How can I help?

Donate Financially

As many local organizations limit hands-on volunteering for the health and safety of their staff and constituents, financial support becomes even more critical. One of the most important ways you can help is through monetary donations.

We recommend donating to the Marietta Community Foundation, who is working with a network of local organizations to address three major areas of concern; protecting our vulnerable population, access to food, and supporting our youth.

Support their COVID-19 Community Response Fund here: https://www.mcfohio.org/covid-19-community-response-fund

We also encourage directing resources to the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FUND https://app.mobilecause.com/form/MdlDfw?vid=6ajl4

Or to the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation’s Safety Net Fund (supports basic and emergency needs) and/or Hunger Fund (addresses food insecurity). Donate online at https://www.pacfwv.com/Donate-Now?fn=Safety+Net+Fund or by mailing a check payable to “PACF” to PO Box 1762, Parkersburg WV 26102-1762.

You can always donate directly to your favorite nonprofit, including those listed below.

Support local businesses

Order take-out or delivery meals from local restaurants (https://www.mariettamainstreet.org/blog/2020/3/20/takeout-blitz-a-digital-guide-to-dine-local ) , shop online (https://clutchmov.com/distance-socially-shop-locally/ ), and purchase gift cards for later use.

Donations to Marietta Main Street (https://www.mariettamainstreet.org/donate) will support long-term business recovery.

Local businesses can find information complied by Marietta Main Street, Marietta-Washington County CVB, and Marietta Chamber of Commerce here: https://www.mariettamainstreet.org/blog/2020/3/19/covid-19-local-resource-guide

Clutch MOV has several suggestions on their Support Local with Bingo page. They are also promoting a MOV Virtual Tip Jar, as most food service workers are still not working. Donate here.

Donate items

Food

Gospel Mission is running low on many staple items, including flour, sugar, salt, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, cereal, pancake mix, instant potatoes, oats, mac&cheese, soups, ramen noodles, tuna. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and much needed.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home in Parkersburg is also accepting food donations for its residential recovery programs.

Organizations or businesses that have food on-site that is at risk for going bad with reduced staff in the office, Harvest of Hope can distribute that to food pantries.

Most local Pantries are accepting donations of food, as well as monetary donations. If you are not sure where or how to donate items, feel free to contact us and we’ll help connect you to someone in your area.

Meal Preparation Supplies

Wood County Senior Center is preparing a higher quantity of food than normal, and could use more restaurant/catering style wares such as trays, pans, hot boxes, warming centers etc. —ways to keep food both hot and cold during delivery to maintain safety. Another need is borrowed or donated chest freezers. They would be interested in borrowing these types of items and returning once daily meal prep returns to normal levels. They are also accepting donations of food, preferably in bulk for food prep for upwards of 400-450 meals per day or monetary donations. Best method of contact is email to kgoedel@wcscwv.org (Kelly Goedel) or by cell at 412.580.0892.

Cleaning Supplies

Local organizations are running low on disinfecting wipes and sanitizing cleansers as well as hand sanitizer. If you are in the Mid-Ohio Valley and have some of these that you can spare, please let us know via the webform and we can help get them to organizations who have requested additional supplies.

EVE, Inc. in Marietta has specifically requested disinfectant wipes, bleach, hand sanitizer and cleaning spray.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home in Parkersburg is in need of Clorox wipes, household cleaners, hand sanitizer.

The Humane Society of the Valley (Marietta) has requested bleach.

Gospel Mission is in need of sanitizer.

Community Support

The Marietta Area Recycling Center is newly open. Their limited hours are Tues, Thurs, & Sat 8am-8pm. The Recycling Center runs almost entirely on volunteer support; if you're able to volunteer reach out to Kathy Ortt: (740) 373-3372. When dropping off, they ask that there be no more than 5 people at once and all are wearing masks and observing physical distancing. They also ask that you try to not handle recyclables for at least three days prior to dropping off. Other protocol information can be found at their website. 

