As governments across the world respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus, individuals have reacted with solidarity, offering support to neighbours within communities and across the country.
As governments across the world respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus, individuals are also taking matters into their own hands by offering support to their neighbours in communities coast to coast.
In Canada, Facebook support groups are popping up throughout the country to give self-isolating neighbours the opportunity to both ask for and offer help. And that’s just the start: Others are channelling their positivity into fan clubs for public health officials.
Jane Affleck, a sessional instructor at the University of Prince Edward Island, began her Facebook group, Caremongering – PEI: Response to COVID-19, on Saturday, after noticing a similar group in Halifax.
Within 24 hours, the group had hundreds of members offering each other practical advice and support. Some are offering to pick up and deliver supplies for seniors and others who can’t do it for themselves.
“People have said things like, ‘I’m on maternity leave and I have all this time on my hands. If you need anything, let me know,'” Affleck said. “And other people too saying … ‘If you want groceries dropped off or anything else, let me know.’
“It just seems like people are willing to help out in any way they can.”
Kari Hollend set up a similar group in Toronto, How can I help COVID 19 Toronto. Her original intent was to help people in the film industry, which is specifically hard hit.
A film producer, Hollend said many working in movie production have lost work because of COVID-19. Most productions have “quickly