Letter from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and Councillor Quinton Zondervan, Communicating information about helping India in this time of COVID-19 crisis

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor To: From: Date: Subject: Cambridge City Council Mayor Siddiqui and Councillor Zondervan April 29th, 2021 Communicating information about helping India in this time of COVID-19 crisis To the Honorable, the City Council: Quinton Y. Zondervan City Councillor As many of you know, India is in a deep crisis due to a massive surge in COVID-19 cases. We both have family in India and are hearing reports from them directly on how challenging the situation is. India is currently reporting over 300,000 cases per day, and has surpassed 200,000 deaths, with both numbers expected to be significant undercounts. Hospitals are overwhelmed and crematoria are literally melting from overuse. A dangerous new COVID variant has already emerged, and the longer this crisis continues, the more new variants will emerge that will further exacerbate the global pandemic. We have to come together and do everything we possibly can to help, both for humanitarian reasons and to better protect global public health. Please everyone do what you can. Here are some organizations to donate to if you are able: • American Association ofPhysicians of Indian Origin: https://www.aapiusa.org/ • Care India: https://www.careindia.org/ • Help India Breathe: https://www.helpindiabreathe.org/ • Child in In Need Institute, https://www.cini-india.org/ • Give India: https://covid.giveindia.orglhealthcare-heroes/ • Association for India's Development: https://aidindia.org/ • K.haana Chahiye: https://www.khaanachahiye.com/ • The Desai Foundation: https://thedesaifoundation.org/ • For healthcare heroes- https://fundraisers.giveindia.org/ • Donate oxygen- https://milaap.org/fundraisers/Donate-for-Oxygen For a constantly updated list of Mutual Aid organizations and opportunities: bit.ly/MutualAidlndia Thanks for anything you can do to help, and please contact the council via council@cambridgema.gov with any suggestions, questions, thoughts or concerns. Sincerely, A.~~ Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui Councillor Quinton Y. Zondervan CITY HALL, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139