As the Penn community transitions to a “new normal” in lab, classes, and extracurricular activities, we reflect on the growing needs of our wider Philadelphia community. Below, we’ve highlighted ways to become involved in coronavirus contact tracing, blood donation, the fight against homelessness, and ensuring food security in our own neighborhoods.
Penn Contact Tracing Team
By now you’ve probably heard about “contact tracing” - the effort to systematically track where and how coronavirus patients become infected. The primary goals of contact tracing are to first identify anyone who may have been exposed to the novel virus and then warn them to self-isolate for 14 days. While many of us weren’t familiar with this practice until several months ago, contact tracing has been widely used in the public health setting for decades.
One of the most challenging aspects about tracing SARS-CoV-2 infections is the amount of spread by asymptomatic carriers. Public health experts estimate that we’ll need thousands of tracers to adequately track the virus’ movements. Volunteers at Penn, led by Kevin Volpp, David Asch, and Carolyn Cannuscio, began contact tracing back in April. As our university and the country continue to reopen, the need for contact tracing has only increased.
Becoming involved with contact tracing doesn’t require a special degree. Indeed, Penn’s team is mostly made up of students in public health, social policy and social work, nursing, and medicine. Even more, states within the U.S. are retraining employees for work as contact tracers, and companies like Apple and Google are supplementing traditional manual contact tracing approaches with new digital tracing apps.
Efficient contact tracing requires clear lines of communication and patient trust. A volunteer calls a patient who recently tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 to determine their contacts up to 48 hours before symptoms developed. Then, a second volunteer reaches out to the contacts to inform them about their potential exposure. This process requires both detective work and empathy. Contact tracers support patients not only by informing them about self-isolating procedures but also by inquiring about their well-being and whether they feel supported by their community.
Contact tracing, together with social distancing, good hygiene, and frequent testing, is a critical component in the fight against COVID-19. If you would like to learn more about or collaborate with our local contact tracing efforts, visit the Penn Contact Tracing Team page on the BGS Career Development website.
Local Community Service Organizations
Beyond contact tracing, numerous opportunities remain available for those looking to help fellow Philadelphians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Red Cross is in need of healthy volunteers to donate blood and help ensure a stable blood supply. As of April 7th, 15,000 blood drives had already been canceled, resulting in 450,000 fewer blood donations. Any breakdown in a hospital’s blood supply can be devastating for patients relying on blood transfusions for surgery, car accidents, and other emergencies. Importantly, there have been no cases and there is no evidence of coronavirus transmission through blood transfusions. Healthy volunteers looking to donate blood can book appointments at RedCrossBlood.org or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
Multiple organizations within Philly are also in need of donations and volunteers to help support our most vulnerable communities. Project HOME seeks to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by providing their clients with services such as affordable housing and access to employment opportunities. To help support their mission during the COVID-19 pandemic, Project HOME is asking for monetary donations, as well as donations of critical supplies, such as new jeans or shoes, non-perishable food, toiletries, surgical masks, soap, and Clorox wipes. Donations can be shopped directly through the Project HOME Amazon wish list.
Philabundance, which was designated an essential business at the outset of the pandemic, is currently building and delivering emergency food boxes across a nine county area. To support their work, consider donating to help cover the cost of as many food boxes as possible. Healthy volunteers can also sign up for a shift at the Hunger Relief Center to sort and pack food to be delivered through the Philabundance agency network. Interested in a more direct, socially distanced interaction with others in our community? Volunteer at the Hub of Hope Dinner Meal Service to help serve those experiencing homelessness. Your responsibilities may include seating and serving guests, making food plates, and packing and distributing items. Sign up for a shift here.
In addition to the pervasive food insecurity faced by many Philadelphians, workers within the local restaurant industry have struggled throughout the stay-at-home order. To address this difficulty, Fuel the Fight put almost $450,000 back into the restaurant industry by raising money to pay local restaurants to make and deliver meals to hospitals, such as CHOP, HUP, Jefferson, Temple, and Bryn Mawr. By delivering more than 50,000 meals across Philadelphia, Fuel the Fight not only supported local restaurants, but also provided frontline workers in hospitals, public transportation, and nursing homes with catered meals, helping to alleviate some stress during these troubled times. Use this form to learn more about Fuel the Fight and their mission to orchestrate a number of community service projects. Finally, consider supporting the staff at your favorite restaurant or bar by donating through the Philly Virtual Tip Jar. This online document provides a list of Philly service industry workers and their Venmo or PayPal accounts, offering a mechanism to directly donate to restaurant workers in need.
These organizations represent a fraction of the opportunities available to serve our communities during the ongoing pandemic. For a more comprehensive listing of outreach and service opportunities, click here!
References:
Tom Avril. What is ‘contact tracing’ and why is it back in vogue for tracking coronavirus? (April 2020). The Philadelphia Inquirer. www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid19-contact-tracing
Erica Brockmeier. Can contact tracing stop the spread of COVID-19? (June 2020). Penn Today. penntoday.upenn.edu/news/can-contact-tracing-stop-spread-covid-19
The American Red Cross. The health of communities depends on donors - schedule an appointment to give in the weeks to come (April 2020). https://rdcrss.org/31kXA6e
Jessica Press and Roxanne Patel Shepelavy. How to help during the pandemic. (May 2020). The Philadelphia Inquirer. https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/ways-to-help-during-coronavirus/