The world sees Las Vegas as a place that’s been shut down. Photos of closed casinos, boarded-up bars and an empty Boulevard have gone viral. As if that’s all we are. The tourists might be gone, and thousands might be unemployed, but as the dust clears one truth remains: We are Vegas Strong.
How You Can Help
We have weathered storms in the past—September 11, the Great Recession, October 1—and every time Nevadans have come together for the greater good. Every time, we have risen as a better, stronger, more united community.
The challenge we face during this global pandemic is unprecedented. No other disaster has shut the Strip’s doors or caused this many job losses. And, of course, there are the very real health dangers of this highly contagious novel virus. Yet we know the Vegas spirit of giving, of hosting, of sharing will help us through our time of need. It has before and it will again.
But where to start? How to give? How to help? Las Vegas Weekly has compiled this giving guide as an outline for generosity. Despite all efforts to be exhaustive, this list does not cover every way to help. Think of it as a jumping-off point. Give, volunteer and donate any ways you can. And don’t be afraid to accept help yourself when needed. We’re all in this together.
Medical Assistance
Health care workers are at the front line of the pandemic, and getting them help and support is a nationwide priority. The most important thing everyone can do right now is to simply stay home. The more we’re able to flatten the curve in Southern Nevada, the less strained our health care system will be. Beyond that, many of the people we reached out to mentioned the need for giving blood, so get out there and donate. Lastly, everyone we reached out to is in need of personal protective equipment (PPE), which is in tremendous demand. If you have N95 masks, gloves, hand sanitizer or other protective goods to donate, find out how to do so for some of the Valley’s health organizations.
Keep in mind, all health care providers are in need of PPE right now. If you’d like to donate to an organization that’s not on this list, reach out to it directly and see what it needs.
Sunrise Hospital
How to help: Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center and Sunrise Children’s Hospital are accepting masks (specifically N95s, surgical masks and other medical-grade masks); disposable gloves; safety goggles (anti-splash goggles); eye shields; industrial soap; and antibacterial/disinfectant wipes. 855-815-3859.
Southern Hills Hospital
How to help: Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center is accepting N95 masks, gloves, hair caps and more. It’s also accepting food donations to help feed health care workers. Cyndi Lundeberg, director of marketing and communications, also says letters and notes from children have been dropped off, which the staff loves. 855-815-3859, Cynthia.Lundeberg @hcahealthcare.com.
MountainView Hospital
How to help: MountainView Hospital is accepting some medical equipment but directing food donations to local food pantries and community distribution centers. 855-815-3859, [email protected].
University Medical Center
How to help: UMC is accepting donations of health care grade PPE in unopened containers, along with financial donations. 702-207-8228, [email protected]. Funds can also be sent to UMC Foundation Inc., 1800 W. Charleston Blvd., #508, Las Vegas, 89102.
Dignity Health
How to help: Dignity Health and St. Rose Dominican Hospitals have temporarily suspended their volunteer program, but are accepting unopened boxes of N95 masks, isolation gowns and surgical masks. [email protected], dignityhealth.org/las-vegas/covid19-donations.
Valley Hospitals
The Valley Health System includes Centennial Hills Hospital, Desert Springs Hospital, Henderson Hospital, Spring Valley Hospital, Summerlin Hospital and Valley Hospital.
How to help: All six institutions are accepting a variety of donations, including PPE. Visit a hospital’s Facebook page to determine its specific needs.
Guardian Elite Medical
Guardian Elite Medical is a non-emergency ambulance provider serving Las Vegas.
How to help: Guardian Elite Medical is accepting donations for PPE supplies, including gowns and masks. It’s also looking for additional EMTs and medical assistants to help with screening. Direct donations to Guardian Elite Medical, 2830 Ferne Drive, Building E, Las Vegas, 89104; lasvegas ambulance.com.
Community Ambulance
Community Ambulance is an emergency and non-emergency medical services ambulance company that serves Southern Nevada.
