Good Samaritans 😊

Lots of ideas to help those in need in our communities are emerging from this global situation of coronavirus from pop-up hostels for our homeless to grocery shopping for our elderly. With heart inspiration we are One.

Child’s Tooth Money
Leads to Opening of Pop-Up Hostel

The Salvation Army, March 2, 2020

https://salvationarmy.ca/blog/childs-tooth-money-leads-to-opening-of-pop-up-hostel/

When his first baby tooth fell out at the age of five, Malachi gave his ‘tooth fairy’ money to the local Salvation Army in London, UK, along with a note asking them to spend it on helping homeless people.

“Dear Salvation Army. I pray you get money to buy houses for everybody. I have £5 (C$9) from the tooth fairy. Please use it to buy a home. I hope you have a good day. God bless you. Love Malachi.”

“I have £5 (C$9) from the tooth fairy. Please use it to buy a home.”

Malachi’s money challenged The Salvation Army to do more for people who are forced to sleep on the streets. For many years the Army offered emergency shelter, but knew it wasn’t enough.

“People end up sleeping on the streets for lots of complex reasons and it could be anything from job loss or poor health to addiction,” says Captain John Clifton, The Salvation Army’s leader in Ilford, East London. “Malachi made us think about how we could build homes and provide support to get residents back to independent living.”

“Malachi made us think about how we could build homes and provide support to get residents back to independent living.”

Malachi Place is up and running and will provide year-round accommodation and support for people who are experiencing homelessness. Round-the-clock, on-site assistance will help residents deal with many issues that led them to the streets and, in May, a bicycle workshop will open where tenants can learn skills to help them find employment.

As well as the initial £5 (C$9) from Malachi, The Salvation Army has received support for the project from several organizations and charitable trusts.

“I can’t believe we have built a home for the homeless,” says the 10-year-old. “I’m really happy The Salvation Army used my money to do this. No one should have to sleep on the streets.”

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Woman Starts Doing Grocery Runs
for Older Neighbors to Reduce
Their Exposure to the Coronavirus

By Good News Network, March 14, 2020

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/grocery-runs-for-seniors-during-coronavirus/

If you need to work from home because of the COVID-19 virus, maybe you’d like to get an inspirational jolt by taking some time to help your elderly neighbors—which is exactly what this North Carolina woman did.

Becky Hoeffler who works at Duke University, was talking to her grandfather on the phone when he mentioned that he was going out grocery shopping. She was concerned for him because the elderly population is most at-risk of catching the novel coronavirus, but he lives in New Jersey so she couldn’t help out.

That’s when she got the idea to make grocery runs for her senior neighbors, in lieu of helping her grandpa.

“Am I excited that I’m probably going to get a sweet loaf of banana bread from my neighbor, Patti, because of this, yes,” the spunky Hoeffler told WNCN News. “Either way though, I think being able to help your neighbor is one of the most American things that you can do.”

Her next door neighbor Patti asked for paper towels, fresh fruit, and flour, she told GNN. “I was really lucky to find the paper towels—that whole aisle is almost empty!”

And, some of the flour likely went into this homemade bread given to Becky to say thanks.

Hoeffler also walked down to the housing community for senior living at the end of her cul-de-sac. She talked to people on their porches and introduced herself—and the offer of kindness.

”They told me I could post the sign with my information near the mailbox station, so all members of the community would be able to see it!”
Becky at the supermarket, for GNN

“No one has responded to the sign yet but one of the women I talked to said she will call me in a few days and is thankful that she can stop feeling anxious about having to go to the store now!”

Becky has posted on a local Facebook group to try to get the word out and to see if anyone needs help.

“In these situations, when the community steps up, you really lessen the pressure on first responders and medical personnel,” she said in an email. “If you’re able to decrease, even by a little bit, the number of patients that have to seek care because they’ve been exposed to something, it’s good for the community as a whole.”

“Utilizing people power is one of the best ways that we can combat the virus.”

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Coronavirus: Australian supermarkets open early for elderly shoppers

BBC.com, March 17, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/s8x5ex7