April 27, 2020
How to help others during coronavirus: Ideas and initiatives from state think tanks
You hear it often these days. At dinner tables, on the local news, in grocery store lines, and office Zoom chats—”How can I help?” Perhaps a silver lining against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, Americans are coming together to help those in need. As communities, families, and individuals navigate the ongoing health, economic, and education challenges, state think tanks are providing resources to support their communities during this time and empower others to do the same.
Here are a few ideas state think tanks have put into action, and if your organization is looking for ways to help, many of these ideas can be easily replicated and shared:
Connecticut: The Yankee Institute published a one-stop-shop of coronavirus resources to help Connecticut residents and businesses. Yankee’s page includes a list of all the Connecticut Governor’s executive orders and common questions on issues such as taxes, schools, and unemployment.
Georgia: The Georgia Center for Opportunity published a coronavirus resource page for nonprofits, businesses, and individuals in Georgia.
Illinois: The Illinois Policy Institute released a guide for small businesses to help them find government financial help.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Center for Public Policy posted a resource page for Mississippians that lists everything they need to know related to the coronavirus. MCPP also helped Mississippi business owners navigate the governor’s stay at home order, listing what businesses are essential.
Pennsylvania: The Commonwealth Foundation published an information page for Pennsylvanians that hosts resources on the coronavirus. The page includes the top 10 questions Commonwealth received on what the state government is doing.
Tennessee: To give clarity to Tennessee businesses, the Beacon Center published a fact sheet on Tennessee’s “Safer at Home” order.
Florida: The James Madison Institute listed ways Floridians can help their community. Ideas include sending cards, donating blood, and offering to teach kids while schools are closed.
Georgia: The Georgia Center for Opportunity launched a new initiative, Healthy@Home, a new video series that gives viewers advice on how to take care of neighbors and yourself during the crisis. One episode focused on how Georgians can help the people in their community now that they are stuck at home.
Illinois: The Illinois Policy Institute is giving local businesses a boost by sharing stories of small business owners hurt by the coronavirus shutdowns. IPI’s platform gives these business owners an outlet to talk about the economic effects of the shutdown and the steps needed to recover. IPI recently highlighted Kristan Vaugh, a small business owner in Chicago who explained, “We run Irish pubs …The to-go business on corned beef sandwiches is good but I’m not sure what will happen tomorrow. The staff asks me what will happen. I’m supposed to have the answers because I’m the boss. But I don’t know. I can’t say when we’ll be open.”
IPI shares these stories on a featured section of their website and promotes them through their social media channels that reach hundreds of thousands of people organically. IPI has seen an incredible community response to the stories. The featured business owners are seeing a flow of orders from Illinoisans who want to provide support during the shutdown.
North Carolina: The Civitas Institute highlighted ways North Carolinians can help struggling farmers and needy families through food deliveries.
Pennsylvania: The Commonwealth Foundation helped draft legislation that would open up important business services for Pennsylvanians and the rest of the nation that rely on Pennsylvania producers. Thanks to Commonwealth, companies like Channellock, one of the nation’s best producers of pliers, can continue providing their important products and services.
Tennessee: To keep Tennessee’s local businesses afloat, the Beacon Center of Tennessee shared ways communities can help. On Beacon’s weekly podcast, Decaf, Taylor Dawson and Mark Cunningham highlighted restaurants offering takeout and delivery, GoFundMe accounts for bartenders and waiters, and groups offering small business loans. Beacon is also sharing opportunities on their Facebook page, posting recently about how small business that need advertising aid can look to Google for help.
Connecticut: The Yankee Institute highlighted how parents are struggling to cope with working from home and teaching their children. Yankee shared home schooling resources and curriculums available for parents.
Georgia: The Georgia Public Policy Foundation explained what “hybrid home schools” are and how they are offering Georgia families options amid the coronavirus.
Illinois: The Illinois Policy Institute shared free resources to keep learning going while the coronavirus keeps students at home.
Kansas: The Kansas Policy Institute released helpful tips for parents as they move into this new role as teachers.
Louisiana: The Pelican Institute gathered resources for Louisiana families to make the most of the downtime during COVID-19.
Maine: The Maine Policy Institute held an online event featuring homeschooling experts to give parents the resources they need to help their children learn during the coronavirus.
Massachusetts: On the Pioneer Institute podcast “The Learning Curve,” Pioneer interviewed school leaders, innovators, education experts, and policymakers to help parents navigate online learning.
Minnesota: The Center of the American Experiment highlighted alternative learning resources for Minnesota students and their families affected by coronavirus school closures.
Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs featured resources available for parents who were thrust into home schooling.
South Carolina: The Palmetto Promise Institute highlighted free resources for at-home learning during the school closures.
Utah: To get a closer look at how home schooling is going for Utah’s parents, Sutherland Institute conducted an informal survey of parents who are now homeschooling their children.
