Axios PM: Soup kitchens sound alarm — Hallmark makes history — Europe extends lockdowns

1 big thing: Soup kitchens run short of volunteers | Thursday, November 26, 2020

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Nov 26, 2020 Good afternoon: Today's 🦃 PM — edited by Justin Green — is 301 words, a 1½-minute read. ⚡️AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the company is likely to start a new global trial to evaluate the efficacy of a lower dosage, Bloomberg reports.     1 big thing: Soup kitchens run short of volunteers Meals are prepared for people to receive at the Thessalonica Christian Church in New York City. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images   America's food banks are sounding the alarm during this unprecedented holiday season. The big picture: Soup kitchens and charities, usually brimming with holiday volunteers, are getting far less help, Axios' Orion Rummler  writes. Older volunteers, at high risk from the virus, are staying home. A food bank in Idaho Falls fed up to 200 hungry people a day pre-pandemic, but closed completely this month because of lack of volunteers, Reuters reports. 60% of food banks with Feeding America — the largest such network in the country — reported they could use more volunteers. Over 50 million people in the U.S., including 17 million children, could become food insecure this year due to the pandemic, per a Feeding America analysis. What they're saying: "We are in desperate need of volunteers ... in the soup kitchen especially," Salvation Army volunteer Erin Rischawy told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. "With shelters being on the high-risk list to contract and spread COVID, we had to make the difficult decision to still celebrate but not do it as we normally do," Tara Davis, executive director of Friendship Mission, told the Montgomery Advertiser. The other side: Some charities are purposefully going without their usual number of volunteers, or asking people to stay home due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Miriam's Kitchen, a D.C. nonprofit, is working with only eight volunteers per shift in outdoor tents to deliver meals to the city's homeless population. Go deeper: In photos: Americans wait at food banks before Thanksgiving     2. Pic du jour Photo: Yara Nardi/Reuters In Naples, Italy, this pizza tribute to Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona was for sale outside Stadio San Paolo.     A message from Facebook Celebrate the ways people are giving back this holiday season     We're inspired by people who show up for each other on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Over 45 million people have used our fundraising tools to raise more than $3 billion. This GivingTuesday, December 1st, let's celebrate the holiday season and consider giving back. Explore more ways to give     3. Catch up quick The Boss Baby balloon is deflated after today's modified Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan. Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP   Africa may have to wait until the second quarter of 2021 to roll out vaccines, Africa CDC director John Nkengasong said. Go deeper. Recent spikes in COVID-19 infections across Europe have led authorities to extend restrictions ahead of the holiday season. Go deeper. Hallmark's first Christmas movie featuring a storyline with a same-sex couple will debut tonight. Go deeper.     4. 1 smile to go: Christmas season begins Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa via Getty Images   Drone's-eye view of Christmas trees being felled today in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Gädebehn, Germany.     A message from Facebook Support a cause like The Magic Yarn Project on GivingTuesday     The Magic Yarn Project helps kids battling cancer and is one of more than 1 million nonprofits you can donate to on Facebook. On GivingTuesday, December 1, we will match up to $7 million in qualifying donations to US nonprofits. See how you can make an impact     Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: