35 Celebrities Stepping Up During The Coronavirus Pandemic To Help Others

Just like the rest of us, celebrities are having to quarantine themselves during the coronavirus pandemic. For now, there are no live concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, or parties. That hasn’t stopped many celebrities from using technology and their social platform to support the community during this difficult time. Some have donated money, others are offering inspiring messages to encourage others. Here are 35 celebrities stepping up during the coronavirus pandemic to help others and keep spirits strong.

DOLLY PARTON

Kick back and relax--it’s story time! Everyone’s favorite country darling will be reading bedtime stories in a series called ‘Good Night with Dolly.’ Families can watch Dolly Thursdays at 7 PM EST on YouTube. Dolly has also donated $1 million dollars to COVID-19 research. As if we didn’t already love Dolly enough! 

WATCH: Goodnight with Dolly | The Little Engine That Could


AMY ADAMS AND JENNIFER GARNER

Hollywood A-listers Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner will also be reading children’s books! Many children aren’t just getting an education at their schools, they also rely on schools to provide their meals. That’s why Amy and Jennifer launched ‘Save with Stories’ a non-profit to raise money to feed kids while schools are closed due to COVID-19. You can check stories read by them and many others (including actor James Marsden, and Christian actress Candace Cameron Burre) on the Save with Stories Instagram.


WATCH: Candace Cameron Burre Reads ‘Grow Candace Grow’







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 ANGELINA JOLIE & KRISTEN BELL

Making sure kids who depend on school meals are cared for is also near and dear to Kristen Bell and Angelina Jolie’s heart. The stars have both donated to support No Kid Hungry.







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LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA

As Broadway shut down during the Coronavirus pandemic, Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda offered a treat for music fans--an unreleased song he wrote for his Tony-winning musical, Hamilton! You can listen to the song, “I Have This Friend” here.


 

JOHN KRASINSKI

If you’re overloaded with all the bad news during this crazy season, and it’s making you anxious--check out John Krasinski’s latest project! The actor, best known for his roles on The Office and Jack Ryan, has launched a YouTube channel. Called ‘Some Good News with John Krasinski’ his channel is dedicated to only sharing good news! Fans were excited when one of John’s first guests was none other than actor Steve Carrel! 

In the same episode, John interviewed Courtney ‘Coco’ Johnson who went viral after returning home from her last chemotherapy to find a group of her friends all there to support her from a distance. “I wrote to your mom and told her that I cried for a very long time after watching that, just pure joy. You guys rock for sharing that with the rest of the world.” John shared. 

WATCH: Some Good News with John Krasinski



JIMMY FALLON, SETH MEYERS, JIMMY KIMMEL & STEPHEN COLBERT

John Krasinski isn’t the only one hosting from his home. Late-night stars, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Myers, and Jimmy Kimmel all continue to bring much-needed laughter to the world as they broadcast versions of their shows from their homes.


LIZZO

Grammy Award-winning Pop singer Lizzo showed her support to medical professionals on the front lines by donating food to multiple hospitals for them!

WATCH: Lizzo Shares Encouraging Words for Medical Professionals




RYAN REYNOLDS & BLAKE LIVELY

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds donated $400,000 to hard-hit hospitals dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in New York City. “Stay at home, practice social distancing, wash your hands. We are going to get through this thing, we’re going to get through this thing together,” Ryan shared.

On Instagram, he continued to encourage others saying, “Take care of your bodies and hearts. Leave room for joy. Call someone who’s isolated and might need connection.” His wife, Blake Lively, shared a similar sentiment on her Twitter account ending her post with a joke directed at her husband saying, “Sending so much love. Now can someone please tell Ryan that ‘emotional distancing’ from his mother in law is not a thing. Nothing can save him.’




BRAD PAISLEY AND KIMBERLY WILLIAMS

 This couple opened a free grocery store in Nashville, Tennessee, called “The Store”. The establishment offers free grocery items to families in need.







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Today on National Doctors Day, I am sharing my Gratitune “Southern Comfort Zone” with the staff at @vanderbilthealth to show my gratitude and support for the hard work they are doing to keep our community safe. Join me by visiting www.gratitunes.com and submitting your own #Gratitunes to the playlist to be enjoyed by the doctors, nurses, and medical staff on the frontlines of fighting COVID-19. You can also send a message of encouragement by using the hashtags #VUMCHeroes and #Gratitunes in your social posts! Let’s use the power of music to spread joy and send thanks to these incredible men and women.

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DEMI LOVATO

Singer Demi Lovato is donating meals to families through DoorDash. She is also calling on celebrities to help during the pandemic with the #doyourpartchallenge.


CHRIS HEMSWORTH

The almighty Thor is making his fitness app free for all users.







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NORMAN REEDUS AND GREG NICOTRO (WALKING DEAD)

Actor and Executive Producer, respectively, have converted their restaurant to a grocery store in an effort to assist their community!


 GUY FIERI

Fieri has initiated a relief fund to benefit restaurant workers.







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Help serve up some support for the restaurant employees of America! These people are some of the hardest working, real deal employees you’ll ever meet and they need our help. Link in bio to make a donation. #RaisetheRERF @nraefoundation

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EMILIA CLARKE

The Dragon Queen from Game of Thrones has asked people to donate to SameYou in an effort to help hospitals. She plans to have virtual dinners with donors.







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Dearest ones, from my isolation booth I write to you with a plea for help! Due to the current frightening and ever changing coronavirus emergency please would you help me raise £250,000, by donating through the link in my Bio, to provide stroke and brain injury patients with essential support!! This fund will also help in freeing up the hospital beds needed to deal with the pandemic, to care for those who also need a space to heal. 100% of your generosity will fund virtual rehab clinic support in the coming weeks... a very big task and a very big ask but you are all very big hearted souls so I know you’ll want to help me help them! ❤️🏆❤️ @sameyouorg #togethertogethertogether

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RIHANNA

This pop icon has donated $5 million to various organizations benefiting America, Haiti, and Malawi.


