Selfless acts: How Americans are helping each other through the coronavirus

People across the United States are taking steps to help one another amid the coronavirus pandemic.
 
From companies donating masks and ventilators to hospitals, to everyday people helping their neighbors, there are countless examples of people trying to do the right thing during an extraordinarily difficult time. 
 
The Hill is keeping track of them here.

Rockets’ Westbrook donates 650 laptops for students in Houston online classes

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook, using his foundation, Why Not?, is donating 650 laptops for students in Houston who have gone to online learning due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Tyler Perry picks up tab for senior-hour shoppers at 73 grocery stores

Elderly shoppers at two grocery chains in Atlanta and New Orleans reportedly had their purchases paid for by filmmaker Tyler Perry.

College students replace vulnerable Meals on Wheels drivers in New Jersey

New Jersey college students have stepped up to fill the gaps left by Meals on Wheels volunteers who have remained at home due being at particular risk from coronavirus.

Skiers, snowboarders donating goggles for doctors on front lines of coronavirus fight

Skiers and snowboarders have donated more than 10,000 pairs of goggles for use by health care workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Matthew McConaughey plays virtual bingo with Texas senior living facility

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey made a video appearance for a Texas senior living facility over the weekend, hosting a virtual bingo game for residents at The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living facility.

Xerox, Vortran Medical to produce thousands of disposable ventilators

Xerox, in partnership with Vortran Medical Technology, plans to produce thousands of disposable ventilators, the companies have announced.

New York landlord tells tenants of 18 buildings to skip April rent

A New York City landlord told tenants in 18 of his buildings not to worry about April rent payments as the city grapples with a pandemic that has left record numbers of people unemployed.

Facebook group matching health care workers with empty RVs to self-isolate

A new Facebook group entitled RVs 4 MDs has launched to provide providing temporary mobile homes for health care workers to isolate themselves amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Oprah donates $10 million to coronavirus relief efforts

“I know there are many of us looking for ways to help,” the OWN founder and former talk show titan said.

Tyson announces $60 million in bonuses for workers, truck drivers during coronavirus pandemic

Tyson Foods, Inc., one of the largest food companies in the world, has announced it will be paying roughly $60 million in bonuses to its frontline workers and truckers during the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the announcement released by the company on Tuesday, 116,000 workers and truckers will be eligible to receive a $500 bonus in the first week of July.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds donate $400K to NYC hospitals

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have donated $400,000 to hospitals in New York City as the city grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. 

A representative for the celebrity couple told Fox News that they donated $100,000 to four hospitals in the city: NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital Emergency Room and the Elmhurst Hospital.

Lizzo donates lunch to hospital workers battling coronavirus

Singer Lizzo donated food to multiple hospitals this week for health care workers battling the coronavirus, including in Washington state and Minnesota.

Brooks Brothers to start making masks for medical professionals

Brooks Brothers, the oldest retailer in the U.S., said on March 31 it will start manufacturing medical masks for health care professionals and aims to produce as many as 150,000 masks a day at factories in New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts that typically produce ties, shirts and suits.

Under Armour to manufacture 500K face masks to address coronavirus

Maryland-based athletic apparel manufacturer Under Armour announced March 30 that it will manufacture and donate half a million surgical masks for medical personnel in the state dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

Minnesota trooper gives doctor his medical masks during traffic stop

A Minnesota state trooper pulled over a doctor for speeding, but instead of issuing a ticket, gave the medical professional his stock of protective masks.

Photo of health care workers flying to help in New York goes viral

The photo, taken by an Atlanta ramp agent, depicts several smiling health care workers making “heart” hand gestures as they prepare to depart for New York’s LaGuardia Airport on a Southwest flight.

Kanye West, Angelina Jolie and other celebrities announce donations to coronavirus charities

Actors and musicians from all genres are donating money to help feed families and support health care workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

School principal visits drive-thru to tell student she is valedictorian

A Michigan high school student was surprised this week when the principal from her school placed an order at the restaurant where she works to tell her she had been named valedictorian.

Photo of man holding sign thanking health care workers ‘for saving my wife’s life’ goes viral

A man in New Jersey tearfully held up a sign thanking medical professionals for helping treat his wife amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Texas Roadhouse CEO donates salary, bonus to workers

Kent Taylor, the co-founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse Inc., will be giving up his bonus and base salary this year to pay his chain’s workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

MLB, Fanatics to manufacture masks and gowns using jersey material

MLB and Fanatics are partnering to manufacture hospital gowns and protective masks with the same fabric used to produce jerseys to bolster the supply needed to fight the coronavirus, the two businesses announced Thursday.

