Many of us feel so trapped. Not just physically, although that’s been crazy enough! But the compassionate parts of us that long to help those suffering from the COVID epidemic feel trapped too.
What we can make for others is hard to keep free from germs. How we can comfort most people is limited by a screen, or at best, a window. And what we can buy for those in the most needy regions is unavailable and difficult to deliver.
Or is it? Does physical distancing really need to separate us from making a huge, positive impact? In some ways, that is the reality. But I’ve also learned a lot from the creativity of others how we can free our generosity from the trap of isolation and maximize the difference we make, to keep others healthy and safe. Here are some things you may have thought of…and others you likely haven’t!
1. Focus your social time on those who are alone or most stressed by the epidemic, not those who are easier to focus time on.
This one’s humbling to me, and I’m taking steps to change. During this lockdown, those who have the least physical interaction with loved ones or who are at the most risk need to be the ones I’ve made sure to prioritize (Click to tweet). That could mean reaching out to nursing home residents or lonely older friends in appropriate ways. Or maybe being creative in encouraging stressed-out healthcare staff. Or just making a list of whoever you believe may be least connected and deciding one way you can meaningfully reach them! I’ve got a window visit on my calendar tomorrow, and I know it’ll be appreciated!
2. Donate supplies you have enough of..including blood!
If you’ve discovered you bought maybe a little too much sanitizer, TP, virus-killing wipes, Lysol, or similar stuff, hit social media and find out who needs it more! We all have a better idea now how much we’re going through, so actively ask how much others are short and get your excess to them.
That goes for blood too! Those shortages are unquestionable, and almost all of us have an excess of that! Plus free cookies! Seriously, call the Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) right now and give life!
3. Donate whatever cash you can…in the right places, even small amounts make a HUGE difference.
Hey I know, some people have taken a big financial hit. But I also know that many of us are doing fairly well. The cool thing is that whoever you are, your financial gifts can actually be the MOST effective way to free your generosity from isolation! You just gotta give it to the places doing the best job helping those who will benefit most! Did you know the most effective way to prevent people from getting deadly infectious costs only about a dollar per person? Or that it costs the same to provide an at-risk person with safe drinking water for a year? Or that this amount can share the Gospel and provide 6-10 months of discipleship to a person in very poorly-reached nations as well?
We’re all about Healing Hereafter for as many people as possible, whether their tomorrow or their eternity. That’s why we’ve partnered with Worldwide House Church, who has conducted hundreds of hours of research synthesizing the data of 15 prominent charity evaluators (e.g. Give Well, Charity Navigator, Guidestar, etc.). For numerous causes, WHC displays the Top Charities that will get you literally hundreds of times more impact for your money than the most common places people donate! And they don’t take a penny of it (Click to tweet).
It’s been SO fulfilling to know how much good can still be done for neighbors in need worldwide, as the image below shows! So if you want to free yourself to heal as many as possible, even while trapped in your house, you can do SO much good for SO little in just a minute or two!
And as always, the free Healing Hereafter ebook series is downloadable in just two clicks to help answer many difficult faith questions the COVID era raises. See the last chapter in Booklet 5 especially, if God and suffering seem particularly tough to reconcile right now. Wishing you all peace and safety.
