The City of Austin launched an online “How to Help” campaign to bring together the COVID-19 related needs of local nonprofit, faith-based, and government programs, inviting community members to contribute to the response.
 
To participate, community members go to https://howtohelpaustin.givepulse.com to review the volunteer and donation listings from local organizations like SAFE, Front Steps, the Pease Park Conservancy, and more. Once they find the listing that speaks to their values and abilities, they are able to sign up or complete a transaction within the site.
 
“Frequently in our past, it’s the volunteers and donors that get us through uncertain times,” said Austin, Texas Mayor Steve Adler. “Covid-19 is one of the biggest challenges we’ve ever had to face. By pooling resources together, everyone can be part of the response and recovery in ways that speak to them. Together, we can get through this.”
 
Council Member Jimmy Flanagan chairs the board for the Community Advancement Network and added, "So many of our citizens need help – right now. And so many willing and able nonprofit and faith-based partners want to help but need the resources to make it effective and safe. The City of Austin can be a bridge in the community: linking folks who want to help with our public service partners who can best meet needs."
 
The first phase of the campaign launched earlier in the month to educate and engage nonprofits responding to COVID-19 on how to participate. Partners including the UT Center for Community Engagement, Community Advancement Network, ACC Center for Nonprofit Studies, and Generation Serve have helped share the opportunity with nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
 
Caritas of Austin was among the first organizations to post on the hub. “COVID-19 has changed how we serve our clients, but our commitment to connecting people to housing and building well-being continues,” Julie Burch, Communication Manager at Caritas of Austin said. “Support from the community will help us to keep our clients safe while providing services remotely and ensure they have the essentials they need. We’re hopeful for how this campaign can help the nonprofit community best serve during these uncertain times.” 
 
The hub is hosted by GivePulse, an Austin-based technology platform to list, find, organize and measure the impact of service in the community. As part of their commitment to supporting local needs, GivePulse has waived fees for access that otherwise requires a paid subscription.
 
“Austin is home. Through our lasting partnership with the City of Austin, we have the strength, and the capacity, to fight this common enemy,” George Luc, CEO of GivePulse said. “I hope this collaborative hub will bridge the gap between organizations whose needs have increased due to this pandemic and the volunteers (virtual or in-person) eager and healthy who can create a positive impact in their community.”
 
The City has recruited partnering organizations to help the campaign reach as many organizations and volunteers as possible, including the UT Center for Community Engagement, the Community Advancement Network, Travis County, ACC Center for Nonprofit Studies, and Generation SERVE. Community organizations interested to join the campaign by listing needs or promoting the opportunity to serve can learn more at http://austintexas.gov/department/covid-19-how-help-austin,

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