Groundswell: Meals for the Hungry, Support for Small Businesses

It’s been two weeks since most states issued shelter-in-place orders, and COVID-19 is continuing to devastate communities. Food banks are struggling to meet unprecedented demand, healthcare workers are forced to reuse protective gear, and New York City’s death toll has surpassed 10,000—higher than all but five countries worldwide. Americans desperate for financial assistance may never see their $1,200 stimulus checks—banks and debt collectors have been authorized to seize payments from those with outstanding debts.

In the absence of a social safety net, people and organizations are stepping up to help their communities survive the crisis. This week’s Groundswell brings you a few dispatches from around the country:

Recently resettled refugees across the country face myriad cultural, language, and economic barriers—difficulties exacerbated by one of the biggest crises in recent memory. New Empowerment for Refugees, a nonprofit in Glendale, Arizona, is seeking to help: It’s collecting Walmart gift cards for refugee families in Phoenix to help them resettle in the midst of a pandemic.

Some large institutions are also aiding local efforts. The University of Chicago—which, like many universities, has a complicated relationship with its surrounding neighborhood—recently announced plans to use on-campus dining facilities to prepare around 3,000 meals daily, which will be distributed in nine Chicago neighborhoods in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. It will also provide bridge funds to small neighborhood businesses, as well as financial and technical assistance to local nonprofits.

Meanwhile, In Indianapolis, the India Palace restaurant celebrated the Sikh holiday Vaisakhi on Monday with Langar, a tradition in which a community kitchen provides free vegetarian meals to anyone—rich or poor. While the meals are typically provided communally at a temple, India Palace pre-packaged its Langar - three thousand meals to give away. Restaurant owner Lakhvir Johal has also connected with struggling local businesses in Indianapolis during the course of the outbreak to offer his time, services, and food.

And in California, local financial institutions are helping small businesses navigate the upheaval. With strict eligibility and documentation requirements, the Small Business Administration loan process can be challenging; as a result, Access Plus Capital—a Fresno-based organization that offers small business assistance—is partnering with the city to provide alternatives and supplementary financial products. Their nanoloans ($5000 to $20,000) require only three months of bank statements and one year of tax returns, while their microloans ($20,000 to $50,000) require just a year of tax returns—something that’s more crucial than ever as small businesses reckon with the economic pitfalls of COVID-19. The organization is also hosting a weekly pandemic webinar with resources for maintaining business continuity.

As we continue to navigate this crisis, community support is more essential than ever for those hit hardest. Please email passen@newamerica.org with stories from your own community—we’d love to share them in a future installment of Groundswell.