Dear Pittsburgh students,
Thank you so much for all your overwhelming support and willingness to help out the community. The list below will be updated as needs are evolving. Please refer to this page if you want a comprehensive/updated list of volunteer opportunities!
Remember that these are all voluntary! Please follow all CDC guidelines and Allegheny County Health Dept recommendations in addition to PA Dept of Health recommendations. Also, Pitt medical students should refer to the UPSOM Response to COVID-19 for Dean Harvey’s statement regarding volunteering and service.
Please contact Ben Zuchelkowski to participate in activities not included below or with general comments/questions/concerns. Additonal information can be found at www.412med.com. Check back often for updated opportunities!
Clinical Care
UPMC-open to all: All UPMC-run clinical opportunities are organized through UPMC Volunteer Services. Please fill out this survey to be contacted for opportunities available to you based on your training.
Allegheny County Health Department-open to all: Sign up for the Allegheny County Health Department’s MedCorps pool, which consists of health professional and non-health professional volunteers who can be activated in case of emergency. Enrolling in MedCorps does not require a commitment or obligation to serve if contacted. For more information, visit the Allegheny County Medical Reserve Corps or register for MedCorps.
Child Care
We are connecting students who are interested in providing childcare to healthcare workers in need.
If you are a student and would like to provide childcare, please fill out this survey to receive access and get important safety and best-practice information. Thank you for helping to take care of healthcare workers’ families during this time!
If you are a healthcare worker and would like to request childcare, please fill out this survey to provide us your contact information, and we will follow-up with important details. Thank you for serving on the frontlines for us!
For questions/concerns/comments, please contact childcare initiative medical student leader Sarah Minney.
Educational Initiatives
Accessible Guide: While the CDC has a comprehensive list of resources, some individuals may have different educational needs. A team of students and professionals across the US have created a COVID resource with 4th-5th grade readability and visuals. Please feel free to disseminate this resource to any contacts who may benefit from it. Visit our website to download PDF files of the resource.
Steel Valley Call and Check-in: CHP Community Health has partnered with the Steel Valley School District to call their 700 families in the district to check in, offer relevant support and services, and ensure that we are doing what we can to help families stay connected. If you would like to join this initiative, please contact: Jane Kwon; Summer Miller-Walfish
Food Delivery
- Help The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or your local food bank. Pack emergency food boxes at various local distribution centers(many have no contact, drive-through distribution options) Contact: 412-745-7600; VolOps@pittsburghfoodbank.org
- Host a virtual food drive (in concert with your Food Bank)
- Meals on Wheels - Assist in the kitchen, donate products or services, drive a local route, assist drivers in delivering meals
- 412 Food Rescue - Download app and take food delivery requests at your leisure
- Volunteer with United Way - Several volunteer opportunities for food delivery
Additional Opportunities
- Blood donation - Find a drive near you or call 1-866-366-6771 Check out this comprehensive guide to blood donation and how you can spread the word on social media
- Phone calls to senior citizens Make 15-20 minute FaceTime (Apple) or Duo (Android) social phone calls with senior patients in UPMC nursing facilities! Brighten their day while maintaining a safe social distance. If interested, please fill out this survey. Pitt Contacts for comments/questions: Cat Pressimone or Ben Zuchelkowski
- Play music for hospitalized patients It may not seem like it, but most parts of the hospital have never been lonelier. MusiCare is planning to connect with hospitalized UPMC patients through virtual performances, so if you're a musician interested in helping us out please send me your email! Whether you moonlight with the symphony or haven't touched your instrument in years, this is a safe way to make a big difference. Contact Simon Edber to sign up.
- Letter writing to senior citizens in nursing homes Write a general letter saying who you are and provide comfort/support. Include a stamped, addressed envelope if you’d like the resident to write you back but emphasize this is optional. Pitt contact with questions: Brady Marburger
Mail directly to:
Attn: Teresa Valentino
Asbury Heights
700 Bower Hill Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15243 -
IPV Resource Distribution The COVID19 pandemic and responses to shelter in place are leading to an increased risk for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Normally, people in danger are able to seek help by going to emergency rooms, to women’s centers, and to the police -- unfortunately, this is not the case in the face of this crisis. There is a dire need to let people know of the options available to them remotely, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This is where you come in! If there is a pharmacy that is close to you, we are asking if you could reach out to them and see if they are willing to accept a no-contact delivery of these essential resources to display on the wall or on their counter. We have started a running list of possible locations and ask that you update and add your own local pharmacies! Contact Carly at cmo37@pitt.edu to pick up resources if you cannot print your own and with any comments/questions.