Sent every Tuesday

Hey y’all, I’m filling in for Ben, who has the day off.

Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a policy that would deny student visas for international students if their colleges opt for online-only learning in the fall, which would put these students at risk for deportation.

Today the Trump administration announced that it’s dropping the policy -- a move that comes after several states and colleges filed lawsuits against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, and after 200,000 people petitioned ICE on behalf of international students.

It’s another example of how COVID-19 continues to impact us in unexpected ways, and how immediate, collective action can protect our friends, family, and our most vulnerable communities. Learn more about how DoSomething members like you are stepping up during the pandemic.

Let’s Do This,
Jackie

DoSomething Members Are Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 With Homemade Masks

They’re doing their part to keep their communities safe, one mask at a time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cloth face coverings reduce the transmission of COVID-19, and they’re most effective when widely used in public settings. The more people wearing them, the less likely the coronavirus is to spread.

That’s why the DoSomething community is getting crafty, staying fashionable, and fighting the coronavirus pandemic with nearly 10,000 masks members have made. As new cases hit record highs in 20 states this past week, their efforts are more crucial than ever.

“[My mother, a nurse] tells me how masks can protect us, and not only us, but it can protect people like my mom who tend to the sick, protect my grandmother who’s in the risk age group, and protect the most vulnerable of us,” says DoSomething member Anisa, 18.

“I've been making masks since April and I've made over 400 already, but it is important to me because some people in my community can't afford masks or have access to masks,” says DoSomething member Audrey, 20. “Instead of shaming them for not wearing a mask, we should help them out!”

Don’t let COVID-19 stop you from being a positive change in your community. Find ways to volunteer, advocate, and access resources during the pandemic.

DoSomething members James, Shannon, and Bhargavi swapped stories with their grandparents to help them combat isolation during COVID-19, and shared truly heartwarming #tbt photos too. (To keep in touch with his grandmother and great-grandmother, James even does drive-by visits every few days.)

DoSomething members have swapped 15,538 stories since COVID hit. Reach out to an older adult in your life, and ask them to share a story from their life with you.

Do Something good with your friend… by using our new Refer a Friend tool to invite them to sign up for their first campaign.

Bringing Power to the Period… DoSomething summer ambassador Estefania Rivera has collected 40 packages of menstrual products so far for local homeless shelters.

Physical distancing can be stressful… so DoSomething member Joel made a video with his advice for young people during COVID-19 (and he got a nice shoutout from our friends at BlueSky).

This week in Black joy… celebrate with these two soon-to-be law school students, Mel and Rehan.

The good news is… the Washington NFL team just announced that they’re changing their name and logo -- a victory for Native-led groups who’ve been calling for the removal of racist mascots for years.

This week in Dogs (and Cats!) of DoSomething… Maddy met a dog named Slurpee in San Francisco, Katie’s dog Pepper enjoyed some backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains, and Parker’s cat Apollo just wants to say hi!

More Amazing Impact From the DoSomething Community!

We asked you to brag about the amazing stuff you’re doing, and you did not disappoint. Here are some of our favorite answers from the DoSomething community. (Psst...submit yours here!)

“I recently started as a youth advisor on our county board. I get to sit with all the adult board members and help make youth voices be heard! It's really busy and a lot of work, but I hope it will make a huge impact in my community!”

 - Abbey, 17, Wisconsin

“I launched and am skillfully managing a virtual volunteer project called 'HERO Cards' which are cards of encouragement and gratitude to send to healthcare and research facilities in Texas and surrounding states for essential and frontline workers. In under 4 weeks, I have registered 88 virtual volunteers, received 792 cards from those volunteers, and built partnerships with 12 hospitals, hospices and research institutions in Texas.”

- Dewan, 19, Texas

“Recently, I was able to complete a summer research opportunity through the Indiana University School of Medicine. I completed research alongside graduate students and professors. We studied the effects that housing has on rodents to aid the field of veterinary care.”

- Patrick, 16

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