Written by Ken Garfield

With caution and compassion, nonprofits are looking to volunteers to help carry the load even as COVID-19 forces them to do it remotely. These three Charlotte-based nonprofits are among the many organizations carefully planning a return to normalcy for staff and volunteers. Until then, the good work goes on…

When COVID-19 kept Lisa Kohler from sitting at the bedside of her Hospice patient, she did the next best thing: Lisa helped throw a 91st birthday party from outside Gloria’s window in assisted living, singing her trademark song, Oh what a beautiful mornin’…

At a time when we are being ordered to stay apart from one another physically, we are grateful businesses and organizations that are coming together in support of our local nonprofit community. Check out the list below of businesses and organizations doing GOOD things in the face of crisis.

The following is not a comprehensive list of all who are giving back and supporting local nonprofits at this time- if there is a business or organization you would like to acknowledge for their generosity, we are happy to add them to this growing list, just let us know! 
 

The creators of the largest annual global day of giving, GivingTuesday, introduced #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, 2020 as an opportunity for communities around the world to come together and give in immediate response to the unprecedented need caused by the current COVID-19 crisis. 

#GivingTuesdayNow sparked activity in more than 145 countries on May 5 for a global day of unity and giving. Millions of people expressed their generosity through acts of kindness, donations of goods, time and money, notes of compassion, advocacy for causes, and care for family and friends. Read more about the results of #GivingTuesdayNow on a global scale, here.

 By Ken Garfield 

For nonprofits working to care for neighbors in need, the latest phase in these unprecedented times has a new name: Now Normal.

As our community eyes a return to some level of life before COVID-19, nonprofits are heeding Gov. Roy Cooper’s three-phase approach that puts safety first. Slowly and carefully, with the health of clients, staff and volunteers in mind, nonprofits are poised to remobilize while retaining the best of what they’ve done sheltering in place.

Here are three illustrations that reflect Now Normal in the nonprofit world in and around Charlotte.

 
SHARE Charlotte has been overwhelmed by the selflessness and generosity of our neighbors, community and corporate partners as we continue to manage a flood of inquiries about how people can do GOOD to support our nonprofit partners during this time of uncertainty. 

We are fortunate to live in a world where technology enables us to come together despite being physically apart, and the need to come together in Charlotte to support our nonprofit community has potentially never been greater. If you have something to give, please consider doing so - the organizations serving Charlotte’s most vulnerable need your help. 

What’s SHARE Charlotte’s role in this crisis? It’s to do what we do best - connect those who want to help Mecklenburg County's nonprofit community to all the ways they can.