5 ways to show love during COVID-19

April 6, 2020

With children at home, an service project can be a great addition to your day’s activities. However, the health and safety of your family and others are extremely important, so be sure to stay safe avoid touching and sharing items that you’ve touched with others outside your home. 

Below are some ideas we came up with at United Way. Have other great ideas for safe, at-home service projects? Share them in the comments section. 

Here are five fun ideas for sharing the love during COVID-19: 

1. Write a virtual note of encouragement to local healthcare workers. As these virtual notes are submitted, we will combine them onto small posters which will be affixed in hallways, break rooms and other areas in hospitals and clinics that are easily visible to those fighting for our wellness and safety. 
2. Safely volunteer to meet the urgent need. United Way has dozens of current volunteer opportunities through our community partners. Help deliver food, make wellness calls, help older adults get their yard ready for summer, and much more.   
3. Break out the sidewalk chalk and write encouraging messages for folks as they walk through your neighborhood. If you don’t have chalk, you can make your own sidewalk paint with water, starch, and food coloring! 
4. Help your child create a video message for their teachers telling them one thing they miss about being in the classroom and one thing they promise to work on while they are away. Then, email the video to the teacher for a fun surprise! 
5. Make a list of how you can bring a smile to other people in your house, like helping with chores, reading a book to a younger sibling, or making breakfast in bed for mom or dad. 

Another great way to make a difference during this time is to make a donation to United Way’s COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund. Donations to this fund allow us to meet the need for supplies and staff time for our nonprofit partners who remain open during this time. Donate here.