Dignity & Power Now has an emergency fund to connect members of different California communities with essential supplies.
Dignity & Power Now has helped thousands of families. (Supplied)
Photo:
Dignity & Power Now / Courtesy
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, many organizations have started receiving calls from people who lost their jobs or were forced to stay home and needed help.
Among them is Dignity & Power Now, the grassroots organization that fights for the dignity and power of all incarcerated people, which immediately set to work to help those most in need.
The organization has an emergency fund to help connect members of different California communities with essential supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eboni Munn, a spokesperson for Dignity & Power Now, said that in late March they began to see requests on their social media for people saying they had lost their jobs, some with children who lacked the necessary supplies to make ends meet.
"So the first phase was created to provide essential needs, such as diapers, baby wipes, and formulas for families with children," said Munn. "In this phase we bring the supplies they need to their homes."
People's interest continued to grow, and the emergency fund was created on April 1, Munn said. "Once we saw a growing interest in those needs, we created the emergency fund with the email address emergencyfund@dignityandpowernow.org and then created the COVID emergency fund website."
Since then they have helped in different cities including Los Angeles, Inglewood, Sacramento, San Fernando, and Bakersfield.
Munn said the aid has been divided into three phases and is delivered to families as needed.
The first phase is for families with young babies who need infant supplies like formula, diapers, and wet wipes. The second phase provides essential needs such as perishable items or pantry items such as sweet potatoes, butter and bread, among other foods. Also includes face masks, toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies.
And phase three, adds the spokesperson, combines the first and second phase of essential elements, in addition to providing some form of financial assistance through a community needs assessment.
"So we did a survey of the community to see what their needs are in terms of essential elements," he says.
Munn explained that families are chosen through the emails they receive. After reading their story and the need they face at home they put families in the right phase. Then they see to it that their needs are met.
"We have assisted more than 7,500 community members in California and receive 7 to 10 requests for essential items per day," said Munn. “We receive them through our private Facebook messages, our emergency fund by email, we also receive direct messages on Instagram.
Munn said they do not have a deadline to end the emergency fund and will help as many people as possible.
If you or someone you know is interested in this help, you can visit: https://www.covidemergencyfund.org/
