Berkeley Lab senior leadership released a statement on June 1, 2020 about George Floyd and the suffering in our communities–both locally, and nationwide.
Our community needs you. During this difficult time, many local organizations are seeking donations and volunteers. There are also many volunteer opportunities to make a difference over the long term.
Fundraising for Small Businesses
Several opportunities for targeted help are currently:
- Oaklandish is selling this shirt and donating 100% of profits to rebuilding Black-owned businesses in Oakland through the GoFundMe set up by SoOakland. Don’t forget to #ShopLocal at Oaklandish for Father’s Day and purchase a Father’s Day Box.
- The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce is raising funds for small Black owned businesses in Oakland and you can donate or apply by clicking here.
- The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Foundation is raising funds for businesses in Chinatown to help with repairs. Please mail checks/donations to Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Foundation at 388 9th Street, Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607.
- Small Biz + Community Cleanup is raising funds specifically for Oakland POC-owned small businesses and is coordinating morning community cleanups.
- The Oakland India Alliance’s Oakland Repair Fund is fundraising for donations to help small independent businesses recover from property damage and will start accepting applications from businesses tomorrow, June 4th.
- Oakland POC Owned Small Business Clean Up GoFundMe
- Marcus Bookstore Fundraiser – oldest black bookstore in the United States
Volunteer Opportunities
Lake Merritt-Uptown and Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts
The Lake Merritt-Uptown and Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts organized a volunteer cleanup on Monday, and may be organizing another. Interested volunteers can sign up on their website.
Berkeley Community Scholars
Berkeley Community Scholars bridges the opportunity divide for Berkeley youth from lower income families by providing scholarships, connections and other support instrumental to success in college and beyond. They are seeking mentors for their program participants. The Lab has an existing relationship with BCS and If anyone is interested in learning more about becoming a mentor, please reach out to Jenn Tang in the Government and Community Relations Office; she can connect you with staff.
Oakland Promise
This organization’s mission is to ensure that every child in Oakland graduates from high school with the expectations, resources, and skills to complete college and be successful in the career of their choice. They are seeking mentors and volunteers to coach high school and college students.
Richmond Promise
The Richmond Promise, a college success initiative creating a college-going and graduating culture in the City of Richmond, is looking for volunteers to mentor their college students. Mentoring is virtual, and is a one year and concrete opportunity to give back to your community and have a positive impact on a young person.
Berkeley Lab’s K-12 STEM Education and Outreach Programs
The education and outreach programs at Berkeley Lab depend on volunteers. Join your fellow Lab employees in outreach, mentoring and teaching K-12 students in the Bay Area.
Rebuilding Together – East Bay North
Rebuilding Together East Bay-North works to preserve affordable home ownership and revitalize communities by providing free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans. RTEBN also provides repairs to nonprofits and community organizations like senior centers, schools, medical clinics, nursing homes and shelters that serve low-income people. RTEBN intends to resume projects in mid-June and will be seeking volunteers to help with projects in Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, and Richmond. To volunteer, send an email to board@rtebn.org.
Rebuilding Together – Oakland | East Bay
RTEBN works to preserve affordable home ownership and revitalize communities by providing free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans. RTEBN also provides repairs to nonprofits and community organizations like senior centers, schools, medical clinics, nursing homes and shelters that serve low-income people. They are currently seeking volunteers for its Wellness Support Team.
East Oakland Collective
The East Oakland Collective is a member-based community organizing group invested in serving the communities of deep East Oakland by working towards racial and economic equity. With programming in civic engagement and leadership, economic empowerment and homeless services and solutions, it helps amplify underserved communities from the ground up. Sign up to learn about in-person volunteer opportunities.
East Bay Feed ER
This organization purchases meals from local, independently-owned restaurants, all of which are struggling because of the coronavirus social distancing rules. The meals are then delivered to five East Bay hospitals. This is an all-volunteer effort with no overhead, and they are currently seeking volunteers for deliveries and administrative support.
Alameda County Community Food Bank
In response to a surge in need they are referring volunteers to help on a recurring basis with food distributions in Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Tri-Valley. Interested parties should email volunteer@accfb.org with “Food Distributions” in the subject line if they are interested in helping.
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is experiencing an unprecedented volunteer shortage, and is asking for healthy people (not displaying any symptoms of being sick or living with anyone who is sick) to sign up for volunteer shifts.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to home-bound seniors, keeping this vulnerable population safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meals on Wheels of Alameda County and Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa are seeking volunteers.
