Day 20 Quarantine (roughly)
Its such a strange paradigm to be living in this. I am incredibly fortunate, I have had great healthcare and the resources to maintain a level of health that is now only becoming all to clear is crucial. I think about whats happening, and I can spin into the news frenzy ..but there are things we can do. Here as some:
Be kind to yourself. Take precautions. And act like you are living in a moment that will change the world. You are. If you want to be the hero of your story, then do small things to help in big ways.
Its a change for all of us and the devastation is becoming more apparent. If you are reading this, you may have extra free time on your hands. Use your time to help those who are worse off. Its not just about giving money, there are many ways to help your community. Be the person you want to be.
1.Be kind and take care of yourself. The most important thing I have taken from social media is not to be too hard on myself. We don’t have to be completing big projects, learning new skills, or posting happy picture to be enough. Now more than ever, take care of yourself first. Maybe start doing yoga or playing games online. Whatever you do to cope, be proud because you are navigating uncharted waters in history.
2.If you have resources, donate. Don’t stock pile money. Health should not be a commodity, it is a human right. We will have to solve this problem when the fog clears, for now try to give what you can because all of our health is at risk.
-Friends, if your struggling hit me up and I’ll give you what I can
-Buy something from local artists
-Local animal shelter
-Food banks
-Philadelphia harm reduction coalition
-Your local EMTs
-Firefighters and first responders
3.Give Blood. Massive shortages for blood donations. Check out where you can go to give blood locally and what precautions they are taking: https://www.redcrossblood.org/
4.Have a sewing machine? Learn to use it and make masks. Get materials from local hospitals or Joann Fabrics is donating supplies you can get curb side at your local store
-Philly- sewfacemasksphilly.com
-Joann Fabrics- https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/
5.Don’t have a sewing machine? Become a distributor. Networks of people all across the country are delivering materials to people and picking up finished masks to deliver. If you are in the Philadelphia area and have time and a car- fill out this google doc and get involved
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fz1DOVt044znf3slSs0PY4rPpR7GVjo9kKEvBAaTexE/edit
6.Foster a cat or dog. The shelters are struggling too and more than ever they need fosters to care for the animals. They don’t just magically get taken care of. They are euthanized. Any animal you help, multiply by two! You saved them and made an open space for another at the shelter
.7.Reach out to 3 new people a day. Ask them how they are, if there is anything they need, and let them know you are here for them. Text people you havnt seen since grade school. Text your high school teachers. Text your friend who lives across the country.
8.Offer to run errands for your neighbors. Lets limit the grocery store runs and ask those around you if you can get their groceries for them. Especially people who can’t go out without risk. Take some pressure off the delivery drivers and do what deliveries can’t: (pick up alcohol)
.9.Try not to order a bunch of stuff on amazon. Do you need it? Can it wait?
10.If you are using delivery, tip. If you use any services and you can, give something to the people who are risking their health because they have to work.
11.Video chat with kids. Parents at home with children are under extreme pressure. No one wants to be stuck in their home with their toddlers for month on end. Let the kids play with the filters and make weird faces at you. Check in with the parents.
12.If you do have kids, have them make cards for the elderly or those living alone. Drop them off at nursing homes or local religious organizations.
13.Volunteer to tutor online. Do it directly with kids you know, help them with math or reading or just let them tell you what they have been learning recently. 1.You can also volunteer your time to digital learning.
-.MightyWriters Philadelphia is asking for volunteers to step up to offer homework help and writing tutoring in English and Spanish, via Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, phone and other platforms.- I can send you the information for who to contact if you cannot find online