Although the coronavirus is causing chaos at the moment, there are still ways that you can help out in your community. Here are just five ways that you can make a difference at this difficult time:
1. Support your local foodbank
Panic-buying and stockpiling as a reaction to the coronavirus has meant a drastic drop in donations to local foodbanks. Staff and volunteers may be unavailable due to measures put in place to stop the spread of the virus, meaning that food charities are being faced with an unprecedented level of uncertainty. With the demand for foodbank services expected to increase in the coming weeks, as people lose income from falling ill or having to self-isolate, foodbanks need your support to be able to cope with the record levels of need for emergency food.
2. Join a mutual aid group
In this time of crisis, it’s great to see that there are plenty of community groups coming together to offer help and support. Find out how you can volunteer your time to those who need it most by joining a coronavirus mutual aid group on Facebook, which will keep you up to date with the needs of your community.
3. Support local, independent businesses
A lot of local businesses will be struggling during this time, as many people are self-isolating are social distancing to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus. But there are still ways that you can help! You can order takeaways from local restaurants, or purchase vouchers to use there at a later date. By shopping local, you can help independent businesses stay afloat – take a look at our list of local independent businesses who are doing their bit to help out at the moment:
Calm in a crisis – local businesses doing their bit
4. Help your neighbours
It can be easy to only think of your own friends and family at this time, but there are lots of people in your local area who will be self-isolating without any support. Some people, especially the elderly, will not be able to access the resources that are available online, but you can still let them know that you can help. Forms, like the one below, can be printed off, filled in and delivered to neighbours who may be struggling to cope during self-isolation. Letting people know you’re there if they need you can make all the difference.
5. Donate blood
It may seem counterintuitive, but if you’re still feeling fit and healthy, you can absolutely still give blood during this time. In fact, it is essential that people keep donating blood in order to save lives. If you’re unsure about whether you are eligible to give blood at the moment, you can check here for more information.
blood.co.uk/cambridge-donor-centre
You can find the latest coronavirus information here:
Coronavirus in Cambridge: Cancellations, Key Facts, Need-to-Knows
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Calm in a crisis – local businesses doing their bit
