How You Can Help

During this difficult time, there are ways that we can all give back to help our community. Below are links for where you can donate and volunteer in the Dubuque area to help with the COVID-19 response.

Where You Can Donate

Greater Dubuque Disaster Recovery Fund

This fund, housed at Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, enables a coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis and helps people in the Dubuque region most impacted by the outbreak, including seniors and low-income residents.

It provides an opportunity for the public to give with the reassurance their donations will be granted to local organizations that can allocate them where they are most needed and in ways that can adapt to evolving needs.

To date, the fund has granted nearly $700,000 to 38 organizations helping people meet their basic needs during this time, including food, safety and health care.

Give Now!

Learn About Other Ways to Support the Nonprofits that Endorse and Participate in #AllofUsDubuque

Clarke University

Clarke University is a Catholic academic community that believes learning is lifelong and life changing. They inspire intellectual curiosity, cultural engagement, professional preparedness, spiritual exploration, and a commitment to contributing to the common good in a global society

Divine Word College

Divine Word College is the only Roman Catholic undergraduate seminary in the U.S. dedicated to educating men and women for missionary service

Dubuque Area Congregations United

The members of Dubuque Area Congregations United (DACU) are people of diverse faiths and beliefs, are united by our belief in God, our concerns for justice and our call to serve others

Dubuque for Refugee Children

Dubuque for Refugee Children provides much needed transport and assistance to newly arriving immigrants, especially minors, and helps pay for medical bills and other pressing needs during the COVID-19 outbreak

Loras College

Loras College is a Catholic Liberal Arts college that strives to develop active learners, reflective thinkers, ethical decision makers, and responsible contributors in their diverse professional, social, and religious roles.

MercyOne

MercyOne Dubuque is one of the leading hospitals in the Tri-States, and aims to set the standard for a personalized and radically convenient system of health services

Northeast Iowa Community College

Northeast Iowa Community College serves eight counties in northeast Iowa and surrounding areas, and is committed to affordable, high-quality education and training to ensure the growth and vitality of northeast Iowa

River Bend Foodbank

River Bend Foodbank collects wholesome donations of food for distribution to more than 300 charitable community organizations that support the hungry in eastern Iowa and western Illinois

Sisters of St. Francis

Rooted in the Gospel and in the spirit of Francis and Clare, the Sisters of St. Francis live in right relationship with all creation

Tri-State VIATS

Tri-State Volunteer Immigrant Appointment Transportation Service (VIATS) is a local group of volunteers that provides much needed transportation and food delivery assistance for vulnerable immigrants. Donations can be given to the Presentation Lantern Center with an indication that it is for Tri-State VIATS

UnityPoint Health

UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital is one of the top hospitals serving the Tri-State area, and strives to combine the best technology, innovation, and personal expertise all the while putting the patient first

Crescent Community Health Center

Crescent Community Health Center provides high-quality, respectful and affordable medical and dental care to improve the health and well-being of our community. It also houses the Dubuque Pacific Islander Health Project.

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa are an order of Dominican Catholic women religious based in Sinsinawa Mound in Wisconsin deadicated to preaching and teaching the Gospel

Dubuque Chapter of the NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an advocacy organization aimed at ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination

Fountain of Youth

Fountain of Youth provides local community members with mentorship and support - including with education, job training, and social skills - to help end the generational cycle of poverty

Marshallese Health Fund

The Marshallese Health Fund provides funding to support Dubuque's Marshallese community, filling in gaps to make sure that no Marshallese family falls through the cracks during this crisis

Multicultural Family Center

The Multicultural Family Center envisions an equitable and inclusive Dubuque built on a foundation of understanding and collaboration across all cultural groups committed to producing engaged families and community members. The Center serves as an inviting and safe place for community members, stimulates connections, and provides programs to foster civic engagement and social and economic success.

Presentation Lantern Center

The Presentation Lantern Center serves adult immigrants through its focus on hospitality, educational opportunities, and advocacy, including providing English language lessons and support for immigrants to become citizens

Sisters of Charity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary

The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) is a community of Catholic women religious who, in response to a personal call from God, have chosen a vowed life of prayer, ministry and community

Sisters of the Presentation

As Catholic women, the Sisters of the Presentation dedicate their lives to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, living in community and vowing to live simply, celibately and with shared responsibility

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

As a congregation within the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque is a nonprofit religious organization of people who are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality — but aligned in a desire to make a difference for the good.

University of Dubuque

The University of Dubuque is a private, Presbyterian, coeducational, professional university with a foundation in the liberal arts that is committed to nurturing the mind, body, and spirit as well as encouraging students to explore their fullest potential

YMCA/YWCA

The Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA is committed to strengthening communities by focusing on youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, eliminating racism, and empowering women.