How to help: The support team at Community Ambulance is working to procure hand sanitizer and gowns for its EMTs and paramedics, and working with the American Red Cross for blood donations. Messages of support, letters and thank-you cards are some of the best ways to help this organization. Send correspondence or donations to Community Ambulance, 91 Corporate Park Drive, Henderson, 89074; gsimpson@ communityambulance.com.
AMR Las Vegas
American Medical Response Las Vegas provides emergency and non-emergency medical transport services for the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
How to help: AMR is accepting donations of new, unused masks and other PPE approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Contact materials manager Jamie Ambrose at 702-384-3400.
Silver State Health
Silver State Health Services provides affordable access to high-quality health care for underserved and impoverished populations in Southern Nevada. It has temporarily closed its clinic and has transitioned appointments to telemedicine until it has the proper equipment and safety guidelines. Silver State is contemplating opening a drive-thru testing site at its clinic location but requires proper PPE to do so.
How to help: Donate N95 masks, face shields and surgical gowns. 702-471-0420.
Cure 4 the Kids Foundation
Cure 4 the Kids Foundation, a division of Roseman University of Health Sciences, is a nonprofit and community leader in research and the treatment of childhood cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. The clinic is open and continuing to provide uninterrupted treatment to its patients.
How to help: Grocery stores, retailers, restaurants and others wishing to support the clinic staff and families with donations of food, cleaning items or other necessities—including vital monetary donations—should call Karen Iglesias at 702-691-5702. For more, click on the “Ways to Help” link at cure4thekids.org.
Palmeira Home Health
Palmeira Home Health provides customized, interdisciplinary programs for patients recovering from a variety of health-related issues at home. Because many of its patients are elderly, adequate PPEs are invaluable.
How to help: Palmeira is accepting donations of all PPE, including masks, isolation gowns, goggles and gloves, and is also in need of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. 702-259-4966, ext. 1100, [email protected].
Food Relief
Three Square Food Bank
Three Square is working to create a “hunger-free community” in Clark, Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda counties. It’s a food bank and food rescue that provides ready-to-eat meals.
How to help: Monetary donations and volunteers for its Coronavirus Emergency Food Fund. 702-644-3663, threesquare.org.
The Salvation Army Southern Nevada
To remain nimble, the charity’s greatest need is money, which could feed and protect those in need and buy pandemic kits for the homeless and personal protective equipment for the staff.
How to help: Monetary donations, pallets of bottled water, volunteers most needed for the weekend community meals. 702-870-4430, salvationarmysouthernnevada.org.
Share Village Las Vegas
Formerly known as Veterans Village Las Vegas, Share Village has expanded its food services to seven days a week to meet the “overwhelming number of requests.”
How to help: Bottled water and nonperishable food items. Food pantry volunteers are needed daily, 10 a.m. to noon. Monetary donations. 50 N. 21st St., 702-624-5792, sharelasvegas.org.
Serving Our Kids Foundation
Some children don’t qualify for weekend food programs, and this foundation closes the gap with weekend food bags for 3,500 K-8 students.
How to Help: Financial donations; purchasing food items from the Serving Our Kids online store for donation at 121 Industrial Park Road #110 in Henderson (Monday-Friday, noon-4 p.m.). 702-358-1056, servingourkids.org.
Shelters
SafeNest
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to ending domestic violence in Clark County by way of its confidential domestic violence shelter.
How to help: Monetary donations; grocery gift cards; in-kind donations.
Also hand sanitizer/disinfecting wipes, gloves, paper towels, baby and personal hygiene supplies. Donation drops at 3900 Meadows Lane, 702-877-0133, safenest.org.
The Shade Tree
In response to the pandemic, the women’s shelter has launched a “Love Us From a Distance” campaign to raise money and essential items.
How to help: Monetary and in-kind donations; gift cards. Also bottled water, nonperishable foods, N95 masks, disinfectants, latex gloves, pain relievers, hygiene and baby products, bedding, batteries. 1 W. Owens Ave., theshadetree.org.
