Donate Supplies to Support People Experiencing Homelessness

Winter is coming and cold nights are closer than wer might think. Donate a backpack, sleeping bag, tent, or blanket to a logal organization that supports people experiencing homelessness. Be sure to call ahead to let them know you are making a donation! 

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If you are in Cleveland, you can make a donation to NEOCH to support someone spending their nights on the streets of Cleveland! Email toni@neoch.org or call

216-432-0540 to make a donation. 

Record Yourself Reading a Children's Story

Pick your favorite children's story and read it to a video camera. Be sure to show the pictures and use the video recording to show the book as you read aloud. This can also be done from an iPad or phone video camera. If you do not have a children's book at home, you can look up a book online and read from your iPad or phone and record yourself using your computer or have a friend record you. Email service@jcu.edu with your video and we will post it on our YouTube Channel and invite our community partners to share with the parents of their students!

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Record Yourself Reading a Poem

Social distancing is keeping many people safe right now, even as it limits our ability to visit with friends and loved ones in person. We value our relationships with all of our community partners, many of whom cannot receive any visitors at this time.

We will upload all videos to the CSSA YouTube Channel to share with our community partners, including individuals who are incarcerated, senior citizens, people with different abilities, and more.

Email your video to service@jcu.edu.

Make Artwork for COVID-19 Patients

Participate in the #GetWellWorld global art project to support patients with COVID-19. Getting sick can be lonely and scary. You can help with #GetWellWorld.

Here’s how:

1. Create Get Well art, writing, music, performances, etc.

2. Email your work to youwillriseproject@gmail.com

3. You Will Rise will post it at youwillriseproject.com/getwellworld social media, and share it with hospital patients battling COVID-19.

The Cleveland Food Bank

The Cleveland Food Bank needs your help and there are several things you can do.

Donate online, organize a "virtual food drive" and recruit and encourage your coworkers, families and friends to donate, call 216.535.2051 to donate over the phone, and advocate to the State and Federal government for additional SNAP benefits and other resources. Learn more on their website.

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Send a Message to your Community Partner

Send an e-card, write a notecard or handwritten letter, or record a short video with a message to your community partner. Contact CSSA at service@jcu.edu if you need the addresses or an email contact for a specific partner.

Get Involved through All for Good

All for Good is a digital hub for volunteerism and community engagement. Volunteer opportunities from many sites around the web are pulled into All for Good by feeds to provide the most comprehensive database of volunteer opportunities around the world. 

The All for Good platform also helps individuals host volunteer projects, whether with an organization or on their own, find volunteers, and connect with friends through civic service.

Write Letters to Senior Citizens

Write letters to uplift senior citizens during this period of social distancing! Social distancing has led older adults to be isolated from their loved ones. It’s extremely important during this time to ensure that seniors are positively engaged and supported during COVID-19. Write letters to senior citizens at Eliza Bryant Village and/or the Fatima Family Center. If you feel comfortable, share your own address so that seniors write you back. You can also email CSSA your letter and we will share with our community partners.

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Letters to CSSA community partners can be sent to:

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Eliza Bryant Village

Attn. Joan Palumbo

7201 Wade Park Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44103

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Fatima Family Center

Attn. Ms. LaJean Ray

6600 Lexington Ave

Cleveland, OH 44103

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Sort Through Your Books to Donate

Did you know there is a Cleveland Book Bank that accepts donations of gently used children's books? You can do your part and get books together to donate once locations are open again. Get some spring cleaning done and give to a good cause! Send us a picture of you and your donations!

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Get Involved with Village in the Heights

Village in the Heights is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization that services University Heights, Beachwood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, and Lyndhurst. Their members/clients are active older adults living independently in their own homes, who occasionally need help with transportation, light duty home repairs, and visitation.  

Right now, they are seeking people who will deliver groceries and prescriptions to members, once an individual member places and prepays their orders online or by phone. This is a no-contact process.​

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Sew Masks for Hospital Workers

Due to the limited number of medical supplies, hospital staff and our community partners are relying on donations to get by. Many workers are wearing the same masks all day because of shortages. Local hospitals and community partners are currently accepting donations of handmade masks to help with the shortages. 

