My Personal Guide to Giving Back & Keeping Busy During COVID-19
As strange and wary of a time as it is, I can’t help but feel a connectedness and unity happening around the globe that I have never experienced before. I have seen so many businesses, influencers, artists, authors, corporations, students, and creatives find innovative ways to reach their communities and the rest of the world.
I have seen movements, like Italy’s #iorestoacasa (#istayathome) and Spain’s initiative to hang children’t art in the windows for neighbors to enjoy. I have seen GoFundMe campaigns skyrocket in order to support suffering industries and finance medical supplies to hospitals in Italy. There are helpers all around if you only choose to see them.
We must remember this. We must remember this when the weight of the world settles on our shoulders. We must remember this even after canceled events, turning your dining room into an office AND a classroom, getting to know the corners of your house better than you ever wanted to, positive test results, dwindling bank accounts— we must remember the goodness and light that is all around us.
Read about my time in Italy during the COVID-19 outbreak.
I decided to create this post and combine both the ways you can not only #lookforthehelpers , but become one yourself AND ways you can stimulate your mind and take advantage of those who are providing amazing resources to you during this time.
It’s a guide for how to give back and keep busy and connected with the world around you.
Are you ready?
Giving Back
How to help Globally
1. Continue to raise awareness online using fact-checked information that discourages mass-hysteria.
World Health Organization Center for Disease Control Coronavirus Guidelines for America
2. Call and FaceTime friends nearby and around the world to help combat the effects of social distancing.
(USA only) Quarantined with an abuser? CALL 1-800-799-7233 or CHAT thehotline.org
(USA only)Going through an emotional crisis? TEXT “home” to 741741 and a crisis worker will be with you
3. Be aware and speak up about racial profiling. Both the Chinese and Italians are taking the brunt against racist remarks both in the news and on the street. Let’s end it!
How to help Italy
1. Share photos and your favorite memories of Italy to help shed some light on this beautiful country.
2. Donate to an Italian nonprofit.
provide medical supplies to hospitals support the elderly community help distribute meals
3. Support small businesses by using the hashtags #madeinitaly #madeinflorence or #madein (fill in the city).
How to help America
1. Use your online platform to help encourage others to stay safe and practice social distancing. P.S. It doesn’t matter how many followers/friends you have, trust me— everyone is online and you can make a huge positive impact.
2. Donate to Feeding America or use their website to find your local food bank. Better yet— pick a national (or global) charity and start a fundraiser on Facebook!
3. Donate blood or sponsor to host a blood drive through American Red Cross. All types are needed, but blood type O and platelets are imperative.
How to help locally
1. Offer to run errands for those who are at-risk, anxious, or are busy caring for their children.
2. Purchase a gift card from local shops & restaurants to be used at a later date.
3. Order delivery or takeout from your favorite locally-owned restaurant. Many family-owned restaurants are switching to online orders or pop-up drive-thru pickup in order to keep their business running.
Keeping Busy
Take advantage of all new online opportunities to learn, get creative, and stay entertained! I’ve done all the hard work for you by rounding up my favorites and listing them below.
educational
Take a free, online class taught by the most prestigious universities in the United States!
Creative
All art/design classes by popular media company Brit + Co. are FREE until 3/31! Just use the code “SELFCARE” at checkout.
Cultural
Watch a nightly livestream of the Metropolitan Opera.
Take a virtual tour of the most famous museums around the world through Google Arts & Culture.
For a full list of virtual concerts that you can watch during the COVID-19 shutdown, click here.
Health & wellness
My favorite yoga instructor of all time, Yoga with Adriane, just created a YouTube playlist called “Yoga for Uncertain Times” — it’s filled with different practices to help you find peace and connection every single day.
Peloton is now offering new members a 90-day free trial to their app which is filled with a variety of different workout routines. Just don’t forget to set a reminder to cancel your subscription!
Check in on your local studios to see if they are live-streaming classes. Show up and give them your support! My favorite Alpharetta studio is Oya Yoga Studio.
Have you discovered any other resources that I may have missed? Please email me at olivia.frances.biz@gmail.com so I can update this post! Comment below if you found this helpful and let me know what you are going to do to give back + keep busy.