Redirect toward charity funds normally spent on presents.
If you have friends or relatives who are already blessed with plenty of material possessions, this might be a good time to redirect some of your budget from presents to charities. Many charities will allow you to donate money in recognition of a someone else, and will automatically send that person an email. This approach to the holidays is likely to leave you, your friends, and relatives inspired and happy, and as we all know, there are many great organizations that could use our financial support at this time.Subscribe to online newspapers and magazines, and give a subscription to a friend.
Journalism is challenged by decline in revenue in the age of the internet. While using the Thought Tools Timpani website, you will discover that some of the hyperlinks won’t work unless you have a subscription to the referenced on-line publication. See this as an opportunity to do good: subscribe! Most online publications offer a special deal for the first month, so you can get exposure to multiple publications at a very low cost, then decide which ones to continue after the low-cost period is over. Take this time to expand your horizons and help valuable businesses survive.Good journalism is vital to a healthy democracy. In a rapidly changing crisis, where informed public behavior is a key to a successful outcome, good journalism becomes even more valuable. Support careers in journalism by subscribing or donating now to the sources you value most.
The value of local newspapers:
- PEN, December 2019
https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Losing-the-News-The-Decimation-of-Local-Journalism-and-the-Search-for-Solutions-Report.pdf
- Hidden Brain podcast, NPR, April 27, 2020
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/27/845559713/starving-the-watchdogs-who-foots-the-bill-when-newspapers-disappear
Hire an Unemployed Young Person.
Think of ways to hire a young person you know--relative, neighbor, or child of a friend--who is unemployed. Some ideas to consider: work in your garden, computer assistance by phone, delivering groceries. Make sure you and your employee follow social distancing guidelines during these transactions. Explain the conditions clearly in advance.Help a Neighbor.
If you have a next-door neighbor who is living alone, offer to meet once a day to check in and talk. Set a regular time to either check in by phone, or even better, to go out on your respective porches and talk with each other across the yard, and possibly sing and play instruments from your porches.If you have a neighbor who is sick or infirm, offer to bring them groceries.
Be Kind.
In times of struggle, simple human kindness feeds the soul. It is free, and available daily from within each of us. Cheerfulness, gentle humor, and alert thinking are also free, and contagious.Become a volunteer online tutor.
"UPchieve is a free, online platform that connects low-income high school students in the US with live, volunteer coaches (that’s you!) any time they need it. Our volunteer experience was designed to be ultra-flexible because we believe it should be easy for awesome people like you to help students succeed. You can help students from anywhere with an internet connection: whether that be from your desk at work or from the comfort of your couch!" https://upchieve.org/volunteer/Connect Through Organizations.
Idealist.org matches volunteers with organizations.https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer?actionType=VOLOP&q=covid19&searchMode=true&sort=relevance
Love for the Elderly operates a campaign to send letters to the elderly. You can help them offer help. https://lovefortheelderly.org/letters
The Wellbeing Economy Alliance brings people together to build a better world.
Imagine the possible.
https://wellbeingeconomy.org/build-back-better-webinar-series
More Ideas.
From The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, a website and online magazine.https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic
From 13WMAZ in Macon County, Georgia:
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/syndication/heartthreads/how-to-help-others-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/507-a4b67142-3374-461c-9eb5-52caa3e6c4a5
The Washington Post 3/21/2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/21/how-you-can-help-during-coronavirus/?arc404=true&itid=lb_coronavirus-what-you-need-to-read_11
