Compassion in the Time of COVID-19

I usually keep secret a lot of my charitable giving but I hope that in posting this, I can inspire others today who may also be fortunate enough to do something:

As I head into the office each morning*, I keep seeing the (almost pleading) signs in the windows of the local restaurants and cafes, asking people to order for delivery from them.

?I have been feeling so guilty about ? making ? people go into work to cook or deliver during this pandemic but my driver this morning helped me realize that, if I don’t - if *WE* don’t - order, some of these places won’t be able to pay their workers. Some places won’t be able to survive the financial impact of this situation. So not ordering, out of guilt, also hurts the employees who have to try to find a way to care for themselves and their families.

So what I have been doing this morning is buying gift cards to all of these restaurants that I pass on the street, as well as gift cards to Uber Eats (you can do it on the website...just send to yourself and print) and Grubhub/Seamless. I am giving them to the workers of the different restaurants as a way of saying ? thank you for being there ? and so they can help each other’s business by buying from one another.

I know that not everyone is in a position to do this - and I sometimes ask myself, based on my own work and life circumstances right now, if I should be doing it - but when you find yourself in a position to do good, you don’t turn away. You answer the call.

Hopefully everyone is finding their own way to make a positive difference right now. Kindness is kindness, however quiet or bold the form. These are things we should be sharing to celebrate together and to encourage others to do something.

* Note: Tomorrow might be my last day in the office for a bit.