How Can I Help During this Pandemic?

Mr. Rogers was someone I watched growing up.  He was a calming voice who seemed to be speaking right to me.  You probably know that his mother was a big influence on him during his younger years.  During times of turmoil, she told him to "look for the helpers". 

Right now is unsettling and confusing.  It's even more so for people who have lost a loved one due to COVID-19 or for those whose jobs are on hold.  While I don't personally know anyone who has been diagnosed with it, I do know people who have a family or friend that has suffered.  It's not something I would wish on anyone.

I read about some photographers who were featured on the news because they're offering Front Porch Sessions right now.  At first, I saw it as a kind way to capture people during this time.  If we followed the distancing guidelines and I photographed people from across the street and yelled out to them how to position themselves, what harm could that do?  I'd be offering a service to people who need a pick me up. That was my original thought.

I shared the idea with my husband, but he seemed concerned.  I prayed about it briefly and quickly reconsidered.  Carriers don't even know that they're carriers for two weeks or more.  A carrier doesn't always have symptoms.  What if I were a carrier and inadvertently spread the virus to one of the people I was trying to help?  What if things didn't go as planned; the family pet ran off and I jumped out of my vehicle to help you corral them?  We'd probably not be apart for long. Or what if your child, who knows that they can see their images on the back of my camera, decided to run over to look?  We'd definitely be close for a brief amount of time.  I've also heard of families being so grateful that they run to hug or shake hands with the photographer.  Again, too close.

For all of these reasons, I decided that I would rather be safe than sorry. 

Instead, I have been offering to help people with businesses by giving them advice about communicating with their audiences right now.  What are some ways that you can connect with them?

• Show up - whether you choose to do a Live video or pre-record something, be someone who offers to help in some way
• Offer updates - some families need more than 1 dozen eggs for breakfast a week, share what places have them currently
• Connect people - virtually, of course; one of my friends needed an attorney, I introduced them to someone online
• Barter for services - here are services I could use: interior designer, flower gardener, alterations, meal planning/prep, massage

If there's anything that I can do for you, please reach out.  I'd like to help if I can.