Freesewing.org is offering a simple mask template and instructions. To donate masks to a CSSA community partner, masks can be dropped off or mailed to:

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Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry Men's Shelter

2100 Lakeside Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114

Attention: David Blunt, Operations Director

Fatima Family Center

6600 Lexington Ave

Cleveland, OH 44103

Cleveland Sight Center

1909 East 101st Street

Cleveland, OH 44106

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Writers in Residence's Letter Writing Initiative

Writers in Residence has launched a letter writing initiative to engage with residents at partner juvenile detention centers in Ohio. This letter writing initiative is a response to COVID-19's disruption to the service program. The cohorts and juvenile detention centers have suspended volunteer services to prevent the spread of the coronavirus but that hasn't prevented the desire to engage with residents, especially during this challenging time.

Search COVID-19 Safe Opportunities on Volunteer Match

As the world leader in volunteerism, Volunteer Match feels a responsibility to unite the broader community--to use this moment to learn from one another, to grow, and to become stronger. We invite you to learn more on their website and explore their database of virtual volunteering opportunities for practical actions you can take today. *Note you will have to create an account*

Learn more about Volunteer Match HERE

9 Places  to Volunteer Online Article

All you need to make a difference is an internet connection. 

Volunteering online lets you donate your virtual time to a cause space that matters, which means you can make a difference even if you can’t go physically volunteer somewhere. Check out dosomething.org's list to learn about a few different ways you can create impact through online action. Written by Jackie Menjivar.

Record Yourself Singing/Dancing to an Interactive Children’s Song.

Think Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! Show the steps to the dance so that children can learn to dance along. This is a fun, interactive way to keep children active.

Email service@jcu.edu with your video and we will post it on our YouTube Channel and invite our community partners to share with the parents of their students!

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The Prison

Postcard Project

• Grafton Correctional Institution is located in Lorain County, Ohio

• There are 1,600 men at Grafton, which is a minimum and medium security facility

• The men there have made more than 2,800 face masks to date for those in need

Project Directions:

1. Create a 5 x 7 postcard for one of the men at Grafton with messages letting them know they are not forgotten during this time of isolation and uncertainty.

2. Side one: Decorate with images, inspirational quotes, photos.

3. Side two: Write a "Thinking of You" message. You can include your first name but omit other details.

4. Mail completed postcards in an envelope and send to: 

Sr. Rita Mary Harwood, SND

Diocese of Cleveland

1404 E. 9th St.

Cleveland, OH 44114

   5. Postcards can be received by             prisoners and will be delivered           to Grafton.

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Do Something Nice for a Healthcare Worker

It’s more important than ever to support healthcare workers working on the front lines of COVID-19. Here are some ways that you can #SupportHealthcareHeroes and make a difference in the battle against COVID-19. 

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• Send art and encouraging messages to nurses and doctors to hang at their stations

• Send $5 through Venmo or PayPal to a family member or friend who works on the frontline to buy a coffee on their way to work

• Call a local nursing unit to arrange takeout or delivery

• Help nurse and doctor parents with childcare

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Magis Messages from JCU Alum

Your Blue Streaks need you to be of service in a whole new way.  Fill in the form at the link above - with a quote, a note of inspiration, a link to a video message of encouragement, or a prayer to keep people motivated, united, focused, and hopeful in a very challenging time?  We will continue posting messages each day until graduation.

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Record Yourself Reading a Children's Story

Video record yourself reading a children's story. Be sure to show the pictures, or use the video recording to show the book (or IPad) as you read aloud. Email service@jcu.edu with your video and we will post it on our YouTube Channel and invite our community partners to share with the parents of their students! This is a great way to stay connected with the children from your service site.

How to Get Involved with Virtual Volunteering Article

Plenty of nonprofit organizations are utilizing the help of virtual volunteers. If you have even a couple of hours to spare, you can support a cause you’re passionate about. Learn more and find opportunities through this Idealist article. Written by Samantha Fredrickson and posted on March 10, 2020.