In an effort to support those in quarantine, 16-year-old Long Beach native Jacob Kraus developed an online network of local resources available with the click of a mouse. On March 19, he launched COVID Connections, which connects people with local volunteers who assist them with essential errands ranging from delivering groceries to picking up prescriptions.
Thinking about his grandparents, who have a difficult time running errands because they are in a high-risk age group for contracting the virus, Jacob was inspired to act. “I know it’s difficult [for them] to get necessities, Jacob told the Journal. “Having them in mind, I knew creating a platform and a service like this to help people would be valuable now. One of the [biggest] factors is helping people [who are] at risk.”
Jacob used social platforms including Facebook and NextDoor to crowd source information about what people needed most during the pandemic. “If someone needs help, they complete a request form. We will take their request and match it with someone in their area,” Jacob said. “We connect them and the volunteer assists with them with whatever errand they need.”
COVID Connections currently is available in nine states: California, Oregon, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Idaho, Illinois and Kansas, and has more than 190 volunteers.
“I knew creating a platform and a service like this to help people would be valuable now. One of the [biggest] factors is helping people [who are] at risk.” — Jacob Kraus
Jacob has also connected with nonprofit organizations including the Salvation Army in Southern California, Oregon and Indiana. “We either direct volunteers to people in need or to [organizational efforts],” he said. “We’ve had an amazing response. It’s a very anxious and nerve-racking time [and] to know there are people who can help them means a lot.”
Jacob said COVID Connections always is looking for more volunteers, especially young people who want to get involved and give back to their communities.
“I ultimately want to make it a nationwide effort that is known throughout the country,” he said. “I am starting to get more students involved. I’m trying to put peers in more administrative spots so this ultimately becomes a student-run effort to connect people and provide people with assistance.”
Learn how to get involved with COVID Connections on their website.
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