ICONE Berbagi: Relief Effort to Help Those Impacted by COVID-19 in Indonesia

ICONE Berbagi: Relief Effort to Help Those Impacted by COVID-19 in Indonesia

Boston, 5/18/2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought our entire world to a halt, including Indonesia. Not only it has claimed the lives of thousands nationwide, but it has also cut off the lifeline to millions of people in cities all over Indonesia.

With community spirit fueling high, "ICONE Berbagi" (ICONE Giving Back) fundraising program was carried out to help fellow Indonesians who are struggling to survive in their daily lives due to economic hardships resulting from this unprecedented situation. Within 2 weeks of the fundraiser, we have collected a total donation of $3,099.22 from 70 ICONEans across New England and beyond, including New York, Philadelphia, Maryland, and Virginia.

100% of the money raised was utilized to purchase hundreds of essential food (sembako) packages, each consisting of a bag of rice, eggs, instant noodles, cooking oil, sugar, tea/syrup, and other non-perishable food, as well as masks to be distributed to low-income families, day laborers, seniors living alone, and orphans in 3 cities in Indonesia: Jakarta, Medan (North Sumatera), and Pangkalpinang (Bangka Belitung). Depending on the number of people in their household, these essential packages can help sustain them for one or two weeks.

About 300 essential food packages were distributed by ICONEan friends to those in need in these cities from May 14 to May 17, 2020. Many of them have been hit hardly by the COVID-19 crisis, including daily laborers who have lost their incomes, small business owners (e.g. street food vendors, warung owners) who have gone bankrupt with no money left, recently laid-off workers, and the poor elderlies (with orphan grandchildren) who are still waiting for help from their local authorities.

We are beyond proud and grateful for the generous donations and participation that our community has shown in this relief effort. Without each and every one of you supporting "ICONE Berbagi", we would have not been able to do all this.

A special thank you to our friends in Indonesia: Reza Maulana and family in Jakarta, Yose Rizal Adha and Yayasan Pintu Sedekah in Pangkalpinang, as well as Umi Kalsum and family in Medan, for helping us with the local operation and delivery aspects of the relief.

Last but not least, thank you to ICONE's President, Olla Chas, for spearheading the effort, and ICONE team members Dhanni Setyaning (Education and Cultural Programs Director), Armaya Doremi (Social Media Marketing), and Trisia Bantacut (Treasurer) for the great synergy in managing the fundraiser.

We could not help all the millions who are currently in need, but together, we were able to offer our extended hands to hundreds of them. And for that, from the bottom of our hearts, we THANK YOU.

Together, we can.

 


Check out: ICONE in the News

KJRI NY & ICONE Peduli: Bantuan Masker Untuk Penanggulangan COVID-19

Boston / 10 April, 2020 - Dalam menghadapi pandemik virus COVID-19, KJRI New York and ICONE melakukan pemberian bantuan masker kepada warga masyarakat Indonesia di wilayah kerja KJRI New York, termasuk Massachusetts dan sekitarnya.

Mengingat sangat terbatasnya jumlah masker ini, maka penyaluran bantuan akan di prioritaskan pada:

    1. Warga Indonesia yang terpapar COVID-19 dan sedang melakukan karantina dirumah, atau mereka yang memiliki immune rendah.
    2. Mahasiswa/pelajar Indonesia yang terdampak COVID-19 (akan disalurkan melalui rekan2 PERMIAS MA.
    3. Warga Indonesia lanjut usia yang tinggal sendiri tanpa sanak keluarga.

Bagi warga yg membutuhkan, silahkan email kami di contact@icone-inc.org ataupun mengisi kolom komentar di bawah untuk mendapatkan masker ini.

Kami menghimbau masyarakat Indonesia untuk terus memperhatikan dan mematuhi arahan otoritas setempat, menghindari kerumunan, dan mempraktekkan physical distancing, serta menjalani pola hidup yang sehat.

Untuk bantuan darurat, hubungi 911. Untuk bantuan dan informasi lainnya yang menyangkut kesejahteraan warga Indonesia di New England, bisa menghubungi KJRI New York melalui nomor hotline:

    • (347) 806-9279
    • (929) 329-4872
    • (646) 491-3809
    • (646) 238-8721
    • (929) 366-9842

Let’s us support each other in this challenging time. Together, we can. Please stay well and healthy. 😊🙏

 


Please find the latest news and information, including FAQs, helpful CDC resources and more here.

Assistance Efforts for Indonesian Students in MA Displaced by COVID-19’s Universities Closure

Boston / March 11, 2020 - We know so many of our community members are affected by the far-reaching impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Affected by this pandemic are also the Indonesian students who are forced to vacate their dormitories due to campus temporary closure to prevent the virus from fast-spreading. The closure is part of a follow-through action after the State of Emergency status was declared by the Governor of Massachusetts effective by March 10, 2020.

Many of these Indonesian students, due to financial and other limitations, find it difficult to return to Indonesia and may face a challenge in finding temporary accommodation during the closure period. Therefore, we are inviting members of our community to assist students in need with storage, temporary housing/room, mover, etc. List of assistance can be made at bit.ly/aidsforindostudents

Students requesting assistance will be able to view the responses at bit.ly/helpforindostudents and will reach out directly to those who are offering assistance for further arrangement. 

For additional assistance, a hotline emergency number by the Indonesian Consulate General office in New York (KJRI-New York) is also available for all Indonesians in New England. You can call +1 (347) 806-9279 or email consular.newyork@kemlu.go.id 

Please reach out to your friends, families, or us at contact@icone-inc.org or any of our team members if you are feeling frustrated or scared. Remember that we are all in this together and we will get through it together. In the meantime, be vigilant, social-distancing if you can, keep washing hands, and stay well. 

On behalf of the Indonesian community and students in New England, we thank you for your meaningful participation, assistance, and cooperation. Let’s keep looking out for each other.

 

Sincerely,

Olla Chas

President & Co-Founder

Indonesian Community of New England, Inc. (ICONE Inc)

olla.chas@icone-inc.org

 


Please find the latest news and information, including FAQs, helpful CDC resources and more here.

Indonesian Community of New England, Inc.