As the weeks go on, it seems things are slowly getting brighter. However, it’s going to be a while before the pandemic is truly “over” (whatever that will mean), and the U.S. is seeing a lot of division and strife. However, caring for other people is a wonderful way to spread hope. We want to give you some easy ways to care for others during these challenging times.
Volunteer or donate to nonprofits providing crucial relief during this time.
Educate yourself about where you can help most, and donate or volunteer! Our nonprofits have worked tirelessly this year to continue working towards their goals.
Here are some nonprofits that have kept working hard to support their communities during COVID.
Mary’s Place is committed to continuing their mission of making sure everyone who wants it has shelter, while taking every precaution necessary to protect the high-risk folks in their care. Visit the link to find ways you can help them!
FareStart is reaching out to the community by providing hunger relief and social services in the Seattle area to support the vulnerable throughout the pandemic. They also list volunteer opportunities you can sign up for, like writing letters and delivering meals, here.
United Way of King County has a Community Relief Fund to pay for food, rent, and other expenses for workers who have lost income as a result of COVID-19. They also have an extensive list of volunteer opportunities.
Donate blood.
This pandemic has led to fewer people giving blood because they’re afraid they might catch COVID. It’s important to be cautious, but as long as everyone wears a mask, it’s perfectly safe to give blood, and it’s a critical resource as our hospitals remain overfull.
Here are some resources to get you started:
Stay home, wear a mask, and social distance.
This isn’t anything novel, but it’s tried and true. The best way to care for others is to do your part to avoid infecting them and getting infected, especially when vaccines are within our grasp. It may be difficult to distance, but if it saves lives, it’ll be worth it. Plus, you can find quality fashionable masks that support nonprofits!
DIOP is donating a percentage of each mask sale to Feed the Frontlines Detroit.
GAP has donated 50,000 masks to the Boys and Girls Club of America and Canada.
CASETiFY is partnering with the nonprofit Direct Relief to donate one mask for every one bought to communities in need.
Check in on those you love.
It’s easy to feel isolated when you’re only seeing the people you live with for days and even weeks at a time. A call or letter to someone you love brightens their day and eases the difficulty of this strange new routine, whether they’re staying at home or having to put themselves at risk at work. It can be quick and simple, just a sweet word or thought. You’ll probably end up feeling better, too!
Care for yourself.
You can’t care for others well unless you’re caring for yourself. Make sure you’re regulating your sleep, eating good food often, connecting with other people, and engaging in self-comfort a healthy amount. This is a traumatic time, especially for those who are unemployed, overworked, put at risk, and struggling to balance work and family. This has been an unprecedented change. The current crises have affected everyone, and it’s important to admit that. You deserve love and care, especially in difficult times.
The CDC has a fantastic resource page about taking care of your own mental health in this time of crisis.
Taking care of yourself and others helps to spread hope to our communities. No matter which action you choose to take, our support of each other during difficulty is what creates trust, and trusting those around us helps us to move forward as one.
If you want to get involved with nonprofits or make a contribution, visit neddie.co!
Let us know how you’re taking action to care for yourself and others in the comments below!
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