Despite vaccine rollouts in many countries, we are still in semi-lockdown after the third wave in Thailand hit us the hardest. Many Thais are in a tight spot, struggling to earn a living or with no access to social welfare, while the road to nationwide inoculation is still has a long way to go. Guru has gathered online platforms through which you can help those in need. Here are different ways you can help during these trying times.
Roadside Patient Project fund
The Mirror Foundation is providing financial aid for the homeless who cannot access government social welfare with B1,000 per person in cash. The foundation has discovered that the homeless are unable to register a bank account for organisations to transfer living expenses to them. What's worse, a chance for them to access government benefits using an ID card is also impossible since they have no permanent address. Contribute to the Roadside Patient Project by The Mirror Foundation via SCB account number 202-2-58289-4.
Visit fb.com/mirrorf.
Taxi Hero
Rajavithi Hospital Foundation's Taxi Hero is offering free transport for Covid-infected patients or at-risk people, who have trouble getting to the hospital. The service covers Bangkok and adjacent provinces, and operates between 9am-7pm. Call 096-771-1687 to book the much-needed taxi ride. The foundation is accepting contribution for fuel expense at SCB account number 051-2-16322-1 and mark your receipt as "Fight COVID-19".
Visit fb.com/PR.Rajavithi.
Hot Meals For Communities
BKK Community Help is serving hot meals to Bangkok communities and giving essential kits, which include dry food, canned food, drinks, care packages and much more. Be a part of their team by helping them pack and deliver at Art Hostel on Sukhumvit 40. Delivery hours for hot meals are from 10-11am for lunch and 3-4pm for dinner. For those who want to donate lunch or dinner boxes, note that they will accept chicken or vegetarian meals only. These can be delivered to the community's kitchen at House 23 (Sunrise Tacos office, next to Galleria 10 Hotel) on Sukhumvit 10. Contributions via Bank of Ayutthaya (Krungsri) account number 253-1-29627-4, under the name of Gregory John Lange, are accepted, too. One meal costs B19. They are accepting donations until June 1.
Visit fb.com/BkkCommunityHelp.
Covid Scan Kit fund
Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine is asking for donations to produce and distribute Covid test kits for hospitals and medical institutes across Thailand. The foundation will accept donations until June 30, via the website below.
Visit bit.ly/covid-19-scan.
Covid Equipment fund
Carenation has joined forces with Taejai Non-Profit Organisation to organise a fundraiser for frontline workers by purchasing face masks, N95 masks, PPE suits and essential medical equipment. They will be distributed to medical sites across the nation. Donate via the link below.
Visit bit.ly/no_covid.
PAPR Helmet fund
Yanhee Foundation has teamed up with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to set up a fund for PAPR helmets (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) that will generate clean air and enough oxygen to prevent medical staff from asphyxiation after wearing a PPE suite and working long hours inside a negative pressure room. They accept donations until June 11, via the link below.
Visit bit.ly/taejaiPAPR.
Covid Thailand Aid fund
Covid Thailand Aid helps vulnerable groups across Thailand to keep their chins up despite the new wave by distributing essential kits for the elderly, disabled, low-income families and other needy people. The foundation also reserves an emergency fund for staff and their families who are at risk, working at medical sites and dealing with this disease directly.
Visit fb.com/covidthailandaid and bit.ly/COVIDthailandaid2021.
Isolation Facility fund
Isolation Facility Charity Organisation has set up a fundraiser for local quarantine sites along the high-risk zones outside Bangkok. This project serves as an isolation facility for the PUI group (Patient Under Investigation) who have been in close contact with Covid-patients or/and may have been to outbreak areas. Every contribution will alleviate daily expenses, including food, clothing, medicine and medical equipment. Donate via the link.
Visit bit.ly/isolation_facility.
Spread The Love
Socialgiver's new campaign "Spread The Love" on Facebook is aimed at collecting funds for those who have Covid-19 or have been negatively affected by it but incapable of reaching online media for help. You can be a part of it by posting and sharing stories of people who need help via the campaign post in the comment section. The page receives the requests from Monday to Friday. After the stories are verified, four people a week will receive between B1,000-B5,000 in financial aid. Moreover, this campaign allows everyone to check its transparency as they are trying to blaze the trail of being a charity model with a credible and effective platform.
Visit fb.com/socialgiver and ddl.socialgiver.com/ddl/spreadthelove to donate.
Rescue Kitchen
Scholars of Sustenance Foundation has come up with the Rescue Kitchen campaign for people in need while they are trying to solve the food waste problem. Leftover meats and vegetables that are in good condition will be gathered from markets and transported to community rescue kitchens where volunteers use them to prepare hot meals. The hot meals will be delivered to six distribution centres across Bangkok. They are in Nang Loeng, Khoirutdin, Min Buri, Phraeksa, Bang Phlat and Soi Phra Chen. The foundation is recruiting volunteers who can cook and are also accepting donations.
Visit fb.com/sosfoundationthai and bit.ly/sosthailandcovid to donate.
Let's Get Jabbed!
Several businesses have jumped on the bandwagon of building a herd immunity by giving away freebies to their vaccinated customers while urging people to get vaccinated. Here are a few:
- Phangnga's La Flora Group is serving a complimentary wellness menu at its chained hotel, La Flora Khao Lak and La Vela Khao Lak, for guests who are vaccinated and stay this month. Visit fb.com/lavelakhaolak and fb.com/lafloraresort.
- McDonald's is giving away French fries to 50,000 people who are vaccinated. Show your vaccination card at any store or drive-thru nationwide. Branches in airports are excluded. Visit fb.com/McThai.
- Zen Group is offering freebies for vaccinated customers at its restaurants: Zen, Aka, On The Table, Din's, Khiang and Tummour until June 30. Customers can enjoy takoyaki, kimchi soup, dim sum and salad, depending on which restaurant you choose. Must present an ID card and vaccination document before redeeming the freebie. Visit fb.com/Zenjapaneserestaurant.
- Chiang Mai's Amaravatri Wellness Center is offering a complimentary set of herbal or blossom tea for customers to promote the "Vaccinated To Stop The Infection For All" campaign. Visit fb.com/AmaravatiWellness.
- Class Cafe is giving 500 free drinks a day at each branch across the nation for those who have been vaccinated, redeemable with a vaccine card or a photo of you getting the jab. Choose between cold-pressed juices or standard drinks worth B75. Visit fb.com/classcoffee.
Keep on Helping
Guru speaks to people who have helped those in need and, hopefully, their words will inspire you to help others, too.
- Colin Hodge, the first donor who helped start Socialgiver's 'Spread The Love' campaign
"Throughout my time in Thailand, I have appreciated the warm-hearted and welcoming charisma that many Thais have shown. This is my small way to give back to the Thai community and I hope other foreigners and Thais can join us in helping those in need throughout the country!
"We choose to let people share their stories in the hope that they will inspire the expat community and more privileged Thais to hear about them. A little money can go a long way in their lives."
- Gregory John Lange, co-founder of BKK Community Help
"The BKK Community Help has been helping communities since the first Covid wave last year. Bangkok has many good-hearted people that are willing to help. The name of our project sums up what we do -- we're coming together to help.
"We use our social media platforms to spread the word for those who need help and show others what we do. Many people have responded very well."