Where to Donate

Where You Can Volunteer

United Way Volunteer Portal

Join the United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-State's online portal to become connected to local organizations looking for volunteers

Presentation Lantern Center

Help welcome a New Americans to Dubuque by tutoring English language learners, assisting students preparing for the U.S. Citizenship test, helping newcomers develop "life skills" in a new culture, and celebrating with students and other volunteers at social events

Dubuque For Refugee Children

Help assist and empower new immigrants in Dubuque by assisting them with legal, educational, medical, and housing needs in their quest to achieve secure, peaceful, and sustainable lives. Email here for volunteering opportunities

Multicultural Family Center

At the Multicultural Family Center (MFC), volunteers are vital to everything they do. The MFC counts on volunteers for special-event help, long-term service, and everything in between.

Where to Volunteer

Where You Can Learn More

Learn More About the Marshallese People

"They Did Not Realize We Are Human Beings." Politico.

"How the U.S. betrayed the Marshall Islands, kindling the next nuclear disaster." Los Angeles Times.

Rheka Basu, "We bombed their homeland, hurt their health, cut off their health care. Then comes COVID-19."

Learn More About Guatemalan Mayan People

"A Translation Crisis At The Border." The New Yorker.

"Language Barriers Pose Challenges For Mayan Migrant Children." National Public Radio

"Nearly 60% of migrants from Guatemala’s Dry Corridor cited climate change and food security as their reason for leaving." Global Catholic Climate Movement

Learn More About Latino and Hispanic People

"Understanding why Latinos are so hard hit by Covid-19." CNN

Abigail Golden-Vazquez, "The Invisible Latino in America"

"Who is Hispanic?" Pew Research Center

"The code: How genetic science helped expose a secret coronavirus outbreak," Washington Post.

"Hispanic homebuyers poised to become dominant force in U.S. housing market," Bankrate

Learn More About Issues Facing Black People

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Race Forward's Series of Videos on Systemic Racism

"A Letter to Corporate Leaders," Harvard Business School African American Student Union

Bryan Stevenson, essay for 1916 project - Slavery and the prison industrial complex

Coshandra Dillard, "Teaching About King's Radical Approach to Social Justice"

Imani Perry, "Racism Is Terrible, Blackness Is Not"

George Yency, "Dear White America"

Learn More About LGBTQ+

Key City Pride

Dubuque Transgender Facebook Page

"The Lives and Livelihoods of Many in the LGBTQ Community are at Risk Amidst COVID-19 Crisis," Human Rights Campaign Foundation issue brief

"A Snapshot of How COVID-19 Is Impacting the LGBTQ Community." BU Today

"LGBTQ Americans are getting coronavirus, losing jobs. Anti-gay bias is making it worse for them." USA Today

Andrea Ritchie: Invisible No More Lecture - Police violence against women and LGBTQ+ individuals of color (warning, graphic images and language)

Learn More About Native American People

Indian Country Today website

COVID-19 Resources

For a medical emergency regarding COVID-19, dial 911

Local Resources

211

Free hotline directing you to local resources for food, rent, utilities, medical payment, health care, and more.

Phone: Dial 211

https://www.211iowa.org/

Catholic Charities

Assistance with rent, utilities, medical payments, and other forms of financial support. Spanish translation available.

Phone: (800) 772-2758

https://catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/our-services

Resources Unite

Assistance with rent, utilities, medical payments, and other forms of financial support.

Phone: (563) 231-6280

https://www.resourcesunite.com/

Presentation Lantern Center

Support and services for immigrants in the Dubuque area.

Phone: (563) 557-7134

Email: info@thelanterncenter.org

https://thelanterncenter.org/

Operation New View Community Action Agency

Financial assistance with rent, utilities, and qualifying medical expenses.

Phone: (563) 556-5130

https://www.operationnewview.org/

The Open Closet at St. John's Lutheran Church

Free bedding and clothing, including pre-mature babies, infants, maternity clothing, toddler, juvenile and up to 4XL for men and women. By appointment (call ahead).

1276 White St

Phone: (563) 495-0885

https://almosthomedbq.org/what-we-do

City of Dubuque Housing & Community Development Department

Rental assistance for Dubuque residents.

Phone: (563) 564-7489

Pre-application in English, Spanish, and Marshallese can be found at:

https://www.cityofdubuque.org/618/Housing-Community-Development

Disaster Recovery Fund - Application for Non-profit Organizations

Online application for non-profit organizations to apply for a grant from the Disaster Recovery Fund.

https://www.dbqfoundation.org/nonprofits/grant-opportunities

Dubuque County Downloadable and Printable COVID-19 Resource Guide

List of COVID-19 related resources for Dubuque County.

https://www.dbqfoundation.org/sites/default/files/resources/dbqresourceguide_v7_1.pdf

COVID-19 Related Hotlines

Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association COVID-19 Hotline

Available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday - Sunday. If you need to leave a message your, call will be returned as soon as possible between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Interpretation available in Spanish and Marshallese.

Phone: (563) 556-6200

Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 Hotline

Available 24/7 for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. Other languages available.

Phone: 2-1-1 or 1 (800) 244-7431

Multilingual COVID-19 Hotline

Developed by the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa and other partners

Phone: 1 (877) 558-2609

Iowa Legal Aid COVID-19 Legal Help Hotline

This is a free service available to Iowans who are experiencing legal issues due to the COVID-19 emergency

Phone: 1 (800) 332-0419

www.iowalegalaid.org