*EDITED: This fundraiser has ended and shirts are no longer available for purchase – during a week and a half, over 4400 shirts were sold for a donation of $11, 223 + $5000 donation match for a total of $16, 223!!!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been searching for an idea to use my social platforms to help in some way with the fallout from COVID-19, but I wasn’t coming up with anything. On my Instagram stories last week [HERE], I was wearing a t-shirt designed by my very talented sis-in-law that says “Let’s Stay Home,” when quite a few of my awesome followers asked where they could find the shirt…and it hit me! How perfect is the message on my sis-in-law’s shirt for what’s happening in our world right now, and so she agreed to loan us the design for a bit in order raise funds to help others!

From now until April 9th, ALL proceeds from the sale of the “Let’s Stay Home” t-shirts will go to support Direct Relief and Feeding America. Russell and I will be matching yall’s donation up to $5k w the help of some friends and family who reached out and wanted to help, too. You certainly do not need to purchase a shirt in order to make a donation to these charities, nor is it always the right financial timing to do so, especially in these uncertain times — please feel free to donate or help in whatever way makes most sense to you. This is simply a community building effort that we can participate in together to help if you feel so inclined! You do you…and help others along the way. ❤️

Here are the charities we chose and why we chose them:

Direct Relief — This charity’s cause is close to home for us because my husband Russell will be on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic as it begins to hit our state. He is a hospital pharmacist for the ER and inpatient side, and thus he sees patients and helps keep things running in the emergency room and for admitted patients. Via their website, “Direct Relief is coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations and businesses in the U.S., China and globally to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19).” With shortages of PPE (masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment) all around the world, we’d like to give whatever help we can to Direct Relief as they attempt to equip those on the front lines of this crisis: the healthcare workers. Read more about Direct Relief [HERE].

Feeding America — This month, Feeding America launched a COVID-19 Response Fund in order to directly assist food banks across the country. With schools being shuttered and businesses closing for the foreseeable future, many are food-insecure in the midst of this crisis. From their website: “In the face of these challenges, the Feeding America network of food banks is uniquely positioned to help people who need it most. This fund will advance their ability to respond efficiently and effectively in their communities so that food is not added to the list of worries for families during this pandemic.” Read more about Feeding America [HERE].

Let’s help the hard working healthcare professionals on the front lines by staying home. Let’s help the vulnerable and food-insecure. LET’S STAY HOME…together. ❤️ One small way to help and join as a community even from afar as we do so.
Much love to you all,
ERIN