Ways to Serve During Quarantine

While we’re in quarantine, it is easy to feel very isolated from our communities and our families. Everything is cancelled and we have to stay home. It can leave you feeling a little helpless at times. But even when we’re stuck at home there are ways we can serve those around us and bring joy into others lives. 

If you’re feeling anxious or worried about all that’s going on in the world, doing service will help. First, it will help to distract you from the worries. Second, it helps you to alleviate other's worries. Third, I know you will find that the more you serve the more you will grow to love all those around you. Service, no matter how big or small, works miracles in our lives. We may not be able to change everything, but we have power to spread good cheer throughout our communities. 

I’ve been so inspired by the many posts I’ve seen of people helping out and bringing cheer in many different ways across the world. I decided to compile a list for you to refer to when you’re stuck and need an idea to fulfill your desire to serve, spread cheer, or just find a way to help.  

• Place a bear in your window. It may not seem like much, but to parents and children walking their kids around the neighborhood, the bear brings great joy! Cities across the country are doing these bear hunts for the kids in their communities. ​

• Draw messages of hope and happiness on the sidewalk or fences. Another thing to just brighten people’s days as they take a walk, even while trying to avoid others around them. 
• Read a book to kids over a video call to your grandkids, nieces, nephews, or friend's kids. It will give some tired parents a much needed break.  Here is a video we would like to share with you of my mom reading to her grandchildren! We hope your own children will enjoy hearing one of our favorite books from a different voice.

• Tutor students over video calls. Across the country school is out until September. Teachers are scrambling to put together resources for parents. Parents are feeling overwhelmed trying to teach their kids. Maybe you have kids in the same class, or you're an expert in a subject that you could do video tutoring for some students. As a parent and a former teacher, I know I would appreciate this. 

Go to this post and download our free printable Easter pages to help you out!

• Send out notes of hope! My son and I decided it would be fun to send out notes to our family and friends who are feeling anxious at this time. He drew the pictures and I wrote the notes. Then my daughter wanted to help. She’s just learned to draw simple faces. We’re excited to send them out.
• Offer to pick up groceries for those who are at high risk. Your elderly friends and family, your friends with autoimmune disease, they are at higher risk of dying from the virus. If groceries were brought to them by someone who has been careful to wash hands and take the right precautions, it would reduce their chances of catching the virus. 
• Setup a table with essentials others might need in your front yard. Leave a note explaining people only take what they need. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, flour, and yeast are things all hard to come by these days and would be a great starting point if you’ve got any extras to spare. Alternatively, if someone has already done this, consider adding to their table for others. ​
• Make masks. Check with your local hospital and medical centers to see if they’re accepting donations of homemade masks and what they’re requirements for them are. If they’re not, the CDC updated their recommendations that we all wear masks when going out now. So making masks and sharing those with others could be very helpful. Check out out what the CDC recommends for masks to be effective. 
• Donate money. These are financially troubling times for many folks and I know it won’t be possible for everyone. But if you are able consider donating money to organizations that are trying to get personal protective equipment for hospital personnel working with the Covid-19 patients. They’re being asked to reuse gloves and masks because there’s just not enough equipment for the amount of people in the hospital being treated.
• ​Buy locally. Your local restaurants, grocery stores, and shops are suffering. Some have been closed because they’re not essential, and others because people aren’t going out to eat (understandably). If you feel anxious about ordering food either to go or delivered, buying gift cards/certificates that can be used after lock down will help keep them afloat now.  Again, this is only something to do if you have the means. 
• Something we can all do, no matter what our circumstances is pray!  We have been invited to Fast and Pray tomorrow, Friday April 10th by our Prophet Russell M. Nelson.  He invited everyone from any religion or back ground to fast and pray for the following reasons and in the following way: 

People from around the world are joining in. We have faith that turning to God is the way and that he will hear our pleas.

​This is just a small list of ways to shine your light in these times. But I hope it can inspire you. We love you! Stay safe out there!