandemic, New Report Shows Private Donations Pouring in across Illinois and U.S.

By Hazel Trice Edney 

As unemployment continues to rage and families struggle to make ends meet, individuals, businesses, and non-profits are stepping up to help those who have been most hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic; namely the poor, African-Americans and Latinos.  

Donations of money, time, and in-kind services are being given as cash-strapped state and local governments struggle to provide a safety net at a time when more people need it more than ever. Record charitable giving is aiming to abate damages from the coronavirus, which has hit those hardest who could endure it the least.  

Many low-income jobs cannot accommodate remote work. And the majority of low-income jobs don’t offer paid sick days or health insurance. The children of low income people and people of color, who often rely on reduced school meals, haven’t been getting the level of nutrition they need.  

But there’s hope. According to a new report, the scope of private giving is striking. Indeed, more than half of US households are engaged in some form of charitable giving, according to the report from Indiana University's Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI).  

The report also found that one-third of US households have given money directly to charitable organizations, and almost half have given indirectly – like purchasing gift cards from local boutiques to support them during these difficult times. As people’s broader lives have been shut down, they’ve focused locally, for example buying groceries or performing yardwork for elderly neighbors.  

Although about 40 percent of households say they’re making less money, the amount of people giving has actually increased: 21 percent of respondents in the study say they now give more than ever before. The most urgent need, hunger relief, has thankfully seen the most charitable giving: Giving Basket donations to Feeding America increased almost 2,000 percent in 2020!  

The tech industry, which has enjoyed a boom with everyone online all the time now, is sharing its successwith those it can – under the hashtag #UnitedWeTech.  

Thrive Market has raised $200,000 through donations at check-out. Enova has donated $500,00 to charities in its hometown of Chicago. DraftKings is giving $1 million to the United Way. The Honest Company is donating 3 million diapers, 30,000 packs of wipes, and 20,000 personal care products to its charity partner, Baby2Baby, to help struggling families. Having benefited so much from the lockdown of in-person dining, UberEats and DoorDash have waived commission fees for independent restaurant partners. Amazon has offered unlimited paid sick leave for those who test positive for COVID-19.  

The list goes on and on and on.  

Wal-Mart has promised a smashing $35 million in cash and in-kind to support organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. Disney has continued paying employees displaced by closed theme parks, and opened DisneyLand up to be a “vaccine super-site” for Southern California.  

Some of those rising to the occasion are not as high profile as big-brand companies like Wal-Mart, but are making an enormous difference in communities nonetheless.  

One notable example Brake Parts Inc., makers of Raybestos brakes. The company is establishing a new philanthropic foundation to help address social and economic needs throughout its community in McHenry County, Illinois. 

“We’re thankful for BPI’s generosity and shared commitment to McHenry County,” said Deborah Thielen, Executive Director of The Community Foundation for McHenry County. “The pandemic has created extraordinary challenges in McHenry County, and for the most vulnerable members of our community, the creation of the Brake Parts Inc. Community Fund could not have come at a more critical time.” 

BPI has a long history of community involvement. The company for more than a decade has been the largest corporate contributor in McHenry County, primarily through its support for United Way of Greater McHenry County. Last fall, the company was sold to First Brands Group, a Cleveland-based company. The new ownership group opted to establish a new charitable vehicle, but it pledged to continue supporting organizations on the frontline in McHenry County that are working to meet essential needs, including food security, housing and healthcare.  

Elsewhere, churches are doing their best to help people stay afloat, despite a drop in donations to the offering plates. The LDS Church gave $5.5 million to charities from Virginia to Missouri to Indian reservations. Some native tribes have been hit so hard that they’ve attracted donors all the way from Ireland.  

Even celebrities are doing their part.  

Billy Joel gave $500,000 for masks and hazmat suits to healthcare heroes. And Rachael Ray gave $4 million to food-relief efforts.  

Kristen Bell announced she was donating $150,000 to No Kid Hungry, and her kids emptied their piggy bank of its $7.96 to do their part as well. Said on Instagram, “…when my kids overheard me making the donation, they asked if they could also donate…I couldn’t have been prouder to add that extra, and important 7 dollars and 96 cents.”  

  

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