Dear T&J Community,
What a crazy and unprecedented time. We are all experiencing this together, even though we are social distancing and in our own silos. While you are at home, wondering how you can help in the community, here are a list of ideas. Places to donate, ways to advocate, and opportunities to volunteer.
If you have any other ideas, please send them our way, and we can share with this group.
Blessings of safety and health for you all.
Donate to local agencies that are supporting communities in need by providing food, shelter, and services
WA-BLOC "Feed the Beach" - feeding students lunch during the COVID-19 shutdown
Support ANY Foodbank - a list is here
Support Shelters - Noel House
The YMCA is providing childcare to first-responders, increasing their Hunger Initiatives across the region, hosting blood drives, and continuing to care for teens and young adults in their home program
Donate blood - if you are healthy, there is a shortage of blood supply
Support your local businesses & restaurants, particularly those that are POC-owned - buy gift cards, make donations
Volunteer - COVID-19 Mutual Aid Solidarity Network
Sign this Change.org petition supporting Governor Inslee forgiving rent/mortgage for 90 days
Call your US representatives today and demand they pass the #FamiliesFirst coronavirus bill. It contains:
- Free testing
- 14 days paid sick leave
- 3 months paid family leave
- Expanded unemployment insurance & food security
- Medicaid funds
Lives are on the line. (202) 224-3121
Advocate for those being held in jail awaiting trial:
Northwest Community Bail Fund is asking you to contact your city, state and county executives to support our call for:
The immediate release of all pre-trial non-violent detainees from all King County and WA state detention facilities.
A halt to new arrests and bookings and wealth based detention.
Release of other vulnerable jailed neighbors based on health risk.
Who to contact:
Governor Jay Inslee: 360-902-4111/email
County Executive Dow Constantine: (206) 263-9600/ email
Seattle City Attorney Dan Satterberg: 206-477-1200/ email
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin: 206-684-4000/ email
SPD Chief Carmen Best: 206-625-5011/ email
For information on contacting State legislators, click here.
For Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier click here.
For Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers email
What to say:
Hi, my name is _____, and I am a Washington resident who is concerned about the impact of Coronavirus on people who are detained. We are calling for the immediate release of all non-violent pretrial detainees as well as detainees with at-risk health conditions. We further call for a moratorium on new arrests, bookings and cash bail for all crimes that do not have immediate impact on public safety. Public safety includes those we choose to lock up in close quarters.
Can we count on you to prevent detained people from dying during this pandemic by taking these actions?
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Truth & Justice StudioMISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA.