Feeling powerless over COVID-19? You’re not alone. But there are many ways you can still make a difference. Helping others can provide you with a sense of purpose and a renewed sense of community during this difficult time. Here are a few ways to get started:

1. Stay Home

Stay home to lower your risk of becoming infected with the novel coronavirus. By staying healthy, you’re reducing the burden on local health care services, freeing up beds for others, especially the elderly and people with preexisting conditions.

Although many people will only experience mild symptoms when infected, or may be completely asymptomatic, you can still spread COVID-19 to others. Staying home also ensures you don’t infect others.

2. Volunteer at a Food Pantry or Delivery Service

If you’re completely healthy and have not been exposed to coronavirus, you might want to consider volunteering at a local charity organization such as a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry, or delivery service. NGOs provide crucial support and services, even during epidemics. Contact organizations in your area so see what kinds of support they require. Some need volunteers to help deliver groceries to people with compromised immune systems or to stock shelves at the food pantry. Just remember to practice social distancing wherever you are. That means keeping a distance of six feet between you and others.

3. Donate Blood

Some hospitals are running dangerously low on blood supplies. Spring is normally a crucial time for blood drives to replenish their stock, but with coronavirus infections soaring across the country, many such events have been canceled. The American Red Cross is calling on healthy Americans, especially Gen Zers and millennials, to donate blood during this crisis. Call your local blood bank to see if you qualify and what precautionary measures need to be heeded in order to donate.

Blood supplies at some hospitals are running dangerously low. Call your local blood donation center to see if you can help.

4. Fight Social Isolation with a Phone Call

Yes, it can be that simple. Humans are social animals, so calls to social distance, while medically necessary, can leave us feeling isolated, lonely, and even depressed, or otherwise exacerbate a preexisting mental illness. And there’s no doubt that our mental well-being affects our overall health. During this time a simple phone call or video chat can be a lifeline. Think of someone you know who might be struggling, maybe someone who lives alone, and give that person a call. Be creative, too. A chat is nice, but so is a distracting activity like a board game. Fake some sense of normalcy by inviting someone to a virtual happy hour or even watch TV “together”.

5. Share your Talents

Are you a yoga teacher? Live-steam an online class. Accountant? Provide some free tax advice. Musician? Call someone and play them a special song. We all have unique talents to share with the community. Think about how you can transform your skills into something beneficial and shareable with the online community. Everyone is struggling to cope with life indoors, but we all have something to contribute to make the time pass a little faster. Share your knowledge, share your passions. You can help someone else through today. You’re only limited by your imagination.

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