While national efforts to support women’s bodily autonomy are likely to receive a flood of donations in the coming weeks, many of us are still left feeling hopeless, powerless, and/or full of unbridled rage in the wake of the 2024 election.
If you’re looking for ways to help right now, local abortion funds and independent clinics are some of the best places to donate. Here’s what you need to know.
Where to donate locally to help people access abortions
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The organizations listed below either operate clinics, mail medication, arrange travel, or otherwise help people get the care they need.
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The Baltimore Abortion Fund helps people living in or traveling to Maryland for care.
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The Brigid Alliance arranges and funds travel for abortion nationwide.
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The Carolina Abortion Fund, for people seeking an abortion in North or South Carolina.
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Holler Health Justice, which provides abortion funds, free emergency contraception, and other healthcare and harm reduction in West Virginia.
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Indigenous Women Rising, which runs an abortion fund for indigenous people in the United States and Canada (it’s for anyone who can get pregnant, you don’t have to be a woman).
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The Jane Fund, for abortion access in Massachusetts.
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Just the Pill, which provides medication abortion and other services to people who are in or can travel to Montana, Minnesota, and Wyoming.
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The Midwest Access Coalition helps people traveling to, from, or within the midwest to access abortion.
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The Women’s Health Center in West Virginia, the last abortion clinic remaining in that state.
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Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project provides funding for abortions and emergency contraception nationwide.
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The Yellowhammer Fund, which provides abortion funds, free emergency contraception, and other help to people in Alabama, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas.
And if you can’t decide, the National Network of Abortion Funds splits donations among 80 member organizations. You can also use their website to find a state-by-state list of local funds.
Find non-monetary ways volunteer
While it’s arguably more important to go local right now, I won’t tell someone not to support larger organizations like Planned Parenthood or NARAL. In addition to recurring donations, check your regional Planned Parenthood chapter for other kinds of volunteering opportunities; they’re almost always in need of people for phone banking and data entry. If you’re a lawyer, consider donating your time to a reproductive justice helpline like If/When/How. And if you’re physically and mentally able, one of the most impactful things you can do is volunteer as an escort at your local clinic.
Take care of yourself
In addition to the action items above, it’s important to take care of your own mental health. Here are some strategies to cope when it feels like you’re living in a state of perpetual crisis:
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Balance your news intake. The human brain isn’t designed to consume a constant stream of distressing information. If you find news-reading necessary, seek out some positive stories, too.
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Set boundaries on social media, or log off altogether. In general, limiting the news scroll is a good idea.
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Do grounding exercises, like yoga or meditation, which can calm your sympathetic nervous system.
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Maintain a routine. Having a bath every night, walking your dog, and making your morning coffee are ways of preventing panic and maintaining a baseline level of functioning.
Finally, do what you can to keep perspective. Stay focused on supporting any and all independent organizations that are fighting for access to abortion care in your community. It feels like this issue is out of our control—but that doesn’t mean we have to roll over without a fight. Wherever you live, there are ways for you to get involved.
The article was originally published in May 2022 and updated on Nov. 6, 2024 with new information.