I feel as if my first 12 years of life were sustained on that channel alone. Reading Rainbow, Kratts Creatures, Lamb Chop’s Play-ALong, The Big Comfy Couch, Zaboomafoo, Zoom, Liberty’s Kids, The Magic School Bus, Bill Nye the Science Guy… Even though I never spent that much time in front of a television growing up, somehow I consumed them ravenously.
Among the PBS shows I adored, Mr. Rogers was one of my favorites. In my personal home collection is a dvd or two of some of his most popular episodes and the Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Documentary. Before I came home, we bought A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. (I am so excited to watch it!)
As a child, Mr. Rogers’ words of wisdom that in times of tragedy, fear, struggle, or sadness, we can find comfort looking for the helpers was a protective blanket when I felt powerless. It was a reminder that there was always good, always light in the darkest hour. As a child, the world spins around us. We cannot control it. Searching for the good is an anchor in the storm, a beacon of hope against fear.
Even as an adult, to thwart the initial paralysis of fear or grief, I’ll look for the good.
Except, now, as an adult, it is my job to be the helper that kids can look to. Mr. Rogers was quelling the fear of children. Now it is our responsibility to be the helpers. To be the good that other kids search for and cling to. Being proactive and being a helper also makes me feel as though I’ve got some power in a situation I may otherwise feel powerless in. I cannot rescue or change the world; but I can help my little corner of it. That’s something.
So, to quell the rearing anxiety and grief I began compiling a list. A list of ways to reach out, do good, or pay it forward.
Here’s my list!
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- Join a local Facebook Group with Calls to Action. Many of these care-oriented Facebook groups are popping up in communities. While I am generally avoiding social media for my own mental health, I do check in on groups like these. For those of my readers in the southern Maine area, Kennebunk has one called “CARING in the Kennebunks” to spread uplifting messages or media and also answer the call to community needs, such as food, water, medicine, or just a kind word or an ear. Right now, pages like these are great resources for positivity and support. Check to see if your local community has one. If they don’t… start one!
- By Two Books from Libro.fm and 100% of your purchase goes to local bookstores! (This offer is only until the end of March – so act now!) This audiobook company is offering an amazing deal to purchase two books for the price of one ($14.99). You get to choose what local bookstore benefits from your purchase. So far they’ve raised $64, 846 and helped 660 bookstores across the US and Canada. I am so excited to purchase mine!
- The Tonight Show from home. Over on Facebook, Jimmy Fallon has been recording short shows and highlighting different charities each night. Watch these shows for a much needed morale boost and then pay it forward by donating to help those in need!
- Do you Sew? Make masks for health care professionals! This NY Times Article brought to light that sewers across the nation are coming together to help health care professionals by a means they have right at their fingertips. Vanderbilt University in TN had a great write up with instructions for creation of the masks and how to donate. If you poke around the internet, there are a lot more resources out there, too! Just make sure to check with your local hospitals to ensure they are taking the sewn masks, some are not at this time. A quick google search, however, will yield you with dozens of options for locations to send masks.
- Write emails, letters, or create art for those you know are alone or you cannot see.
- For nursing homes – make sure to contact your local nursing home first to ensure they are withholding mail for a number of days or enacting a sanitizing procedure for all mail that comes in. COVID-19 can live on paper for several days. We don’t want to spread to others!
- If you write for people in your community / loved ones – make sure they know to isolate the mail for a few days before opening and appropriately hand sanitize after handling, so not contributing to spread
- Email letters & Paint drawings to friends and family – this is arguably the least-dangerous in terms of the risk of spread. Also, who remembers drawing on paint as a kid? I remember spending hours there trying to master the art of drawing with my computer mouse. (Update: it never happened!) Now is a great time to either dust off these old skills or get your kids to develop their own masterpieces.
- Donate to your local animal shelters or to other animal rescues. Recently, Villalobos Rescue Center has been putting out calls for aid – from monetary donations to supplies – to help take care of their dogs. It made me realize how many animal shelters and rescues must be hurting right now. If you’re able to… extend a hand to man’s furry friends and the people who care for them, by donating money or goods.
- Check in with your friends and family… Especially if they are Health Care Providers. This is an emotionally rough time for a lot of people. Lend an ear to those who might be struggling or provide conversation to those who may be feeling lonely – or stir-crazy – due to the constraints of social distancing.
- If your local stores or restaurants are still open, or have online store fronts, consider buying gift certificates to your favorites. This gives them money to live on now until this passes and their business can reopen but also gives you something to enjoy after this has all passed!
- If you have a skill that can be monetized – for example: photography, crafting, jewelry making, art, music, yoga instructor – use it to raise money for local businesses or charities. Create a piece and digitally raffle it off; offer a live show on facebook with a donation link; or offer up a special package of your services with the proceeds to go to a local business or charity. Get creative with it!
- Donate – money or food – to local pantries. Some towns are setting up specific locations to hand out COVID-19 relief supplies to low-income or struggling families and individuals. Reach out to these organizations, or your local food pantries, and see if they have any monetary or supply needs.
- Had to cancel a catered event? If you are financially able, keep the contract with the caterer and instruct them to send the food to families or community members in need, those in quarantine, or medical personnel (who may be working overtime due to demand or covering for sick colleagues.)
- Live in an apartment complex and have extra canned goods, toiletries, PPE, or other supplies? Leave a “Please Take if You Need” box outside of your door. This is a bit of a hindsight, really. I ended up running around the complex with my box, giving out supplies before I left to hunker down at home. In our hallway, we also had a shelving unit for the complex that I lined supplies out on before I left. (If you do this, encourage your neighbors to make sure to disinfect before they touch!)
- Do you have extra Personal Protection Equipment (gloves, masks, etc…)? Check with your local hospitals or grocery stores will accept these donations
- Have a few extra canned goods or TP? Keep a roll or can or two in your car. When you go to the store, if you see someone elderly or who truly needs any item they cannot find. Give them one of yours.
- STAY HOME. Do not go visit friends or family, do not go out needlessly. Nature is not – as the cool kids say it ‘cancelled’ – so get out and enjoy the fresh air…. With safe distance from others. Every time we leave our residence to socialize or go to the store for non-necessities, we increase the risk of becoming a vector or contracting the disease, increasing the risk of spread, and thus increasing the workload for health care professionals.
- If you have to go out – to work, to get your weekly groceries – be kind. If you are not wearing a mask, try to send a stranger a smile. You never know whose day you might brighten by spreading a little joy in a dim world.
- Be kind to one another.
Have you been Paying it Forward? Let me know in the comments what you’ve been doing!
xoxo,
