It’s heartwarming to see how everyone supports each other in times of crisis. What can you do for your own community? Here are some tips from Michelle Obama.
On her Instagram account, Michelle Obama has compiled some suggestions on how you could support your local community. Although some of them may not apply (for example, if the schools around you are closed), there are a few recommendations that could be of use.
- Contact parents who are currently teaching at home and offer to give their children a lesson or to read them a story. This could be possible, for example, via Skype or FaceTime.
- Offer to run errands for people who can’t get out. Because they are sick, for example, or because they no longer dare to. You can put the groceries in front of their door with a sweet note.
- If you have the option, buy gift certificates from your favorite local addresses and save them for later, or give them as a thank you gift to a supermarket employee or the mail carrier, for example.
- If you can afford to, make a donation to small, local businesses that are currently struggling. If you had an appointment at the hairdresser’s or the beauty salon, for example, then make an online payment to them as if you had actually gone to the appointment. But of course: only if you can afford to.
- If eating out at the weekends was a regular thing for you why not see if your favorite restaurant currently delivers. This way you still have a pleasant evening (but simply at home, rather than out) and you also get to help the local restaurants.
Michelle Obama closes her message with a comforting message: ‘And don’t forget: It’s okay to take a breath, too. Be gentle with yourself. Log off when you need to, take a break if you can, and let others know when you’d like a little help.’
- You can see Michelle Obama’s tips here.
Photography Micheile Henderson / Unsplash.com
