Adversity can either bring out the best or worst in people. This pandemic has seriously upended everyone’s lives, demonstrating that lending support to your community is vital and that even the smallest acts of kindness can be radical.

If you are looking for specific ways to lend support to others during this pandemic, look no further.

Donate blood

If you are able to, one of the most concrete ways to help out is to donate blood. A Business Insider article highlights how this is a life-saving act that modern healthcare is heavily dependent on. Amidst lockdowns, the demand for blood donations still runs high, with requirements reaching around 29,000 donations weekly. Precautionary measures for sites for blood donation are taken into consideration for your peace of mind. With every donation, you may be able to save up to three lives –– with recipients ranging from new mothers and their babies, cancer patients, patients with blood disorders, among many others.

Communicate with empathy

Most interactions these days are conducted online or over the phone, and we rarely get quality face time with friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers, which is why it’s so crucial to be mindful of the way we communicate, as a lot of things can get lost in translation. Lifestyle writer James Gonzales highlights how being understanding when communicating virtually is a crucial aspect of a remote worker’s day-to-day, which still holds true for everyone stuck at home. There are subtleties that may be overlooked, or things that can be interpreted the wrong way.

Misunderstanding can become a more common occurrence with coworkers or friends, or older family members who may not be as savvy with technology. Communicate with empathy by staying patient if people are facing technical difficulties during calls. Maintain your cool and offer to help troubleshoot, if you can. You may find yourself in a similar position soon enough.

Support local businesses

Smaller businesses are suffering greatly at this time, with brick and mortar stores either closing up shop, or pivoting in order to stay afloat. But as we proceed with purchasing particular goods and services, it’s about time we rethink where we spend our money. The best thing we can do right now is to opt to support businesses in our community to boost the local economy, as opposed to larger commercial corporations and chains. Many of these businesses are proceeding with operations in any way that they can, and Brisbane cafe owner Priscilla Williams says that they are doing this to support their own staff. The next time you need to go for a supermarket run, consider your local vendors, farmers, and other merchants within the area.

Check-in with your peers

While it can be agreed upon that this is universally not the best time for everyone, failure to acknowledge that people are still going through their own unique problems can invalidate their experiences. Genevieve Reid wrote how self-care is extremely important at this time, and can hold even more value when we remind others of its importance. Spare some time to check-in with your peers, coworkers, or family members. If you notice that they are going through a particularly difficult time, suggest actionable tips to help them look out for themselves, if you can’t be there for them personally. You can encourage them to go for a walk, or even send out a small care package to cheer them up.

No matter the act you choose to do, this kindness will go a long way. Lending support reveals our humanity in a time when we need it the most.

This article was specially written for tappON.co

By: Reisa Jayme