Our Favorite Ways to Help Right Now

While our team has been practicing social distancing, working from home, and adjusting to the new normal – we’ve been humbled to see the community come together during these times. We are grateful for everyone who, despite these turbulent waters, are riding the waves to help lift others up. It’s been touching to witness the human generosity, empathy, and outreach in our neighborhood and beyond. We applaud the businesses across Minnesota who are changing the way they operate to help in the fight against COVID-19 and wanted to share some of these acts of generosity and spread the word about ways that you can help. 

Giving Blood To Help With The Shortage

A great way to help is to give blood if you are healthy. The American Red Cross is now facing a blood shortage across the country as blood drives have been canceled as a result of the outbreak. They are asking for volunteers, though if you have traveled to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, Italy or South Korea in the past 28 days or if you have been diagnosed or exposed to someone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, they are asking you to hold off on a donation for now. Memorial Blood Centers is also reporting an urgent need for donors of all blood types.

Local Distilleries Turning into Hand-Sanitizer-Production Sites To Help with Shortage

Practically overnight, local distilleries have switched from being whiskey and vodka makers to becoming full-fledged hand-sanitizer-production sites. Neighborhoods are turning to distilleries for their ability to produce high-content alcohol products at a time when traditional commercial brand hand sanitizers have been all but wiped out from store shelves as a means to combat the coronavirus. Click here to read more.

To name a few helping hands: 11 Wells, Tattersal Distilling, Norseman Distillery (click here to help the cause), Loon Liquor Company, Du Nord Craft Spirits, Vikre Distillery, Copper Wing Distillery (click here to help the cause).

Supporting Our Restaurants with Curb-side Pickup, Delivery, and Take-Out Orders

We’re thinking of our friends in the service industry. While some of our favorite restaurants are in a protective sleep - we know that the industry is filled with strong and creative humans who have helped define our lives through celebrations, gatherings, fundraisers, and nourishment.

How you can support them: Here’s a list of take-out and delivery options, and here's a quick selection of options in Saint Paul: Revival, Crisp & Green, Joans In The Park, Estelle, Nico's Taco Bar, Parlour Bar, Black Dog, Saint Dinette, Boca Chica, Red Rabbit, French Meadow, Hyacinth Restaurant, Bap And Chicken, Sajiya

Helping Provide Meals and Essentials

The Sheridan Story, based in Roseville, helps fill in food gaps when kids cannot receive free and reduced meals. With schools closed for months, The Sheridan Story has ramped up their production and distribution of meals. Our team stepped up to help prepare 330,000 meals for kids who will miss critical meals during these school closures. 

How You Can Help: You can assist by donating money or packing food into bags. Stillwater-based Meals from the Heart is seeking $75,000 in donations to pack and deliver 300,000 meals to Minnesota and Western Wisconsin food shelves. A fund has been created to match donations up to $10,000. The Khidma Initiative is looking to connect volunteers, who would deliver food and essential supply kits, to those experiencing hardships and at-risk populations who cannot leave the house. Community Thread is matching people with volunteers in the Stillwater Area School District to provide assistance and is also collecting gift cards for groceries and other essentials. Volunteer work could include phone-call check ins, grocery/meal/medication delivery or transportation to medical appointments. 

Working To Create Masks And Donating Medical Supplies To Local Hospitals 

There is a national shortage of medical supplies that will continue to grow even more dire as hospitals accept an influx of patients, and with that, businesses and locals are gearing their efforts to help the cause by making and producing masks. Efforts are to help ensure the safety of our local health care professionals and allow them to provide extraordinary care to patients. Frost River, a bag company based out of Duluth, offered to halt production so the industrial sewing machines and the people who know how to use them can make masks and other protective equipment, instead. Twin Cities Flag Source in Anoka County usually makes and repairs American flags. This week however, the company is working to create 500+ medical masks to donate to a local hospital.

How you can help: Blue Cross and Allina Health along with their community partners have enlisted volunteers around the state to sew and donate masks to medical workers. They estimate it takes about 15 minutes to make one mask. Treadle Yard Goods in Saint Paul has also been providing free kits to help sewers create masks. JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores have made an online tutorial for those looking to create masks and are encouraging people to drop off masks that will then be distributed to hospitals at their stores. Click here for details if you have the means to donate masks.

Mississippi Market Co-op is also collecting face mask supplies to help staff, healthcare workers, and other essential workers in our community. Look for a collection bin near the East 7th store. Accepting donations of the following materials: 100% cotton fabric, flannel fabric, thread, elastic, ribbon, and sewing bias tape. Clean shirts, sheets, and pillow cases as well.

We'll continue to share local news about our community coming together, and sharing updates about how you can help to combat COVID-19. Click here for the latest on how you can support businesses in our very own Cathedral Hill.