Donate, volunteer, and give

Gwinnett County has joined a partnership of community organizations to provide residents with the latest information about finding help, donating food and supplies, volunteering, and giving to local nonprofits during the pandemic. Visit GwinnettCares.org to find these resources and more.

You can also read this article from FEMA to learn about other opportunities to volunteer and donate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Department hiring COVID-19 contact tracers

The Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale County Health Departments are looking to hire 80 people to help with COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. This is a non-clinical position, but could be good experience for health care students, recent college grads, or recently laid off workers.

Those interested should complete the application and clearly mark it “COVID-19 EFFORT.”

Donate blood

The American Red Cross is looking for healthy individuals to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood.

Blood donation is a safe process, and people should not hesitate to give and receive blood. At each blood drive, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols. In addition to standard procedures, the Red Cross has also implemented pre-donation donor temperature screenings, enhanced disinfecting procedures, social distancing, staff wellness and protection, and more education for donors.

The American Red Cross conducted several successful blood drives at Gwinnett County parks in April. Thank you to all who participated! The American Red Cross collected 177 units of blood, saving up to 531 lives.

There are more opportunities to donate blood this month. Blood drives will take place at the Bethesda Park Senior Center from 10:00am to 4:00pm on May 20, 21, 28, and 29. The senior center is located at 225 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville.

Visit redcross.org to make an appointment to donate.

Support local restaurants by ordering takeout or delivery

We recognize the impact that COVID-19 may have on our small business community. We appreciate the efforts of those who are doing their part to reduce the spread of the virus. Many local restaurants have drive-thru, takeout, and delivery options that allow you to practice social distancing while supporting hardworking business owners and staff and enjoying a delicious meal. Some restaurants are offering dine-in options under state guidance for social distancing and limiting the number of patrons at any one time.

Check in on at-risk friends, family, and neighbors

Even while you socially distance, you can stay in touch with friends, family, and neighbors. Call or video chat with those who are at risk to check how they are doing. If you have to make a visit to the store, consider picking up additional items to drop off to at-risk individuals to help them get by, but remember to limit in-person contact. You may also wish to order deliveries for them.

Take care of yourself and your family

One way to support your community is to take care of yourself. The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory disease, including avoiding contact with people who are sick, practicing  coughing and sneezing etiquette, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth,  washing your hands thoroughly and regularly, and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces with a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. Learn more about how to protect yourself on the  CDC's Prevention & Treatment page.

You should also take care of your mental health during this time. The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. See more information from the CDC about managing stress and anxiety during the pandemic.

The Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line provides 24/7 free and confidential assistance to callers needing emotional support or resource information as a result of the pandemic. Call 866.399.8938, or find more resources here.

Parents, family members, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. The CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.

Show support

Gwinnett Cares is organizing a “Paint the Town Blue” initiative to show community support. Decorate your home with blue lights and ribbons to honor those on the front lines and loved ones lost to COVID-19.

Stay in the know

You can find the latest information about COVID-19 from trusted resources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the local health department. The Georgia Department of Public Health also has a hotline, 844.442.2681, available to answer questions.

If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.

For information about COVID-19, see these resources:

• The President's coronavirus guidelines for America: 30 days to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)
• COVID-19 information from the Gwinnett-Newton-Rockdale County Health Departments
• COVID-19 information from the Georgia Department of Public Health
• COVID-19 information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention