A crisis of this magnitude can bring out the worst in people.
If you have been in a grocery store recently you might have witnessed individuals grabbing every last item on a shelf (toilet paper, ramen noodles, frozen pizzas) with absolutely no regard for others. Some shoppers or brazen enough to take things out of others’ carts while they weren’t looking.
There is currently a scam in which callers claiming to be with the CDC telling people they can reserve a coronavirus vaccine for them but need a credit card number and / or Social Security number.
It makes a depressing situation even more depressing.
So let’s turn the tables and shine a little light on how a crisis of this magnitude can bring out the best in people.
Please help me by posting random acts of kindness you have witnessed, have done or are willing to do.
I will start…
Former District 16 Assemblymember Catharine Baker left notes for neighbors she believed are over 65 or have other special risks or needs, asking them to contact her if they needed any help. “So eager to help them and do more. Keep the info coming,” She wrote on Twitter when she shared the note so others might do the same.
Who’s next?
The Gatetree Circle neighborhood has a strong community during normal times. We have a high percentage of original owners in their 80s. I have known many of these people for almost 50 years, since I was a freshman at Amador.
The have been many offers going out over our community list with offers of help.
What a great group of people to have for neighbors!
I feel very fortunate as I am now in my early 60s and while offering my help I may need to ask for help myself…..who knows.
Karl,
Thank you for your seeing the “big picture” and helping those that may not have the ability to get out themselves in this time of crises. We just got back from Charleston, SC, and saw the act of kindness by strangers. Inspiring and glad to see spirit here.
Hi Gina,
Great article and ideas, there are so many people coming out and offering to help, it is wonderful… New groups are forming to help others. We’ve had a number of people (neighbors, friends, folks from church, etc) ask if we need anything, we did drive to a couple of older ladies we know and took them a puzzle (just dropped it off on their porch).
In my father-in-law’s neighborhood everyone steps outside at 5:00 pm each day to wave to one another. This is especially touching on his block because there are quite a few residents who are in their 80s and 90s. My father-in-law is 92 and lives alone so we especially appreciate how caring these neighbors are!
We have adopted the practice started in Italy of putting a lighted LED candle in our front window to acknowledge the brave souls of the medical community, police and fire departments, grocery store employees, and everyone on the front lines who are working so hard for us, as we do our part as seniors to shelter-in-place.
Please get the word out to assist our housebound Seniors:
Staff from Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley delivered household paper goods and items to the Seniors they serve in Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin. They are in need of monetary donations to purchase needed food supplies to our homebound Seniors, during this time of “Shelter in Place”.
Please visit their website at http://www.ssptv.org to make a donation or contact Mercel Amin, Administrator Director at mamin@ssptv.org 925-931-5379 Thank you for your support!
Hi Gina,
This is an awesome idea and hopefully others who will post the act of kindness that they intend to do it would be better if they can also update here if done. Well as for myself, I am planning to organize our club to give groceries to those who are homeless. They would be the worst hit by this pandemic. Even if they would want to quarantine it would be hard for them and unlike us they have no family to turn to during this time of need.
I also run a small business https://handymanmacon.com/ and I am willing to help in building temporary shelters for our homeless countrymen. I really feel bad and worry about them. I have experienced being homeless like 8 years ago and it is really hard.
Random acts of kindness in a time of need is very heartwarming, and should be practiced year around.
In a time when politicians continue to vilify US corporations, I’d like to share important actions my company, Cisco Systems, is taking to help in these difficult times:
1) $1 million matching dollars for employees’ donations to their local non-profits to help the impact on their community. In my case, Alameda County Community Foodbank received my $1000 + Cisco’s $1000 match.
2) Allocating $8 million in cash and $210 million in product to the global coronavirus response. The focus: these resources on supporting healthcare and education, government response and critical technology. Part of this will go to the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, supporting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) worldwide efforts to help prevent, detect, and manage the spread of COVID-19.
I think we are seeing other corporations are doing the same – supporting as they can to help the world community.