India is facing a deadly second-wave coronavirus outbreak, with official infection rates topping 300,000 cases a day and epidemiologists saying the actual number is probably much higher. With just 2 percent of the population vaccinated, states are running out of vaccines. Hospitals are at capacity and running out of oxygen, and makeshift crematoriums are being set up to burn the dead.
Other countries, including the United States, are sending aid in the form of oxygen support, PPE, rapid tests, and vaccine materials. In addition, charities, private businesses, and regular people from around the globe are racing to find ways to help India’s sick and its frontline workers. If you are looking to help, the most effective way is by donating money to organizations both international and on the ground in India. Similar to our list of organizations and funds that support the Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander communities, we’ve compiled a list of organizations where you can donate to help with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This guide is by no means complete, so we’ll be updating it continuously.
UNICEF is rushing staff and supplies like critical oxygen concentrators, PPE kits, and diagnostic testing systems to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and support India’s front-line health-care workers.
Through its India COVID-19 Relief Fund, United Way Worldwide is supporting health-care workers with essential medical supplies. In addition, they are providing food, shelter, and hygiene kits to the most vulnerable people in India, specifically in Baroda, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata.
Donating to the Salvation Army helps it continue to support government vaccine rollouts and provide PPE, sanitation supplies, oxygen, solar-powered refrigerators for vaccines and medications, and additional personnel to relieve overworked hospital staff.
This international NGO provides humanitarian aid in disaster areas and civil conflict zones around the world. It is currently working to support frontline medical workers and vulnerable communities across India with oxygen concentrators and other essential supplies.
The Indian Red Cross responds to disasters like the current coronavirus outbreak by delivering emergency medical supplies and providing emergency services across the country.
Care India is a global humanitarian organization working in India to provide emergency relief, additional health workers, hospital beds, oxygen supply, and more.
This U.S.-based global health nonprofit is working with local partners to provide PPE and critically needed medical equipment to help front-line health-care workers fight the spread of COVID-19.
Americares is working with several states in India to support health-care workers and slow the spread of COVID-19. The organization says it’s providing PPE, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, thermometers, and other critical medical materials.
Working in conflict areas worldwide, the International Medical Corps has launched a campaign to set up isolation facilities as well as provide medical equipment, PPE, and other essentials.
Oxfam India is supplying PPE, safety kits, and medical equipment to hospitals and health-care centers. It’s are also working with local policy-makers to aid in vaccine distribution and provide direct cash payments to marginalized households.
Feeding From Far is an initiative that has been providing cooked meals and ration kits to the poor and unemployed people struggling to feed themselves since the first COVID lockdown in India. Your donation will help it prepare and distribute ration kits that feed a family of five for an entire week.
Mumbai-based organization Making the Difference uses donations to provide medical supplies for public hospitals and nursing homes, and to deliver meals to day workers and families in quarantine.
HelpNow was organized by young students to provide a safe 24/7 logistics network to transport COVID patients, drugs, phlebotomists, health-care workers, and medical supplies throughout India. It needs donations to help them scale their efforts in more communities. Your money will go toward purchasing BLS oxygen ambulances, PPE kits for the ambulance staff, recruiting more drivers, and offering free ambulance services to the poor.
This India-based organization is delivering dry goods such as rice, lentils, sugar, and salt and safety kits to poor families, migrant workers, the elderly, and front-line workers.
This long list of places to donate in India has been shared by hundreds of people on Twitter, including culture writer Scaachi Koul and illustrator Sonaksha Iyengar. One of the many worthy fundraisers on the list is this one that helps build a long-term shelter for older, homeless trans people in rural north Bengal.
Sheena Sood, founder of Abacaxi, a fashion label that makes one of our favorite masks, posted several ways to help India on her Instagram. Among them is Mission Oxygen, a company raising money to help local hospitals across the country access more lifesaving oxygen cylinders and concentrators.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
