The world has been pretty crappy in recent years. Sometimes, we look around and it seems like the world is full of bad things. And 2020 hasn’t been any different, starting with bushfires through Australia, war, and now, a global pandemic.
Coronavirus has officially hit 166 countries and territories. The virus, which was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people around the world. It’s caused a complete shutdown in countries like Italy and Spain where people are now confined to their homes to slow the spread of the disease.
In the United States, President Trump declared a national state of emergency. Many states are asking people to shelter where they are, while businesses and non-essential stores close their doors.
It’s a frightening time. For most of us, this experience is unprecedented. We don’t know what will happen or who will get sick. But even in this scary time, people are finding ways to support and help one another. Even while quarantined, we’re learning how to reach out — emotionally, if not physically.
Although we don’t know what will happen, we have to keep helping each other.
1. People working from home donate their gas money to those who still commute
While everyone is urged to work from home during the pandemic, that’s simply not possible for everyone. Telecommuters are donating their gas money to those who still drive to work.
2. A fitness instructor in Spain leads a workout session with his neighbors
While Spain is in full lock down that hasn’t stopped neighbors from coming together any way they can. One fitness instructor led his neighbors in a group workout session on their separate balconies.
3. Doctors travel from China to Italy to continue helping Coronavirus patients
This team of doctors already put their lives on the line helping patients in China. Now that the virus has peaked there, they’re off to Italy to continue doing the same thing.
5. A son comes to visit his father in quarantine every day
After his father’s nursing home closed its doors to visitors, this son found a way to keep visiting. He sits outside his father’s window every day and talks to him on the phone.
6. 3D printing saves lives thanks to a local business
When an Italian business owner learned that local hospitals were in desperate need of respirator valves, he had an idea. He volunteered to 3D print them at no cost.
7. A Portland distillery produces free hand sanitizer
When the owners of a Portland distillery learned that hand sanitizer was running out, they stepped up. They now use their equipment to produce hand sanitizer for free.
9. Doctors fighting Coronavirus send a message of love
Doctors and nurses are on the front lines of the pandemic, doing some of the scariest work to protect all of us. These individuals decided to send a message of love to the world.
11. A woman tells her grandfather about her engagement
Being separated by quarantine wasn’t about to stop this woman from sharing some happy news with her grandfather. She was able to go to his window to show him her engagement ring.
Although the virus is leveling off in China, it hasn’t yet peaked in the United States. Chinese medical personnel are sending masks to doctors in the U.S., knowing there will be a shortage.
A family in Pennsylvania had a surplus of toilet paper. Knowing others might not have what they needed, they stood on the side of the road to share with anyone who drove by.
16. Neighbors turned a free library into free food
Lots of neighborhoods have a box in the street where people can donate — or take — books. With people struggling to find food, one neighborhood transformed the book box into a food drop.
People might not be able to get together in person but they’re still finding ways to connect. One young neighbor sent out “Coronavirus survival packs” to give everyone a chuckle.
19. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $1 million to help fight hunger
Most of us don’t have a spare $1 million but movie stars sure do. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donated that sum to help make sure others had enough to eat during the pandemic.
Many people are concerned about losing money and not being able to feed their families. One community came together to set up a free food station for those in need.
21. Doctors travel from China to Iran to fight Coronavirus
After helping patients fight Coronavirus in China, these doctors are on their way to Iran to do it all again. They’re bringing their knowledge and experience to help others halfway around the world.
24. A woman buys groceries for a man who couldn’t afford them
Many people are stockpiling groceries as they face quarantine but some people can’t afford to do so. One woman stepped in and bought food for a stranger after learning he had no money for groceries.
25. Stores give away free masks and sanitizer to senior citizens
Many stores are taking a financial loss by providing masks and hand sanitizer to senior citizens for free. This is important since people over the age of 65 are at the greatest risk from Coronavirus.
