Coronavirus 19 - 10 Ways To Help Your Community

It is easy to become fearful and focused on the unknowns surrounding the Coronavirus 19 pandemic. Rather than dwell on the negatives, we suggest you look for ways you can help your community during this time. Here are 10 ways you can have a positive impact locally:

1. Practice social distancing and sanitation measures as recommended by the CDC and insist all members of your family do the same. 

2. Call your elderly neighbors weekly and ask how they are feeling. Have a real conversation with them; ask about their family, their hobbies, etc. Do they need any groceries or medicine that you could pick up and deliver to their doorstep for them? Make sure they jot down your telephone number to use if they are concerned or just need to hear a friendly voice.

3. Turn off the television and phones and take your family outdoors. Write encouraging messages and pictures on your driveway and sidewalks with sidewalk chalk for passing neighbors to see. 

4. If your community has been ordered to shelter in place, send a generous tip to the professional who does your hair, nails, lashes, massage, etc. The majority of these individuals are self-employed and will be out of income during a quarantine, with no unemployment benefits available. A gesture of good will on your part could help them weather this storm.
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5. Purchase gift cards from your favorite restaurant, bar, movie theater, etc. to use after social distancing recommendations have been rescinded. Consider sending gift cards for grocery stores to individuals you know who are no longer employed due to this pandemic. Most of these gift cards can be purchased online or by calling the business, using your credit card for payment, and having the cards mailed to you.

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6. Send letters and cards to local nursing home residents, particularly those who have little or no family support. Contact your local nursing home administration to discuss the best way to begin this project. 

7. To boost your morale, challenge your friends, neighbors, or extended family to create entertaining videos to share with one another during the pandemic. The hidden talents of your friends and family may amaze you! 

8. Write thank you letters to police, fire, ems, and healthcare personnel for their work in keeping us all safe during very uncertain times. If you know a truck driver, grocery store worker, or postal worker, thank them for keeping us supplied with the essentials of our comfortable American life! And, don’t forget to thank the teachers in your life! Most of them have been handed the monumental task to educating their students online, with very little preparation time.

9. Donate canned and dry goods to your local food pantry. The homeless and needy still require food during a pandemic. Amazon offers groceries that can be delivered direct to your local pantry/shelter.

10. Refrain from using social media to criticize or judge those in authority who are tasked with making decisions for the public during this time. Additionally, avoid sharing information that has not been verified or proven to be accurate. Instead, use your social media as a tool to unify your community and support one another.

We encourage you to work together as a team during this difficult time instead of dwelling on the negatives and creating division. Look for ways to support your local small businesses and their employees. Their survival is essential to the long-term success of each of our communities. 

If you need legal assistance, contact Davis & McCann, P.A., Dodge City, Kansas at 620-225-1674. 
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©2020 Davis & McCann, P. A., is a premier Estate Planning law firm in Dodge City, Kansas, assisting Western Kansas clients with Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Business Formation, Business Succession Planning, Farm and Agricultural Business Succession Planning, Real Estate, 1031 Exchanges, Medicaid Planning, Long Term Care Planning and Special Needs Planning.  The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a legal opinion, does not provide legal advice for any purpose, and neither creates nor constitutes an attorney-client relationship.