Rapper Cardi B, real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, has teamed up with Fashion Nova, an online-based clothing brand to aid people who have been personally impacted by COVID-19, a deadly virus. According to Newsweek, it has become one of the deadliest diseases throughout the United States. New York has been known for the state to be hit the hardest by this virus. Cardi B was actually born in New York. According to Cardi B’s Instagram post, her and Fashion Nova will be giving away $1,000 every hour until they reach a total of $1 million has been reached to the victims of the coronavirus. She understands that many people have been affected and struggling to feed their families, pay for bills, and manage any other essential necessities. The organization that has been created is called Fashion Nova Cares with Cardi B. In order to enter to possibly receive the $1,000, one will need to visit https://www.fashionnova.com/pages/cares and enter the information asked to provide. In up to 250 words, one will need to explain how COVID-19 has impacted their lives. Every day, they will be reading and accepting submissions. Cardi B also asks those people applying to please keep their Instagram on public so that she can look into it.
Not only has she donated $1 million, but Cardi B has provided meals to the healthcare workers in New York City hospitals that have been constantly working to take care of COVID-19 patients. She donated 20,000 bottles of Only What You Need (OWYN) vegan meal replacements. OWYN provides various amounts of protein drinks that consists of 20 grams of protein and superfood greens in each serving. The protein drinks have different flavours that can be Cookies N’ Cream, Strawberry Banana, and Turmeric Golden Mylk. According to TMZ, Cardi B wanted to help those workers receive a good meal as they constantly work and rarely even have a chance to eat.
Cardi B seems to be using her Instagram and other social media platforms as ways to inform her supporters and followers about the pandemic’s issues. For example, on one of her Instagram posts, Cardi B talks about misinformation being spread as she goes on to say, “I know shit is getting real. Once the stock market starts going low, that’s how I know shit is getting real.” She also questions public officials about how long this coronavirus will last. She goes on to tweet about different public officials predicting different timelines of the pandemic. On another Instagram post, Cardi B claims that celebrities are being privileged as they get tested for the coronavirus while “the general public” are “not getting treated like celebrities.”
She teamed up with NYC Census and Julie Menin, the director of the NYC Census, to spread the importance of participating in the 2020 census. Cardi B posts her message on her social media that urges the community to not let the virus stop people from participating. She states, “Your community’s future is in your hands…Not just for the next four years, but for the next ten.” Although this act may not seem to be a direct donation compared to her other helpful actions, but she is aiding in sending a clear message that we have the power to help make a change that could lead us to become prepared next time a pandemic or any such tragic event happens again.
References:
https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a31979912/cardi-b-coronavirus-response/
https://vegnews.com/2020/4/cardi-b-donates-20-000-vegan-meal-replacements-to-nyc-hospitals