Donations to the Community Food Bank can be made at www.feedingal.org, or checks cab be sent to 107 Walter Davis Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209.

Monetary and food donations can be made to the Greater Birmingham Ministries at www.gbm.org.

The Salvation Army donations can be made at  BirminghamSalvationArmy.org  or by mail to the Salvation Army, PO Box 11005,  Birmingham, AL  35202, or by phone at 205.328.2420. Please designate ‘COVID-19’ on all checks.

Assistance also can be obtained by calling 211. The system operates statewide and nationwide.

In the Birmingham metropolitan area, it is operated through the United Way.

Callers can seek assistance for COVID-19 information, housing and shelter, food, utilities and other services. It operates 24/7.

Callers are put in touch with local social service agencies to receive help.

The service began in Canada and moved to the US in 1997, when it opened in Atlanta.

The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama also responds to 211 calls.

“We have seen an increase in the number of calls from people reaching out for the first time for support,” said the organization’s Elizabeth Wix.