Dear John,

In this crisis, so many people are finally seeing the workers who have always been essential to our homes, our communities, and our economy.

It’s women — especially women of color. Women who take care of children. Who work in hospitals and retail and grocery stores. Who take care of senior citizens. Women who are single parents, who have no sick leave, no child care, no ability to work from home.

We have to do more to take care of them, and all workers left without resources at this terrifying time. And we have to do it right now. All of us at the National Women’s Law Center are fighting around the clock to help protect public health and help working families survive the COVID-19 pandemic. We need your help — click here to donate, if you can.

Here’s a glimpse into what we’re working on night and day over here:

• Demanding Congress provide emergency cash assistance for people with low incomes who won’t be reached by unemployment or tax relief until it’s too late.
• Fighting for significant investments in child care funding to help providers and families.
• Advocating for unemployment protections.
• Pushing to include paid sick days and medical leave in the next round of legislation.

This pandemic is exposing huge gaps in our labor laws and health system. So many workers who can’t take paid time off if they are sick or need to care for family members, be assured of access to medical help, or even meet basic needs if they are laid off because of the virus. And women and people of color are at the front lines of this crisis, hit the hardest by these failures of our systems.

We know that Congress and the administration can make immediate policy changes to limit the spread and harm of the virus and reduce the economic pain families are already starting to feel. We are fighting to make them take action now. We cannot do it without your support today.

The criminally unfair treatment of women and people of color working in domestic, hospitality, and health care support roles is not at all new. But this terrible moment is shining a painful spotlight on just how bad it is. We must use this moment to make progress — for workers right now and no matter what happens in the future. Thank you, so much, for your help.

Take care of you and yours, and take care of each other.