COVID-19 Response

At the onset of COVID-19, Shahana made the decision to put this campaign and fundraising efforts on pause to focus on relief efforts for the undocumented in our district and across Brooklyn. As she started making wellness calls to check-in on neighbors it became clear that the government was ignoring the needs of the most vulnerable in our City. From a lack of equitable language access materials to an ubiquitous digital divide in access to the internet and technology, something needed to be done and done urgently.

Brooklyn-based Organizations to Fight COVID-19

We compiled this guide of local Brooklyn-based organizations in order to better support our community during the pandemic. We’ve prioritized District 39 and Brooklyn-based efforts whenever possible; if there isn’t a hyperlocal effort filling a crucial need, we’ve linked to citywide resources.

This is more than just a list of organizations. It’s a reflection of the diverse work community members are doing to help the most vulnerable New Yorkers impacted by this pandemic. I hope that you will find this concise guide a useful resource. As always, please feel free to reach out to us should you need any help connecting to city resources or require any support.

Wishing you and your family nothing but health, safety, and wellness.

In solidarity, Shahana Hanif

+ Detained or incarcerated

+ Restaurant workers and owners

  • Dumplings Against Hate
    • Provides financial assistance to Chinatown’s restaurants and retail stores that saw their business drop significantly due to xenophobia, months before the first case of COVID-19 materialized in the United States.
  • Local Relief Funds for NYC Restaurant Workers
    • Donate to restaurant workers! Check out this comprehensive list from Eater of restaurants that have relief funds set up.

+ Food and care

  • Kensington/Windsor Terrace Mutual Aid
    • Launch and support the operation of a mutual aid network for neighborhoods Kensington and Windsor Terrace, including parts of D39!
  • Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)
    • Building power for working-class Desi immigrants by developing local leaders, organizing with its membership base in Kensington and across the city, and supporting members with emergency aid.
  • Meals for Staff at Brooklyn Hospitals
    • Meals made with love from local restaurants to Brooklyn’s frontline hospital staff who are treating COVID-19 patients.
  • People In Need
    • Groceries and other essential items distributed to families in need living in the greater Kensington area.
  • Thai Farm Kitchen
    • Delivers free lunch and essential items to people in need who are living in the greater Kensington area.
    • To assist in delivery of free lunches that happen every day from 12:30pm to 2pm, please email: ThaiFarmKitchen@gmail.com
  • Heights and Hills
    • Support Brooklyn’s seniors and get them what they need while they stay home.
    • Volunteer to check in with seniors over the phone.
    • Donate to support Heights and Hills’ efforts.
  • CoronaMetro
    • Donate your MetroCard to an essential worker who needs it.
  • Masbia Soup Kitchen Network
    • Donate to Masbia's emergency food programs which are more essential than ever during this pandemic.
  • Relief BK (Chabad Central Brooklyn)
    • Supply’s essential items to Kensington and Ditmas Park residents who are vulnerable to complications from COVID-19.
    • Volunteer your time.
    • Donate to support Chabad’s efforts.
  • Muslims Giving Back: NYC Covid-19 Food Drive
    • Fund Muslims Giving Back’s COVID-19 initiatives to feed the homeless, expand their food pantry, deliver food to first responders, and purchase gift cards for impacted families.

+ Financial Relief

  • Equality for Flatbush - #BKShowsLove Emergency Fund for Hourly Workers
    • Provides direct, one time payments of $150 to help Brooklynites living in the neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush and Crown Heights, especially hourly wage workers, and people who are without a source of income or resources during this pandemic.
  • COVID-19 Survival Funds for Undocumented Bangladeshis in Brooklyn
    • To raise survival funds for undocumented Bangladeshis who are excluded from receiving any government assistance at the city, state, and federal levels. These funds will be distributed as cash grants of up to $1,200 per person, just like a federal stimulus check, by Shahana and her sister Sabia.
  • Emergency COVID Relief for Sex Workers in New York
    • Provides financial help to sex workers in NYC who need it.
  • #Solidarity4Service
    • Send funds directly to a service industry, gig, contract, part-time, and freelance worker who has lost their source(s) of income because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Street Vendors
    • Help sustain New York City’s street vendors, predominantly immigrants, who depend on busy streets for business and are often ineligible for government support.

+ Supporting survivors of gender based violence

+ Healthcare

+ Need additional resources?

See also Coronavirus Resources Aggregate List last updated in late March.