26. Neighbors help each other stock up on essentials
As people panicked and began to stockpile toilet paper, others had a hard time finding what they needed. The people in one apartment complex found a creative way to help their neighbors out.
Doctors and nurses in Pakistan suit up for another day of treating patients. Although Pakistan only has a few hundred cases, the virus is spreading in the Middle East.
After events were canceled, organizers took the prepared food and donated it to homeless charities. These organizers transported 850 lunches to feed the homeless.
Hand sanitizer is sold out of most stores but there are ways you can make it at home with rubbing alcohol. These neighbors offered free bottles to keep others safe.
30. A man celebrated his anniversary outside his wife’s nursing home
Bob and Nancy Shellard recently celebrated their 67th anniversary. Unfortunately, Nancy’s nursing home is under quarantine. So, their daughter helped them find a way to celebrate “together.”
Many kids would be enjoying their free time while school is out, but not Drew. He decided to use his time to help neighbors who couldn’t help themselves.
32. Children make cards for senior citizens under quarantine
Many nursing homes are quarantined, which means residents can’t have visitors. So, children in Nebraska made them cards to help them while in isolation.
33. Quarantined residents in Spain sing “Happy Birthday” to their neighbor
Neighbors in Spain might not be able to get together, but they can still sing to each other. When these residents learned it was their neighbor’s 80th birthday, they broke out into song.
35. Daughters hosted a DIY “half marathon” for their moms
These women had been training for the San Diego half marathon. But when it was canceled, their daughters made a finish line for them so they could “win” the race.
36. Residents in Israel cheer from afar for a couple getting married
A couple in Israel celebrated their wedding without guests, but that didn’t mean no one congratulated them. As they exited the synagogue, onlookers from surrounding apartments cheered.
37. Workers in a warehouse celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a toilet paper restocking parade
St. Patrick’s Day parades around the world were canceled to prevent crowds. But these workers in an Irish toilet paper warehouse still found a way to celebrate.
38. Dr. Gunawan, a pulmonologist, risks his health to help others
A 79-year-old pulmonologist in Indonesia was begged by his children to take a break from treating patients. He replied he was willing to die if it meant saving others.
39. People around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a virtual parade
St. Patrick’s Day might not have happened in person this year, but social media is a gift. People around the globe celebrated together with plenty of Irish music.
40. Superheroes drop off roses to cheer up neighbors under quarantine
You probably never thought you’d see Mr. Incredible delivering flowers door-to-door. But a Colorado superhero is putting roses out to cheer up his neighbors.
She couldn’t see her parents who were quarantined in their retirement home. So, a violinist decided to play for them from the yard. Her parents even sang along.
42. Neighbors support each other through song and dance
When neighbors in Italy projected Fred Astaire’s “Cheek to Cheek,” they were surprised to see a couple dancing along in their apartment. We can all help keep each other’s spirits up.
43. An Ohio resident left restaurant staff a tip of $2,500 to help them through the hard times
Restaurant workers have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. After learning his favorite restaurant would be temporarily closing its doors, an Ohio man left the staff a $2,500 tip to divide among themselves.
44. Young cellists play for their quarantined neighbor
After learning their elderly neighbor was lonely and isolated during quarantine, two young cellists stepped up. They sat on her porch and played — from a safe distance.
45. Neighbors in Barcelona play ping pong from afar
If you have impressive ping-pong skills but you’re quarantined…why not play a game with your neighbor? That’s what two men in Barcelona did, to everyone’s entertainment.
46. Quarantined neighbors in Amsterdam sing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
Residents in Amsterdam are quarantined in their homes yet they’re finding ways to help support each other. These neighbors came together in song since they couldn’t come together in person.
47. Apartment dwellers in Sevilla, Spain, play bingo over a loudspeaker
Many countries, including Spain, are now on total lockdown…meaning people can’t leave their homes. But residents of an apartment still found a way to play bingo together.
48. A neighbor is rewarded for her kind work to others
A young woman offered to shop for her elderly neighbors and didn’t expect anything in return. So, she was surprised to find an anonymous gift on her front step — a gesture of appreciation.
