- Donate to a good cause. If you continue to have a steady income, think about how much less money you are spending these weeks at home. For me, there's no money being spent on commuting, grabbing a take-out lunch or coffee, or just running out to the store. What better way to spend it now than to give it where it's most needed. Liam and I have decided to pick a charity to donate to every day. In some cases, we might save up our daily contribution for a few days to send off a larger donation. Jimmy Fallon: At Home Edition (definitely worth a watch!) offers a charity suggestion every day, which is where we got the idea. Some local ideas we've had include Journeys, PADS, and the Willow Creek Care Center, which is run by my amazing cousin Josie. The Care Center is continuing to provide emergency food to hundreds of Chicago-area families without resources and breakfasts and lunches to local schools to hand out to kids who would otherwise go hungry. Plus, they recently rented out a Red Roof Inn to house the local homeless population, giving beds and showers to this vulnerable population. I don't know about you, but that made me tear up a little. Also, here's a recent article in the Washington Post with a great list of organizations to support during the pandemic. (Note: some of these places also take donations of supplies, like disinfecting wipes, paper products and masks. If you are one of those whose basement is full of extra everything that you're now seeing you'll never use up, consider sharing.)
- Check in on friends, family and neighbors, especially those who are alone, anxious, sick or lonely. Email and text are great, but now is a great time to pick up the phone or FaceTime and let them hear your voice and see your smile. FaceTime is definitely Elliott's new favorite way to communicate. House tours are his specialty. Or, as long as we are still receiving mail, why not write a letter? And if you are in the "still have a job" group, consider slipping in a check or some cash to gift a friend or family member who is living more tenuously in this new reality. Don't know an older or single neighbor's phone or email address? Take a walk and jot down their physical address. Then send them a card to say hello and share yours!
- Make a meal for a widower or single mom and leave it on their doorstep. Or buy some provisions and deliver to someone at risk so they don't have to go out. (Of course, check that the person is okay receiving such a gift and be sure to practice all the right hygiene tactics when you are preparing and delivering!) Or if you're lucky enough to have flowers popping up in your yard soon, consider surprising someone with a porch bouquet.
- Send a thank you to our first responders. If you have kids, get them involved by making drawings to send to the doctors and nurses in your family practice, the ER staff in your local hospital or the EMTs and firefighters at your town's station. Such a great way to show how much you appreciate them putting themselves in harm's way to help those who fall ill.
- Share your books and DVDs. Put up a free little library or take photos of stacks of books in your personal stash that you're willing to share or part with and send to neighbors with kids who love to read. I know a 13-year-old only child who's a reader and running out of books, so I sent her mom photos of a bunch of my books and will drop off on her doorstep the ones she wants. Currently, those book are just gathering dust in my basement. My friend Teresa also had the great idea to stock a box, like a free little library, with free provisions for anyone in the neighborhood who needed them. Maybe a plastic bin or cooler in the front yard filled with basic essentials. I mean, seriously, what are people going to do with all that toilet paper anyway?
- Make art. It's easy to resort to TV, movies and video games, but imagine what could be done with a paint brush, needle and thread, colored pencils and paper, or that old dusty piano. Write a poem, learn to watercolor, try needlepoint, plunk out a tune. If you have the skills, offer a video tutorial to a friend. Find a YouTube video. Just play around. Children's book illustrator Mo Willems is teaching the world to doodle online. If there was ever a time to explore the artist in you and add more beauty to the world, it is now!
- Play a board game, do a puzzle, make music or have a dance party with the whole family. And if you are not sheltering in place with your family, play or dance virtually. It'll be a memory you won't soon forget.
- Hang out. Parents of teens, this one is especially for you. Think about all the time you have now with your kids in the house and nowhere to go. It's finally a chance to get to know your kid. Ask him or her to show you something funny they love to watch on YouTube. Then get out of your judgment seat and let yourself laugh. It's been a long time since I've laughed as hard as I have while watching Vlogs with Liam. We are also making a painting together to hang over the fireplace. As I see it, there's no better chance to connect.
- Look inside. Many of us are still bogged down by work or are cooped up with small children who have endless needs. And some of us are living both realities! But no matter who you are, this time is giving you a lot to think about. What better opportunity to face our prejudices, grudges, apathy and fears that we covered up so well in all our busyness. And make amends.
- Be nice to each other... and yourself. This is an uncertain, worrisome time. We are stuck with the same people 24 hours a day or we are all alone. (My heart aches when I think about kids especially who are in homes with adults who mistreat and abuse them. Many kids found solace in school or other people's homes and now those outlets are gone. Help can still be found here.)
Take care of yourself so you can be the best for others. We are all in this together.
Have another idea (or link to a good story or online resource) for a way to give each other hope and help during this unprecedented time? Share in a comment!