The O'Neill Senior Center has had to close its doors to the public/ community seniors due to COVID-19, though they are preparing for when they will be able to reopen. The O'Neill Center began grocery box deliveries to 130 people every other week as well as 50 regular meals to clients with critical needs. They also partnered with Joe Momma's to continue 200 meal deliveries every week, which is a service that continues to need donations. They continue prescription deliveries and transporting clients to medical appointments. They continue to support their seniors adapting to provide virtual daily programming to senior citizens. They also continue to accept food donations.

The Boys and Girls Club of Wasington County continue to provide their kids with grab-and-go meals and activities in the meantime. They can use support with buying supplies and activities.

Technology

The United Way Alliance of the Mid Ohio Valley is helping nonprofits get set up for virtual meetings and services. Their need right now is 2 webcams to be donated or that they be able to borrow for the foreseeable future.

Local students who need to switch to distance learning are looking for laptops that they can borrow. If you have some to donate or loan, let us know and we’ll help connect you with those looking.

Hygiene and Medical Supplies

The Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home in Parkersburg is in need of supplies for its five homes including: feminine products, men's & women's toiletries, toilet tissue, paper towels, gloves size large & x-large.

The United Way is also collecting alcohol prep pads, alcohol to be distributed for the insulin-dependent.

Washington County EMA is accepting donations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Available PPE can be dropped off at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located at 204 Davis Ave Suite c Marietta, OH 45750, keeping in mind that as businesses open, more people will need PPE. We will be open to receive donations starting Wednesday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thankfully the County has been able to provide the majority of the County's current needs. For addition information or questions, please email: ema@wcgov.org

Gopsel Mission is also looking for masks. 

Volunteer –Safe and Smart!

We recommend complying with all stay-at-home orders, venturing out only for essential services, practicing physical distancing, and not being in contact with others at all if you are a high-risk population or in close contact with high risk folks

Please keep in mind that most nonprofits and community organizations, including schools, are working to implement CDC and state recommendations and therefore strictly limiting volunteering and face to face services. Do not show up to volunteer or bring donated items without checking ahead with the nonprofit.

With that in mind, some essential community services need volunteers—including those who typically rely on older community members to fill these volunteer roles. If you feel you are able to volunteer safely, here are some community requests:

All locations: Blood Donation:

Red Cross, Local Chapters need a CONSISTENT supply of blood every single day due to shelf life. People in any location can go to one of the following to find a blood drive and make an appointment to give blood (https://www.redcrossblood.org/) or call 800-red-cross or download the red cross blood donor app. Please note, you MUST make an appointment. Due to physical distancing, they can not take walk-ins and are observing careful distancing between donor beds and refreshments. Our local representative asks that everyone is patient with them and not get discouraged if you do not see a drive near you. Once the appointments are full, the drive disappears from the schedule and they will schedule another. They have added additional safety precautions including checking temperatures and requiring face masks both of employees and donors. They are advising peole with any risk factors to not come in.

Washington County: Harvest of Hope Drivers:

The Marietta Community Foundation is partnering with Washington County Harvest of Hope to make the deliveries of donated food to local pantries. Harvest of Hope relies on volunteers to drive and distribute food. Unfortunately, most of their volunteers are older and considered vulnerable. They are looking for additional volunteers to become trained as drivers. If you are interested in this, complete the two forms below and get in touch with Harvest of Hope directly; or let us know and we’ll help connect you.

Harvest of Hope Volunteer Liability Waiver (DOCX)
Harvest of Hope Volunteer Driver Information Form (DOCX)

Marietta: Humane Society - Animal Foster Care or Adoption:

If you have interest in fostering a dog or cat please complete the Foster Application on our website at www.hsov.org.

At Home Local Projects- Mask Making:

The United Way, as well as the BB2C Makerspace, are collecting contact information of folks who would be willing to help with supplemental PPE production using their own sewing machines and/or 3D printers. If you would like to be included on a list of volunteers who can help with this effort, let us know and we’ll put you in contact.

