Many parts of our lives have been disrupted by this pandemic, and it is an especially tough time for people who are seeking abortion care. The role of abortion funds is crucial in the coming months as Minnesotans face more financial insecurity due to the economic shutdown resulting from COVID-19.
Like you, Our Justice is working in a new environment and under unprecedented circumstances.
Many Minnesotans and Midwesterners, especially folks on the margins, already face substantial barriers to abortion care. These barriers will only be compounded in the face of clinic workers and community health providers being on the front lines of a pandemic, with a higher risk of getting sick, or faced with the necessity of needing to close at this time. People will have more expensive abortions if they need extra time to gather financial and logistical support, and they will likely need to travel farther to get their abortions and experience travel barriers we’ve never faced. They’re already parenting, and may have the new expense of finding childcare or taking time off work to be with their children as their schools close. Abortion needs rise in the face of crisis, and unfortunately they do not pause as figure out how to react as a society.
Out of an abundance of caution and care for our community, we have decided that we cannot in good faith host an in-person Bowl-a-Thon event. However, we will continue with a virtual Fund-a-Thon campaign to be extended through Thursday, June 25th. Together, our community will make sure that accessing care is still possible. Our Justice is committed to continue answering the call from people who are in need of financial and logistical support to make the reproductive choice they need or want.
Abortion is an essential procedure, and supporting abortion access is a form of mutual aid during this tenuous time.
We invite you to join us in making sure that everyone who needs an abortion can get one, by signing up as a virtual fundraiser to support our work. You can make a one-time donation, start a virtual team, or join solo, at whatever goal is attainable and meaningful for you.
Consider raising $100 to cover the cost of a hotel room for someone traveling from out of town.
Consider starting a team to raise $250 - the average cost of an Our Justice Abortion Assistance Fund Pledge (likely to increase over the coming weeks and months) or $750, which is the beginning cost of a second trimester abortion - something that may become increasingly common as barriers caused by this pandemic push back appointment accessibility.
Or, commit to helping Our Justice remove the existing barriers to abortion in Minnesota by giving $14 right now - $1 for each of the 14 anti-abortion laws we are challenging in court.
Regardless of your capacity for giving at this time, we appreciate being in community with you and are sending support and strength your way.
Thank you for sharing in this community that advocates for reproductive justice for all, no matter the circumstances.