I always appreciated and thank the helpers… but the added pressures and deaths are taking a huge toll on the healthcare workers own heath and well-being, especially the mental exhaustion. Thanking them is really not enough. I am a giver, and now a senior, so I have been feeling really down and unable to do the volunteering I usually still try to do. I donated to soup kitchens and relief funds, but I finally found a way to help frontline people and I have been lighter and so much happier to be able to do something …
I have 6 front line people on my street, teachers (My direct neighbour works with special needs so she is especially busy) and a cop and 2 in healthcare… so I make meals for their whole families. I made sure none have allergies. I call and tell them I made dinner (I also tell them what I made or will make to be sure they will enjoy it) and make sure they’ll be home and have it hot and ready on their doorstep when they come home. The healthcare folks get it more often. They deserve it.
Making a larger batch of stew/lasagna/ribs/chili is not much more difficult and it brings tears of joy for exhausted workers who also need to care for themselves and their families after an already exhausting day. I make 5 lasagnas at a time and believe me, making one or 5 is not that much different. MY HUGE HINT: I make the sauce and meat filing on one day and add them together in pails. Then I can make the lasagnas, or, freeze them until I am good and ready for all that layering.
I also make muffins cookies and bread in large batches to share. My homemade lemonade with added vodka (labeled of course) is a big hit too… for those I know will appreciate it.
So please find a way to use the talents you have to thank those people you know at the front lines by alleviating their pressures and exhaustion in any way you can think of… (and even those you don’t know, too) It is truly rewarding. They aren’t the only ones with a tear in their eyes…
Because I know we can’t all cook or bake … here are some more ideas other than staying home when you can, wearing masks and keeping a distance when you are out:
Offer to shop for them when you shop… or give them a gift card. Order them takeout. Mow their lawn. Better yet, if you know them well enough, ask what you can do to help and leave your phone number too so they know you mean it.
See if your city or town has something called sustain the line… and if not, make a team of friends who can start one to help small businesses and feed healthcare workers.
8 ways to thank essential workers HERE
How to support frontline workers during COVID-19 HERE
The Parachute mental health-line link is not working at the last URL. Please direct anyone you know who needs help or if you are a licensed mental health practitioner who wishes to help, contact: EmotionalPPE.org
The Emotional PPE Project is a directory that provides contact information of volunteer mental health practitioners to healthcare workers whose mental health has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Emotional PPE Project connects healthcare workers in need with licensed mental health professionals who can help.
No cost. No insurance. Just a trained professional to talk to.
So how are you helping? Or are you a front line worker who can share ways people could help? Please share ideas, or tell us what you, your city or town are doing, in the comments.
Sharing is Caring
annie32 reminds that kids can feel helpless and afraid too, and helping others is a wonderful way to alleviate both. See the lovely signs he kid’s made here: Apr 30, 2021 at 12:30:35 PM
snowball2015 reminds us to continue to thank the helpers. If you have stopped thanking the people working while facing the public, please start again! Your eyes will also still show the smile behind the mask. If you are a business owner, make sure you are not just saying thank you those taking risks so your company can stay afloat; thank them with good pay, good protection/cleaning services to keep the safe, and think of ways to assure they know they are valued …(Although that should be an everyday gift for those working hard for you. My employer once had an employees first, then customers motto, because if you care for your employees customer care will follow. FYI: When that stopped with a new CEO, the company began to fail for the first time ever… Apr 30, 2021 at 02:58:54 PM
Catte Nappe also reminded me about the Angel Networks. In this case YOU are the angels, fulfilling need. You email your pals and neighbours, they email theirs with ideas and pool resources, time and money to do special things for people in need. Send an email out to all of what is needed, get emails back from those willing to help, buy, provide, store, deliver what is needed.