In Our Own Voice

How We Are Helping Black Women and Families with our Emergency COVID Relief Fund

When you run a grassroots Reproductive Justice organization, it is difficult to watch neighbors in your community suffer because our government has abandoned them during a global pandemic. Our partner organizations, all small non-profits, have done their best to support strangers, seniors, and neighbors, who are in need during these trying times. While the federal government plays politics, people are losing their homes, children are going hungry, and seniors are without their medications.

In October, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda established a COVID Emergency Relief Fund to provide funding for our state partners – – Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now, The Afiya Center, and Women With a Vision – serving the needs of Black communities in cities around the country.

As COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise, disproportionately impacting Black people and their families, and Black women continue to be hit the hardest by pandemic-related job loss, In Our Own Voice felt it was critical to take some action. With grants to our partners, we have been able to meet the needs of Black women and their families as the virus continues to cause immeasurable loss. We are so proud of the work that our partner organizations are doing in their communities. But the money will run out soon and we are trying to raise more funds to fill this critical need.

In fact, our entire Giving Tuesday campaign is to raise additional funding to help them expand their efforts. Here’s a brief snapshot of how they are helping.

Food

Black Women for Wellness is working with local chefs, restaurants, and farmers to provide fresh produce and hot meals twice a week to Black women and their families in the South Los Angeles area.

The Afiya Center is working with a local church to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to community members in North Texas.

Financial Support

New Voices for Reproductive Justice provides cash grants to applicants in Cleveland and Philadelphia, through its COVID-19 Community Relief Initiative, to cover the cost of food, diapers, baby food, rent, transportation, and other expenses.

Women With a Vision provides gift cards to formerly incarcerated women who have lost their jobs to help them buy food, medicine for their children, and, in some cases, rent.

LGBTQ Community Needs

The Afiya Center, in an effort to help mitigate the growing housing crisis in Dallas, the organization is working with a local transwomen transitional housing group to assure they can meet the extra needs of transwomen brought on by the pandemic.

SPARK Reproductive Justice Now! is providing LGBTQ youth in Atlanta with cash aid to offset the cost of rent, bills, food, and other critical expenses.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Black Women’s Health Imperative is expanding its “Positive Period” campaign which provides menstrual supplies to Black women in Georgia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, South Carolina, Alabama, and Puerto Rico, who have lost their jobs and income due to COVID-19.

SisterLove provides resources for Black women impacted by HIV and AIDS in the Atlanta area. Funds are used for outdoor/drive-up testing, sexual health safety and prevention kits, as well as masks, gowns, face shields, and gloves.

SisterReach is working with churches in the Memphis area whose work is aligned with sexual health safety to provide its “Safe Sex Kits” and emergency contraception. The organization has received orders from across the country for its Safe Sex Kits.

With your support, we can help even more Black women and their families — any amount will help make a difference. Donate today!

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