49. Iranian doctors lift the spirits of each other with a dance
Doctors and nurses are seeing frightening things every day but they need support as well. These Iranian doctors came together to dance before returning to work.
50. Italian bus drivers send a message of appreciation to doctors
Italy is currently on total lock down with no one leaving their homes. But while buses were still running, they sent messages of appreciation as they passed hospitals.
51. An 11-year-old donates sanitizer to others in the community
Jayden Perez was concerned about community members being able to clean their hands. So, he donated 1,150 bottles of hand sanitizer to schools, police stations, fire departments, and libraries.
52. Children in Australia deliver supplies to their neighbors
Two little girls in Australia were worried about their neighbors having what they needed. As a result, they pooled their tooth fairy money to buy it themselves.
53. A teacher reads to her students via video chat
Children around the United States have been sent home from school, probably for the rest of the year. But this teacher is making sure her third-graders still have someone reading to them every day.
54. A reporter stuck at home makes music for others
Although people around the world are working from home, some are still finding ways to reach out on social media. One reporter is using his skills as a DJ to help lift people’s spirits from afar.
55. A woman helped an elderly couple get their groceries
Professional runner Rebecca Mehra shared a story about how she was stopped by an elderly couple afraid to go into a grocery store. Mehra took their grocery list and completed their shopping so they could stay safe.
As businesses close their doors, animals in shelters are left to wait. Before quarantine began, people stormed the shelters to give unwanted animals a happy home.
57. A Coronavirus victim is helping others after his death
Darrell Blakeley passed away on March 13, 2020. In his memory, his family is asking people to create a “Wall of Kindness” by offering to help their friends and neighbors during the pandemic.
58. People send one another postcards to keep their spirits up
A pandemic is frightening, and being quarantined is lonely and isolating. One woman in the U.K. set up a volunteer network of people that sends postcards to cheer each other up.
59. Nursing home workers help residents let their families know they’re okay
Many nursing homes are quarantined, which means no visitors. But workers helped the residents reach out to their loved ones on social media to let them know they were okay.
60. Volunteers help put together food packs for elderly residents
Many senior citizens are afraid to go to the store since they fall into the high-risk category for COVID-19. Volunteers decided to put together some essentials so no one went without.
It’s not just toilet paper and hand sanitizer — people with children are struggling to find diapers and baby wipes. One woman decided to buy out the dollar store and hand them out for free.
62. A landlord helps residents out while they struggle financially
Landlords have a reputation for being stingy, but this one is breaking the stereotype. They knew their renters were struggling during the pandemic, so they decided to lend a hand.
With schools closing, many people were concerned about children going without food. One local pizza shop committed to serving free pizzas to hungry families.
64. An anonymous giver dropped off some food for healthcare workers
These days, doctors and nurses are working exhaustingly long hours, often without food or rest. An anonymous helper decided to drop some meals off at a local hospital to help them through.
65. People give away shoes to those who need to work
While people are encouraged to stay home, not everyone has that option. One Twitter user reached out to others to offer free shoes to anyone who needed them.
The world has been pretty crappy in recent years. Sometimes, we look around and it seems like the world is full of bad things. And 2020 hasn’t been any different, starting with bushfires through Australia, war, and now, a global pandemic.
Coronavirus has officially hit 166 countries and territories. The virus, which was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people around the world. It’s caused a complete shutdown in countries like Italy and Spain where people are now confined to their homes to slow the spread of the disease.
In the United States, President Trump declared a national state of emergency. Many states are asking people to shelter where they are, while businesses and non-essential stores close their doors.
It’s a frightening time. For most of us, this experience is unprecedented. We don’t know what will happen or who will get sick. But even in this scary time, people are finding ways to support and help one another. Even while quarantined, we’re learning how to reach out — emotionally, if not physically.
Although we don’t know what will happen, we have to keep helping each other.