Las Vegas Rescue Mission
This homeless shelter is providing bread and community meals to those outside the gate, but has suspended intake of new shelter guests and recovery program clients.
How to help: Monetary donations; in-kind donations of water, food and hygiene supplies. 480 W. Bonanza Road, 702-382-1766, vegasrescue.org.
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY)
Provides critical services to youths in need through its emergency shelters, Independent Living Program, medical care and more.
How to Help: Monetary donations. In critical need of nonperishable food, food gift cards, sanitizer, cleaning and hygiene supplies, thermometers, masks, gloves and prepaid phone cards; Amazon Wish List. 4981 Shirley Street, 702-688-1013, nphy.org.
Religious Organizations
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
Some services are suspended (the men’s day shelter); some have gone online-only (legal services); and others have been tweaked for safety (community meal is now to-go). So the best way to help as the situation rapidly changes is via monetary donations.
How to help: Financial support. 702-385-2662, catholiccharities.com/donate.
Jewish Family Service Agency
This group helps Southern Nevadans with food and emergency assistance, senior services, counseling and adoptions.
How to help: Nonperishable food donations, financial donations, volunteers to drop off food to seniors. 702-732-0304, jfsalv.org.
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
Monetary donations go toward bulk food purchases and other programs, such as the Heart of the City Senior Meal Program and Identification Recovery Services.
How to help: Donations for the fully online DigiMart Food Pantry, monetary donations. 4323 Boulder Highway, 702-639-1730, lssnv.org/donate.
Central Christian Church
The church aims to feed 20,000 families this season. Central purchases food in bulk at a discount, so it seeks monetary help rather than food donations.
How to help: Donations to its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. hopeforthecity.tv/givehope.
Community Groups
United Way of Southern Nevada
This charity is helping those impacted by COVID-19 through its Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund.
How to help: Financial donations. uwsn.org/COVID19.
Help of Southern Nevada
This organization serves needy and homeless Southern Nevadans through rental assistance, a diaper bank, the Shannon West Homeless Youth Center and more.
How to help: Financial donations, fulfill an Amazon Wish List. 702-369-4357, helpsonv.org.
Emergency Aid of Boulder City n Provides food, rental, utility and other financial assistance to Boulder City residents (and stranded travelers) facing emergency needs.
How to help: Financial and in-kind donations, volunteers. Needed items: Diapers, personal hygiene supplies, packaged food, sleeping bags, backpacks, blankets, hats, socks, underwear, clean plastic grocery bags with handles. 600 Nevada Way, 702-293-0332, eabcnv.com.
HopeLink of Southern Nevada
This support network helps needy Henderson residents with food aid, rent and other services.
How to help: Monetary donations, food delivery volunteers, personal hygiene supplies. 178 Westminster Way, 702-566-0576, link2hope.org/donate.
Sunrise Children’s Foundation
Helping needy families of children 5 years old and younger with essentials, supplies, food and services, such as prenatal care, literacy skills and more.
How to Help: Financial donations. 702-631-7130, sunrisechildren.org.
Opportunity Village
This Las Vegas organization serves adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, through career programs, art, enrichment and more.
How to Help: Financial donations; donations to Opportunity Village thrift stores. 702-383-5911, opportunityvillage.org.
Educational Aid
Clark County School District
CCSD is teaming with the Public Education Foundation to help underprivileged students acquire devices for distance learning while schools are closed.
How to help: Monetary donations to the CCSD Technology Fund. [email protected].
Communities in Schools of Nevada
This dropout-prevention program helps students with food, medical care, transportation and more. While schools are closed, this group is working to keep students learning.
How to help: Financial donations. 702-550-3799, cisnevada.org.
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
The Girl Scouts are seeking volunteers and financial help so that all girls can continue scouting, no matter their economic circumstances.
How to help: Monetary donations. Volunteer drive April 1-June 30. 702-385-3677, girlscoutsnv.org.
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
St. Jude’s is a safe haven for abused and neglected children.
