Emergency grants have supported local, community-led responses and global campaigns, like La Via Campesina's #StayHomeButNotSilent, working to build a new normal rooted in justice, solidarity and love. (Photo: La Via Campesina)

Dear Friend,

I hope this email finds you safe and healthy. These uncertain times have been difficult for all of us — especially for our partners around the world. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are seeing everywhere how inequality exacerbates suffering and loss in the most vulnerable communities.

I have been awestruck by the generosity of our community of donor-activists, like you, and by the resilience of our partners. Together, we are picking up the slack where governments and policies have failed during this pandemic. 

I’m emailing today to see if you will join us by making a gift to our emergency fund to respond to COVID-19 around the world. And all donations we receive up to $20,000 will be matched by one of our generous supporters. That means your support will go twice as far!

We are in the process of making nearly $350,000 in emergency grants to our partners and grantees. Here is just a sampling of the life-saving projects the fund has supported so far:

• Purchasing medication, masks, hand sanitizer, and other products for Afro-Brazilian Quilombola communities in Brazil;
• Supporting quarantine efforts in Indigenous autonomous communities in Mexico;
• Providing preventative health education materials and outreach to Garifuna communities in Honduras;
• Funding COVID-19 emergency rooms for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, keeping Palestinian community clinics open for acute and chronic patients who need care for other illnesses, and providing food distribution to quarantined families;
• Developing safety measures related to food delivery from small-scale farmers and communal kitchens in Puerto Rico so they can continue to feed the community during this crisis;
• Training Haitian organizers in COVID-19 prevention and psychosocial support as well as how to create hand sanitizer and disinfectants so they can take this knowledge back to their communities; and
• Launching a global campaign to “Stay Home but Not Silent” to make sure that lockdowns don’t lead to more crackdowns. We cannot defend our lives unless we defend democracy. 

“Flattening the curve” is only the first obstacle that we will all have to overcome. We are preparing ourselves for the long road of recovery ahead — to fundamentally change the health, social and economic systems. By supporting our partners during this pandemic, you are showing that mutual aid and solidarity extends beyond our borders, to our global social justice family.  

I will continue to keep you updated on our COVID-19 efforts. Together, we can build a new normal rooted in justice, solidarity, and love.  

In solidarity, Chung-Wha Hong Executive Director

P.S. We are getting requests for emergency funding from our partners daily, which is why your support right now is more critical than ever — and you’ll have twice the impact when your gift is matched!