Virtual Volunteering with National Nonprofits:

Many national technology-based nonprofits have virtual volutneering opportunities available. The organization Fast Forward has several links to current opportunities: https://www.ffwd.org/volunteer/

Keep Civically Engaged!

Census 2020: It's not too late to participate in the Census! The Census is required to be done every 10 years and will go on as planned despite the virus. Further, the Census is modifying operations to ensure health and safety, but they fully plan to complete on schedule, by July 31, 2020. An important note the majority of Marietta College students will be as part of Group Quarters living and counted as such; it is very important that students be counted in their residence hall address. But, if you are a COMMUTER, you will fill out your own census information or be counted at your home address with your parents - one census form per household. Below are some resources/example on another school's awareness-raising: 
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2020/modifying-2020-operations-for-counting-college-students.html

Contact Your Legislators: To share your feedback about priorities and needs. One important and current topic is how your state (and locality) is responding to COVID-19: disagree with the response? Reach out. Find your legislator: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials . Contact the Office of Civic Engagement for templates, ideas, and help in knowing how to effectively reach out to your representatives.

Mid-Ohio Valley Representatives:

 Ohio:
WV:

Resources for Nonprofits through Marietta College:

In addition to sharing needs, information, and requests, we encourage all local nonprofit organizations to access free, ongoing capacity-building support through the Office of Civic Engagement’s Nonprofits LEAD program.

Nonprofit LEAD services are offered by Marietta College in partnership with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, Sisters Health Foundation, Bernard McDonough Foundation, Ross Foundation, and Marietta Community Foundation.

Other updates from local organizations

(please use the webform above to update or add your information!)
  • ​Marietta Main Street: [updated 03/25/20] is focusing on collecting and sharing resources along with local programming, they will work to offer financial and technical assistance and programming this summer and beyond. No need for volunteers right now, but ongoing need for monetary contributions and directly supporting local businesses through your purchases.
  • EVE, Inc.: [updated 03/27/20] Eve, Inc. continues to support the community and provide resources; they are in need of cleaning supplies mentioned above, as well as thermometer sleeves and PPE.
  • Habitat for Humanity: [updated 03/25/20] Construction has resumed, outside groups are limited to 5 and the ReStore has reopened with limited capacity. Donations always welcome: https://habitatmov.com/
  • Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home [updated 4/7/2020] In need of a number of supplies for its five residential recovery programs: Clorox wipes - hand sanitizer - food - household cleaners -feminine products- mens & women toiletries- toilet tissue- paper towels - gloves size large & x-large . www.movfh.org
  • O’Neill Center: [updated 03/25/20] Currently not running any programs, but providing blizzard bags to seniors and delivery and wellness checks.
  • GoPacks: [updated 03/25/20] Providing weekly bags of food to students while schools are closed. Coordinating school packet deliveries and assisting families with remote learning opportunities. Still limiting volunteers, but slowly increasing volunteer assistance, as is safe to do so. Monetary and in-kind donations are encouraged. For moe info, please see their website: https://gopacks4kids.org
  • Boys and Girls Club of Washington County: [updated 03/25/20] Programming currently on hold, they did not become a pandemic childcare center. Cleaning supplies, PPE and food donations and volunteer assistance will be helpful as operations resume.
  • Marietta Family YMCA: [updated 03/31/20] The YMCA is a Pandemic Childcare Center. Can use cash donations but don't need other donations at this time. Providing virtual and online fitness and engagement resources.
  • Ely Chapman: [updated 03/27/20] Ely Chapman Education Foundation has a Pandemic Child Care license and hopes to open for 12 children from essential health care industry parents/guardians on April 6, 2020. Watch on Facebook and WTAP for final start date.
  • United Way’s 211 Information services: [updated 03/25/20] 211 calls are up 376% ; referral and information services remain available. http://www.wv211.org/
  • Humane Society of the Valley: In addition to needing foster or adoptive parents, they need cat and dog food; their facility is currently closed to volunteers. http://www.hsov.org.