How to help: Monetary donations, fulfill an Amazon Wish List, coffee partnership with Frankly Good Coffee (Hope Blend). 702-294-7100, stjudesranch.org.
Project REAL
This nonprofit educates K-12 students about the law.
How to help: Monetary donations, community partners, downloadable book. 702-703-6529, projectrealnv.org.
Grant a Gift Autism Foundation
This local nonprofit organization helps Las Vegans with autism, by offering support services, vocational training and assessment and treatment funding.
How to Help: Financial donations. 702-463-5394, grantagiftautismfoundation.org.
Animal Rescues
The Animal Foundation
The animal shelter is encouraging folks to adopt a pet during the pandemic.
How to help: Adopt or foster a pet, monetary donations, Amazon Wish List. 702-955-5910, animalfoundation.com.
Nevada SPCA
Adoptions are suspended, but the foster program continues.
How to help: Foster a pet, monetary donations for veterinary care of animals. 702-873-7722, nevadaspca.org.
A Home 4 Spot
This animal rescue group needs financial help to provide medical care for rescue animals.
How to help: Monetary donations. 702-239-7986, home4spot.org.
Heaven Can Wait Animal Society
This rescue needs financial help to provide care for the dogs in the Pups on Parole prison training program.
How to help: Monetary donations, pet supplies, pet fostering. 546 N. Eastern Ave. #175, 702-655-4800, hcws.org.
Hearts Alive Village
This pet rescue needs help stocking its pet food bank program, Kendall’s Kupboard. Shop at its tax-free charity pet supply store.
How to help: Monetary donations, pet fostering, Amazon Wish List. 1750 S. Rainbow Blvd. #4, 702-870-0065, heartsalivevillage.org.
Arts and Cultural Assistance
WAYS TO HELP KEEP THE ARTS AFLOAT
• Buy gift certificates for future shows.
• Buy music from local bands on Bandcamp.com.
• Purchase art from local artists and crafters, directly or through Etsy.
• Support musicians and performers by watching (and paying for) online streams, as through StageIt.com.
• Help your favorite artists/performers/ musicians by promoting their work on your social media channels and recommending them to friends.
• Simply give a monetary donation.
TipJarLV Tip Jar (tipjarlv.godaddy sites.com) points readers to the Vemno handles of food servers, bartenders and other hospitality workers put out of work by the shutdown.
Vegas PBS & Nevada Public Radio (KNPR) Public radio and television are vital lifelines to the truth in this time of conflicting information.
How to help: Monetary donations. vegaspbs.org. 702-258-0505, knpr.org/support.
The Writer’s Block Book Shop The Downtown bookstore, coffee shop and event venue is still conducting online and phone sales, offering free curbside pickup and shipping for orders over $20.
How to help: Read! Also, proceeds from audiobooks from libro.fm go to Writer’s Block. 519 S. 6th St. #100, 702-550-6399, thewritersblock.org.
PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS & VENUES
Theatre
• A Public Fit Theatre Company (apublicfit.org)
• Broadway in the Hood (broadwayinthehood.org)
• The Lab LV (thelablv.org)
• Las Vegas Little Theatre (lvlt.org)
• Majestic Repertory Theatre (majesticrepertory.com)
• Nevada Conservatory Theatre (unlv.edu/nct)
• The Playhouse/Poor Richard’s Players (theplayhouselv.com)
• The Smith Center (thesmithcenter.com)
• Super Summer Theatre (supersummertheatre.org)
• Theatre in the Valley (theatreinthevalley.org)
• Vegas Theatre Company/Cockroach Theatre (theatre.vegas)
• Vegas Theatre Hub (vegastheatrehub.com)
Music
• Bunkhouse Saloon (bunkhousedowntown.com)
• Foundation to Assist Young Musicians (thefaym.org)
• Henderson Symphony Orchestra (hendersonsymphony.org)
• Las Vegas Philharmonic (lvphil.org)
• Opera Las Vegas (operalasvegas.com)
• Vegas City Opera (vegascityopera.org)
• Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas (lvyao.org)
Dance
• Molodi: Extreme Body Percussion (molodilive.com)
• Nevada Ballet Theatre (nevadaballet.org)
• Contemporary West Dance Theatre (lvdance.org)
Culture Venues & Arts Advocates
• Eat More Art Vegas (eatmoreartvegas.com)
• Grouchy John’s Coffee (grouchyjohns.com)
• Nevada Humanities (nevadahumanities.org)
ART GALLERIES & LOCAL ARTISTS
• Abbie Paulhaus, illustrator (abbiepaulhus.com)
• Alpha Voyage Gallery by PTG (privatetechgroup.com)
• The Arts Factory (dtlvarts.com/arts-factory)
• Barrick Museum of Art (unlv.edu/barrickmuseum)
• City Lights Art Gallery (citylightsartgallery.com)
• City of the World Art Gallery (cityoftheworldlasvegas.org)
• Clay Arts Vegas (clayartsvegas.com)
• Core Contemporary Gallery (corecontemporary.com)
• Dray Studio & Gallery (draystudio.com)
• Happy Earth Market (happyearthmarket.com)
• Joseph Watson Collection (josephwatsonart.com)
• Jerry Misko, artist (jerrymisko.com)
• Las Vegas Artists Guild (lvartistsguild.org)
• Las Vegas Oddities (lasvegasoddities.com)
• Left of Center Art Gallery (leftofcenterart.org)
• Mary Felker Art and Design (etsy.com/shop/MaryOnAdventures)
• The Neon Museum (neonmuseum.org)
• Pincushion sewing shop & creative workspace (pincushionlv.com)
• Priscilla Fowler Fine Art (priscillafowler.com)
• Lisa Dittrich’s Random Alchemy Art Gallery (randomalchemy.com)
• Recycled Propaganda (recycledpropaganda.com)
• Sin City Gallery (sincitygallery.com)
• Wonderland Gallery by Kat Tatz (wonderlandgallery.com)
Professional Services
American Civil Liberties Union Nevada
From incarcerated youths to ICE detainees, ACLU Nevada is “defending our rights” during COVID-19.
How to help: Monetary donations and volunteers (attorneys, translators and more). 601 S. Rancho Drive #B-11, 702-366-1226, aclunv.org/donate.
Nevada Legal Services
Offering low-income Nevadans assistance with legal issues, such as unemployment benefits, housing assistance, SNAP and other needs related to COVID-19.
How to help: Volunteer attorneys to answer legal questions from the public. 702-386-0404, nlslaw.net.
Use your special skills
Chefs: Share recipes and how-to’s
Fitness trainers: Stream workouts for the community
IT professionals: Help set up technology for the community
Bartenders: Create cocktail how-to’s
DJs: Share music playlists and stream live performances
Publicists: Share and promote local businesses
Crafters: Conduct DIY classes on Zoom
Social media mavens: Promote the arts and charities
Financial experts: Advise struggling small businesses
Construction workers: Offer remote help with home fix-it jobs
Photographers: Give tips for taking great photos at home
Anybody: Volunteer at food banks or other places of need
Random Acts of Kindness
• Tip as well as you can afford.
• Order meals from local restaurants.
• Resist the urge to hoard supplies.
• Protect others and yourself. Don’t cheat the lockdown. These rules are here for a reason.
• Check on your elderly/sick neighbors. Even a friendly phone call helps.
• Offer to deliver groceries to your neighbors/friends/family in need.
• Start local: See if your HOA or apartment building is doing anything to help residents, then pitch in where there’s a need.
• Say hi to your neighbors.
• Be extra nice to the grocery store clerk.
• Be extra patient with your children.
• Got an extra roll or toilet paper? Offer it to a friend!
• Arrange FaceTime playdates for children.
• Organize a virtual happy hour with old friends. Everybody is available right now.
• Don’t hide your feelings. It’s an uncertain time. Express yourself and be honest. You’ll be surprised to find that you’re not as alone as you think.
• Be kind and others—and to yourself.