Food Link is powered by over 250 dedicated volunteers who work to collect, sort, and distribute food to our community partners. Learn more about FoodLink Volunteer programs.

If you are interested in volunteering with Food Link, please fill out their volunteer interest form and you will receive a link to attend an onboarding session.

Arlington's COVID-19 Fund was established by the Town of Arlington and the Arlington Health and Human Services Charitable Corporation to provide emergency assistance for individuals and families in Arlington experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

Members of the Arlington community are encouraged to donate whatever they can to the fund. Donations will help Arlington residents in need:
- remain in their homes with rent/mortgage payments and assistance with utilities
- keep their kids connected to school lessons and families in contact through internet connectivity
- pay for health care and medications
- fund child care while essential workers continue to keep the community running
-support to small businesses and those that work in town

Learn more and make an online donation.

The Town of Arlington through the Department of Health and Human Services is collecting the following items:
N95 respirators
surgical/procedural masks
face shield masks
disposable gowns
goggles/eye protection
bleach wipes
non-bleach wipes
nitrile gloves
hand sanitizer
handmade masks

Unopened boxes with unused supplies are preferred, however opened boxes with unused supplies are also accepted at this time. Handmade masks will be redistributed to vulnerable residents in Arlington. 

To make a donation, please fill out the Supply and Equipment Donation Details Form to let us know what materials you have to donate, quantity, and brand. The Department will contact you within a week to schedule a pick up day and time. The collections will be facilitated by Arlington's Health Department, with assistance from Arlington Police and Arlington Fire departments.  These items will be allocated to hospitals, clinics, and first responders that are on the front lines treating COVID-19 patients.  We truly thank you for assisting at this time.

The Metro East Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and the MA Responds COVID-19 Response Team are seeking volunteers of all skill levels with medical and non-medical experience. The Metro East MRC is a local initiative, while the COVID-19 response team is statewide. You can sign up for both at the same time by creating a MA Responds profile.

To sign up, select COVID-19 Response Team and/or Metro East MRC by clicking the orange plus sign under “Add Organizations” in the application and select the teams you would like to volunteer for. Please note that Metro East MRC is part of Region 4B - Greater Boston.

Questions about the Metro East MRC can be directed to Mia Nardini at MetroEastMRC@town.arlington.ma.us.

The staff and board of Arlington EATS are working with the Arlington Board of Health to make sure our most vulnerable neighbors have access to nutritious and sufficient food while uncertainty around COVID-19 continues. The organization is accepting financial donations, as well as any shelf-stable, unexpired food. They are also accepting volunteers between the ages of 18 and 59. Additional details can be found on the Arlington EATS website.

See if there is a need you can fill for a neighbor through a mutual aid network. Mutual aid networks, like Arlington Helps, are grassroots efforts to connect those with needs to those who might be able to provide help. 

The mission of the Somerville Homeless Coalition is to provide homeless and near homeless individuals and families with individualized supportive services and tailored housing solutions with a goal of obtaining and maintaining affordable housing.

There is a severe blood shortage due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Red Cross is coordinating blood drives in the area and has a list of upcoming local drives. Appointments are required. Schedule online or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Red Cross urges eligible and healthy donors to make an appointment to give soon, but asks that anyone who has traveled to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea to postpone their donation for 28 days. If you have been diagnosed with or have had contact with anyone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, please postpone your donation. Other eligibility requirements can be found here.

Continue to support Arlington restaurants by ordering takeout or delivery. The Town maintains a list of restaurants and stores open for online shopping, delivery or takeout. If you are able, don’t forget to tip generously.

Buy a gift card to a business you frequent often or shop online if available. 

If you can, keep paying for services, like haircuts, gym classes, music lessons, cleaning services, etc., that you would otherwise be using.

Leave a positive comment or review on a favorite local business’s social media accounts. A little positive support can go a long way.

Essential workers like grocers, pharmacists, medical professionals, trash and recycling haulers, delivery drivers, and others are all doing incredible work helping our community during this pandemic. Show them some extra kindness during this stressful time by saying thank you and, if appropriate, tipping extra.