How to Be B.R.O.W.N. During a Pandemic

We know this time can be tough on many of us. We have found our own ways to stay active during covid and wanted to share them.

“Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." -Will Rogers

How COVID-19 Impacted Amaya and Jordan

As college students, COVID-19 has a direct impact on us. With a majority of virtual classes, there were little opportunities for in-person activities. Without being in person, we experienced a lack of accountability, since we could easily become distracted in our own home. However, the pandemic brought various opportunities that would have otherwise not been available to us. For example, with a majority of our classes being taught online, we were able to plan a consistent schedule. There was no need to allocate travel time from class to class, and were thus able to accomplish more goals in a day. Additionally, being online truly allowed us to be in “two places at once”.

Although COVID-19 has been extremely detrimental to many communities, we worked hard to find ways to remain active in our local communities. These include continuing our shadowing and volunteering positions.

Listed below are five in-person and five virtual volunteer opportunities that can allow you to remain active in your community. Many of these opportunities we are actively involved in! Feel free to email us to learn more about our experiences.

Online Opportunities

1. Tutoring at local schools (check with your local schools)

2. Crisistextline.org https://www.crisistextline.org/become-a-

volunteer/

3. English learning program volunteer

4. Letters to inmates https://writeaprisoner.com/

5. Letters of love https://loveforourelders.org/letters

6. Letters to soldiers https://soldiersangels.org/letter-writing-

team.html

In-Person Opportunities

1.Local food pantry (Feed more https://feedmore.org/volunteer/)

2. Local Free Clinics (i.e. Health Brigade)

3. Ronald McDonald House Charities

(https://www.rmhc.org/donate?source=paid&sub_source=20YEPMsearch)

4.River Clean Ups (https://riverfriends.org/)

5. Medical Reserve Corps (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/mrc/)

Feel free to visit https://www.yourunitedway.org/get-

involved/volunteer/ for upcoming opportunities in the greater Richmond and Petersburg area.