Life
We are in pretty scary times, and there seems to be no real end date — but there are real, bright lights in the dark. People are willing to band together to help each other, and some of the best things businesses and people are during the coronavirus outbreak will motivate you to be more kind, too.
Beyond Disney putting Frozen 2 on Disney+ three months early (omg thank you), there are many businesses both big and small, as well as individuals out there, going above and beyond to make things during this crisis just a little bit better. There are restaurants giving away free meals, teachers creating free classes, and meditation apps going fully free to help ease the frazzled nerves of people everywhere. Even major publications like The Lancet are making COVID-related content completely free with no paywall. It's just really heartening to see how when things get bad, people are genuinely good.
It reminds me a lot of what I saw in New York City after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy — the best of people emerges when the going gets tough. It makes you truly grateful for the good in people. Mr. Rogers said, "Look for the helpers," and well, readers, they are all around us. Here are just a few that we've noticed so far — we'll be adding to this list each day.
19
A DC Distillery Is Giving Away Free Hand Sanitizer
The distillery is giving away hand sanitizer made with high-grade alcohol (with enough proof to kill germs). The DC-based distillery happens to make my very favorite apple brandy, so if you're in the area, have a bottle of brandy (or rye or vodka) delivered to you, and get a bottle of sanitizer with it.
20
Covering Arena Workers' Pay
Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Zion Williamson are some of the many NBA stars who are helping to pay the wages of furloughed arena employees who lost income due to the NBA games suspension, noted ABC News.
21
A Shop In Scotland Giving Away Free Supplies To The Elderly
A corner store in Scotland, owned by local heroes Asiyah and Jawad Javed, has been giving out free masks and cleaning supplies to elderly customers, noted The Independent. They told the paper, “I feel it is not fair on elderly people, some can’t get out the house. We are delivering 30 packages to a care home where there are 30 people living, and we’ve got another couple of hundred in the shop."
22
A Pod With A Cause
Comedian, author, and expert at working from home Sara Benincasa will be launching a podcast with the aim to help all of us cope with our own mental health and strategic struggles — all while showing up for nonprofits in need.
23
Authors Adapt--Giving Signed Books To Healthcare Workers
When the COVID-19 crisis hit, former biomedical researcher and bestselling author Penny Reid tells Romper that she was full of restless energy, knowing what was likely about to hit the healthcare system. "I was having difficulty concentrating because I felt I hadn't done anything meaningful to show my solidarity and gratitude," she says. When she found a post by a nurse friend of hers, who was rereading a favorite book, she decided to start the "Authors Adopt" program, which pairs authors willing to send (for free) signed copies of their books to healthcare workers. So far 900 authors have signed up to donate 2600 books across a broad swath of genres.
It should be noted that in times of trouble, Reid is always at the forefront of "the helpers" — her Dear Professor series has raised $50k for College Track and the Hispanic Federation.
24
A One-Woman Delivery Service
During the COVID-19 crisis, distance runner CC Rowe of Austin, Texas started using her time on-foot to deliver goods to her neighbors, KUT radio reports. Utilizing her neighborhood's "Buy Nothing" group, she is bringing goods like hand sanitizer and masks to those who need it most, and who have a hard time getting around. She's like a modern day Hermes in a pair of running sneakers in place of winged sandals.
This is going to be a long haul, friends. Let us all be the best, most charitable versions of ourselves when we are able. Let us regroup, be kind to ourselves, and find the love for each other. The world can be scary, but it can also be beautiful.
If you think we've missed something great, email us at advice@romper.com with the subject line Great Things Happening.
If you think you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, which include fever, shortness of breath, and cough, call your doctor before going to get tested. If you’re anxious about the virus’s spread in your community, visit the CDC for up-to-date information and resources, or seek out mental health support. You can find all of Romper’s parents + coronavirus coverage here, and Bustle’s constantly updated, general “what to know about coronavirus” here.
This article was originally published on