ROGER FEDERER

The professional tennis player donated millions to help families in Switzerland with the crisis.







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We must help families in need quickly and unbureaucratically. Mirka and I have donated to a newly established emergency assistance fund for families in Switzerland. The fund is managed by “Winterhilfe”, a trusted partner of our foundation and highly experienced to support vulnerable people for decades. From tomorrow March 26, the “Fund for families in need“ will be functional and ready to make contributions such as vouchers for food and child care services and where necessary. Check out the link in my bio for information. Wir müssen Familien in einer Notlage schnell und unbürokratisch helfen. Mirka und ich unterstützen einen neu eingerichteten “Fonds für Familien in Not“ in der Schweiz. Der Fonds wird vom Verein Winterhilfe verwaltet, einem vertrauenswürdigen Partner unserer Stiftung und seit Jahrzehnten erfahren in der Unterstützung bedürftiger Menschen. Ab morgen, dem 26. März, ist dieser bereit, Beiträge zu leisten, wie zum Beispiel Gutscheine für Lebensmittel oder Kinderbetreuung. Weitere Informationen findet Ihr im Profil Link. Nous devons aider les familles en cas de détresse rapidement et d’une manière non-bureaucratique. Mirka et moi soutenons un nouveau fonds d'aide d'urgence aux familles en Suisse. Le fonds est géré par l’organisation Secours d’Hiver, partenaire de confiance de notre fondation et expérimenté dans le soutien aux personnes touchées par la précarité depuis des décennies. À partir de demain, le 26 mars, le fonds pour les familles dans le besoin est prêt à apporter des contributions, telles que des bons d'alimentation ou de garde d'enfants. Pour plus d’informations > aller sur bio.

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 TAYLOR SWIFT

Swift has been privately donating to fans undergoing financial struggles.


ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

The actor and former governor is using GoFundMe to raise $5 million for medical supplies.







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I never believed in sitting on the couch and complaining about how bad things are, I always believed we should all do our part to make things better. This is a simple way to protect our real action heroes on the frontlines in our hospitals, and I’m proud to be part of it. I donated 1 million dollars, and I hope that all of you who can will step up to support these heroes. Go to the link in my bio to help out.

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 LADY GAGA

Gaga is using earnings from her beauty brand HAUS for donations to food banks.





 JAMES MCAVOY

X-Men star James McAvoy is looking out for the medical team on the front line helping heal those individuals who are COVID-19 infected. The actor has donated money to help produce protective equipment for first-responders. In a YouTube video, James shared, “One of the incredible things that’s happening right now across the world is we are prioritising our health service, our care for the elderly, we are looking inwards, we are spending time with our families – there are weird positives to come out of this new reality we find ourselves in, but one of the massive things is we’re all coming together regardless of financial status, birthright status. We’re all in the exact same boat.”

 WATCH: James McAvoy Supports #Masks4NHSHeroes


 JUSTIN BIEBER

 Christian pop star Justin Bieber stopped in the middle of an Instagram live with his fans to share a poignant prayer.  

"God, we thank you so much for this day. I thank you so much that you have everything in control. You know the beginning from the end and you're not surprised by this whole thing that's happening.

 God, we know that these things don’t come from you, that these things are unexplainable, but God, we trust you in these times, and we just ask God that you would make this go away as soon as possible, God.

 We just thank you so much for who you are and we just ask that you would give us more answers. In your name, we pray. Amen." 

 Justin has also donated to a children’s charity in China called Beijing Chunmiao Charity Foundation.







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DONATELLA VERSACE

The famous Italian designer has donated money to an intensive-care center in Milan, Italy.







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“We are going through something none of us has ever experienced. Despite all the uncertainty and the fear, we have shown the world that we are a strong community, that we stand together, and that we have helped each other in such an amazing, generous way. I have never been more proud of being Italian and I feel it was not just an honor, but my duty to do my part and support in any way I could.” Donatella Versace Versace is donating $500,000 to support local relief efforts in response to the pandemic. The funds will support the Intensive Care Unit of San Raffaele Hospital in Milan to provide critical aid to those battling the virus, and Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana for the “Italia, we are with you” project, an initiative that donates ventilators and medical equipment to Italy’s hospitals. This is in addition to the ¥1 million that Versace donated in February to support the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, and the personal contributions made by Donatella Versace and Allegra Versace Beck. #StaySafe #StayHome

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JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

The singer has been donating money to Feed America.







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Out here social distancing with the fam and a lot of these 🌲🌲🌲 I hope you guys are staying safe and healthy. We need to stick together and look out for each other during this crazy time. Go through my stories for some ways you can support your local communities. While there's a lot of chaos and confusion right now, there's also a lot of good and so many ways to help. 🙏🏼 Spread the word @feedingamerica @americanredcross @savethechildren @wckitchen

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 CIARA AND RUSSELL WILSON

This married couple will donate one million meals to Food Lifeline in Seattle.


 KEITH URBAN

On March 17th, he offered a virtual concert to fans.

It’s nice to see how some celebrities are rising to the occasion to help those in need! Even when we feel alone, we can remember that there are other people, celebrities included, who are facing the same isolating circumstances. Christian singer Sandi Patti is recovering from COVID-19, and offered these words of advice, “If you are not social distancing and STAYING HOME, DO SO NOW! God has given us faith, but he’s also given us wisdom. Be well and wise!"




While we may not be able to connect in person with those outside of our households, let’s make sure we take time to connect with God. We don’t need social media or technology to reach Him. All we need is prayer.


headshot of author Aaron BrownAaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.”