American Humane launches fund to help cats and dogs displaced by coronavirus crisis

American Humane, an organization dedicated to animal welfare, launched “Feed the Hungry” to care for the thousands of animals displaced by the coronavirus pandemic. The fund was established in response to an “overwhelming” amount of calls for support from shelters and animal first responders across the U.S.

New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees pledges $5M to help coronavirus response in Louisiana

Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, announced Thursday that he and his wife would donate $5 million to help feed hungry Louisiana families struggling with economic instability as the coronavirus outbreak has caused many nonessential businesses around the country to close.

FedEx employee shares photo of care package left for delivery drivers

A home in Arizona left a box of goods for couriers to pick from along with a message thanking them for their work, according to an Instagram post shared by a FedEx employee.

Taylor Swift sends $3,000 to two fans worried about bills amid coronavirus

The two fans shared on Twitter that the entertainer reached out and gave them $3,000 each after seeing their social media posts.

Four Seasons provides free rooms to medical personnel

The Four Seasons hotel in Manhattan will provide free rooms for medical personnel responding to the coronavirus pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Wednesday.

Vet schools send ventilators to hospitals

Animal hospitals and veterinary schools are sending critically needed ventilators to hospitals facing supply shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

Starbucks to give free coffee to first responders, health care workers amid coronavirus pandemic

Starbucks announced Wednesday that it will give a free coffee to any customer who “identifies as a front-line responder” to the coronavirus pandemic and announced a $500,000 donation to support first responders and health care workers.

Washington National Cathedral donates 5,000 respirator masks to DC hospitals

Washington National Cathedral donated 5,000 respirator masks found in storage to two D.C. hospitals on March 25 to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. The cathedral sent 3,000 masks to Georgetown University Hospital and 2,000 to Children’s National.

Apple to donate millions of medical masks

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Wednesday that the tech giant is donating 10 million medical masks to health care workers around the country amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Designer Christian Siriano makes almost 1K masks for New York

Fashion designer Christian Siriano and his team have created almost 1,000 N95 masks, he said Wednesday, after last week promising New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to help with medical supply shortages as the state grapples with the coronavirus.

Hockey equipment company making face shields for medical professionals

Bauer Hockey, the manufacturer of hockey equipment and apparel for the NHL, has said it will manufacture protective visors for first responders after the coronavirus pandemic forced the suspension of the hockey season.

Elton John to host televised coronavirus relief concert

Elton John is hosting a televised benefit concert featuring pop artists such as Mariah Carey, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and several others to raise money for relief efforts amid the coronavirus outbreak.

New York animal shelters report surge in adoptions

Animal shelters around New York City are running out of pets eligible for adoption or foster care, as more and more people seek to find quarantine companions amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report in Bloomberg.

Spotify to donate up to $10 million in coronavirus relief for music community

Spotify said it will donate up to $10 million to aid coronavirus relief efforts for the music community. The company will match donations on a fundraising page on its website that benefits MusiCares, a charity relief organization set up by the Recording Academy.

James Taylor and wife donating $1M to help Massachusetts General Hospital fight coronavirus

Calling COVID-19 a “new and insidious virus,” the singer said he and his spouse “have been so inspired by the courage and sacrifice of the health care heroes in the trenches who are working so hard to protect us all.”

Neil Diamond remixes ‘Sweet Caroline’

Neil Diamond released a remix of “Sweet Caroline” with changed lyrics on Sunday to help boost people’s spirits.

People convert book-sharing libraries into mini food banks

Pasta, peanut butter and packets of ramen are replacing shelves of books in Little Free Libraries across the country amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

Cleveland Cavaliers owner offers free rent

A real estate company owned by Dan Gilbert, who also owns the Cleveland Cavaliers, will offer free rent to small restaurants and retailers amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Bedrock, which is downtown Detroit’s biggest landlord, said it will waive rent, building expenses and parking fees for restaurants and retail tenants that qualify as “small businesses” for April, May and June, in a March 23 press release. 

John Legend, Chris Martin, livestream concerts during coronavirus

A slew of musical artists — including Chris Martin and John Legend — are going virtual, performing concerts from the comfort of their homes and livestreaming them amid the coronavirus pandemic.

3M to send 500,000 respirators to New York, Seattle

The 3M Company will send 500,000 respirators to New York and Seattle as the cities combat the COVID-19 outbreak, its CEO announced in a March 22 statement.

Distilleries convert operations to create hand sanitizer

Multiple American distilleries are temporarily converting their operations to create hand sanitizer from high-proof alcohol.

Food Lion to donate $600K toward hunger relief

The Food Lion grocery store chain said it plans to donate $600,000 to people affected by the pandemic, providing about 6 million meals.