With the entire world in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, people helping others is more crucial than ever before.
From simple acts of kindness to providing emotional support, there are plenty of ways you can help others, even while you’re practising “social distancing.”
Read on for a practical guide that will help you continue to help people in need, regardless of the COVID-19 situation.
How to Help Each Other
Although it’s important to maintain your distance from others, it’s still just as important to help others who are in need. If you have elderly neighbours, give them a call or tap or their window to find out if there’s anything they need.
While the coronavirus is starting to affect younger people at a higher rate, the elderly are still the most at risk. You can do your part by offering to leave food and supplies at their door or to communicate with their family members to help give them peace of mind.
If your local schools or other charities are offering meal services, find out ways that you can volunteer. And, if you’re not comfortable volunteering in a setting with lots of people, there are other ways to contribute like by donating food or disposable dinnerware.
Besides active methods to help people in need, you can also provide emotional support. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or coworker, let people know that you’re there for them emotionally. During this turbulent time, the need to vent and express worry or concern is more important than ever before.
Those with experience in medical care can be tremendously helpful during this time. Whether you’re a current med school student or a recent retiree, find out how you can offer your services or advice to reduce the spread and give patients some comfort.
Even an anonymous monetary donation to a nonprofit organization can be extremely beneficial during this time. And, if you’re an animal lover, find out how you can adopt or foster a pet who may be stuck in a shelter somewhere with little human contact.
People Helping Others: What’s Our Responsibility?
If you’re unable to help others in need through physical or financial acts, it’s still your responsibility to respond to crises in a wise, measured way. Do your best to remain calm, and take deep breaths whenever you feel overwhelmed.
Self-care is just as important as it is for people helping others during scary times. If you can’t take care of yourself or you feel unwell, it’s much more difficult to extend a helping hand to other people. Offer advice to others, such as tips for working from home if it’s something you already do.
When discussing the topic of coronavirus, it’s perfectly fine to take a hard stance on the issues themselves. However, remember to be soft on the people who disagree with you, and never resort to personal insults, attacks, or name-calling.
If you happen to see others who are displaying racist or cruel behaviour, it’s OK to call this out. Just remember, it’s your responsibility to call out the behaviour itself and not attack the people personally. This can be tough, but it’s worth the effort if you want to maintain a sense of calm and decorum.
When listing or linking to articles, make sure that everything you post comes from a reliable, verified source. The spread of misinformation isn’t just reckless, but it can also be very dangerous during this crisis.
You can have tough conversations during this time, and it’s more important than ever to be courageous. Author Brene Brown’s Netflix special “The Call to Courage” is an excellent resource to help you stay strong and answer the call during difficult times such as these.
Other Ways You Can Help
Besides helping those in your neighbourhood or those you love in your personal life, there are plenty of other ways to help others through this crisis. First, if you’re able to, donating blood is extremely important since this life-saving task will be in demand more than ever before.
Talk to your local homeless shelter and find out other ways you can help such as donating clothing, food, or small toiletries. Even the local animal shelters can use volunteers right now so that animals in need are not left abandoned.
The coronavirus pandemic is having a massive effect on small businesses all over the globe. Another effective way to help is by supporting these small businesses by making purchases, ordering takeout from a local restaurant, or even via a donation. When small businesses disappear, the sense of community is affected in immeasurable ways.
If you have a talent you’d like to share, make a YouTube video and post it online for others to enjoy. Whether it’s playing an instrument or teaching a new language, the world can use those with talent right now to keep spirits up and minds active.
Helping Others in a Practical Way
Although a pandemic makes people helping others more difficult, there are still plenty of things you can do to assist. From donating food and money to donating blood, everything you do can make a massive difference in someone else’s life.
Remember to keep your conversations logical, calm, and friendly. When you set the tone, others will follow which means the world will be a kinder, better place for all.
If you’re looking for new ways to grow your business during this time of crisis (or any other time), be sure to visit our website and contact us today for more information so we can help.
