What You Can Do to Help After the Orlando Shooting
Early in the morning in Orlando, 50 people were shot and another 53 injured in an Orlando nightclub. Local or not, here’s how you can help, or at least find like-minded people to attend, or find some peace.
Check on loved ones or let others know that you are safe
If you know and are worried about someone in the Orlando area, the Orlando police have opened a hotline at 407-246-4357 where you can call to see if your loved ones or first aid workers have, in your opinion, could have been at the Pulse nightclub. in Orlando.
If you’ve been there and want to make sure everyone knows you’re okay, the Facebook Security Checker tool has been enabled for Orlando , and you can (and should) mark yourself as safe for friends and family to know. You can also see other people who checked in too.
Donate or donate blood
First of all, if you are in the Orlando area, you can donate blood. Otherwise, you can still – or you can give money (more on this later).
At the time of this writing, local blood banks are overflowing with people looking to donate blood and help, so you don’t have to leave right now. However, they recommend that you make an appointment and come back later. Here’s a great list of places to donate from the Guardian US:
Likewise, this list from Bungalower has a regularly updated rundown of where cash donations and blood donations are accepted:
OneBlood says they have met their needs to date. There is an urgent need for blood donors with negative, negative and negative blood plasma. One Blood asks those who don’t or don’t know your blood type to wait until tomorrow or later this week and make an appointment by calling 1.888.9.DONATE (1.888.936.6283). Please note that FDA regulations still apply to blood donation per OneBlood.
Confirmed blood donation sites today:
- Orlando Western Michigan Donor Center, 345 W Michigan Street, Ste. 106, Orlando, FL 32806
- Orlando Major Donor Center, 8669 Commodity Circle, Orlando, FL 32819
- Oviedo Donor Center, 1954 W. State Road 426, Oviedo, FL 32765
Mobile sites (note that some of these sites lack blood supplies):
- Asbury United Methodist Church – Bloodmobile 220, West Horatio Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751
- Luke United Methodist Church – Bloodmobile, 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32819
- Metro Church Bloodmobile, 1491 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, FL 32708
- No Stocks –
First Unitary Church – 1901 East Robinson Street, Orlando, FL 32803 (until 1:00 pm)- Weingarten Realty – 2566 E Colonial Drive (from 12:00 to 18:00)
- St. Richard’s Episcopal Church – 5151 Lake Howell Rd, Winter Park (until 13:00)
- AMC 18 Altamonte Mall -451 Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springes (until 21:00)
- Colonial Plaza – 2566 East Colonial (until 18:00)
- Metro Church Winter Springs – 1491 E State Rd 434, Winter Springs
- Presbyterian Church of St Cloud – 909 10th St, St Cloud
Since this was aimed at the LGBTQ community, it is important to note that only certain gays are allowed to donate blood (contrary to earlier reports, the ban on donating blood to gay men in Orlando has not been lifted ). However, some blood banks are aware of this. new FDA regulations and you should make an appointment – you will be screened and at this stage you can find out if you qualify. If you are unsure, read the Red Cross blood donation guidelines here .
Commentator Kelly adds:
Reader sybann also notes:
If you don’t live in the Orlando area, this GoFundMe (which has raised about $ 60,000 at the time of this writing) is raising money to support the Orlando LGBT community with resources for counseling, help with paying medical bills, staffing an emergency hotline, and payment for services. grief consultants. If you are unable to donate blood, consider sending them a few dollars.
Also, if you are eligible to participate, you should consider donating blood to your community. Most likely, they could have used the donation. Check the Red Cross Blood Donation Tool here to find a bank or mobile blood bank near you, or the American Association of Blood Banks tool here . Even if you cannot give plasma directly to the victims, the neighbors will be grateful to you.
Attend vigil
For those living in the Orlando area, Bungalower offers the following local and nearby vigils :
Confirmed vigils:
- Joy Community Church – 6:00 PM – 2351 South Ferncreek
- Parliament Building – 19:00 – Orange Blossom Trail, 410 N
- Amber Orlando – 19:00 – 42 Central Boulevard
- Daily City Food Truck Bazaar at Fashion Square – 19:00 – 3201 E Colonial Dr
Vigils in nearby communities include:
- Broward – All-Night Vigil at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors on Sunday at 5:00 pm.
- Jacksonville – Jacksonville Vigil Sunday 7pm at Memorial Park.
- Miami – Sunday vigil at 7:00 pm at SoundScape Park located at 500 17th Street, Miami Beach, Florida.
Orlando Weekly has a similar list here .
However, cities across the country (and beyond) hold their ground today, from Nashville to Allentown, Chicago, Vancouver, New York and Toronto , so if you want to speak up or just not be alone right now, you shouldn’t be. If you are in the Tallahassee area, a reader of swnjun notes:
Reader Nice Pete adds this information at a vigil in Tacoma, Washington:
Also, for Illinois, the Banan3rz mk. II adds:
Update 13.06 . Another reader shared this vigil tonight (06/13) that you can attend, and attendees are encouraged to bring candles, signs and lighters (and the vigil will last until 21:30 🙂
And another one in Boston:
Another local Orlando:
And one in the UK from a SeungriVVIP reader:
Reader Shweddi adds:
Commentator Kitan notes the Salt Lake City vigil tonight:
Check out this Twitter search to find out what’s going on in your community and make sure you compare what you see to your local newspaper or multiple sources. Social media is useful but not always reliable after such an event.
Find someone to talk to
Again, if you are local, the GLBT Center and Zebra Coalition reach out to people in the Orlando community who need help and have set up a hotline at 407-228-1446 for anyone who needs to talk. If you prefer to speak with someone in person, consultants will be here all day today and all week.
However, if you are not local, you have several options . This guide to LGBT centers across America will help you find the closest one to you. You can also dial 211 to contact health and social services in your area to inquire about mental health resources in your area, or you can try other digital anonymous services such as 7Cups , BlahTherapy, or Crisis Text Line .