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Humanity around the Globe: Inspiration amid Pandemic Compiled by Reena Shah, Dilip Parekh
Amid the fear of the coronavirus pandemic, it can be hard to find things to be positive about. With new anxietyinducing developments spilling into the news every day, all the stockpiling and social distancing the panic can become overwhelming. However, it’s important to remember that moments of crisis do in fact often bring out the best in people. This is an attempt to bring you a few stories from around the world to show the best that came out in people during this challenging time from different sources.
United Kingdom: * 125,000 birthday cards were sent to Capt. Tom Moore, a former British Army Officer, for his 100th birthday on April 30. He raised 40 million pounds for protective gear for front-line workers by walking laps in his backyard. (Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sahneJJv198). On May 20th, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson called him a “True National Treasure” and nominated him for Knighthood. • Hundreds of thousands of people signed up to join the NHS’s volunteer army, smashing the government’s recruitment target. Stephen Powis, NHS England medical director, said there had been “outbreaks of altruism” and he was “bowled over” by the response from volunteers. And to connect with each other, people have been putting images of rainbows in their windows and on their balconies, in a colorful sign of optimism. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52068233
USA: • First responders and health care professionals were surprised with free groceries at the checkout at Winn-Dixie and other super markets in seven states. Southeastern Grocers, which owns all BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores, surprised community heroes at the checkout to honor those working on the front lines. “Your groceries are on Winn-Dixie tonight. Thanks for everything you do,” the health care workers were told. “Thanks for being on the front line.” • ‘We miss you guys too’: Kids get a surprise visit from a caravan of teachers. A group of teachers in Santa Clara, California, teamed up to bring a little joy to their students and their families. The teachers formed a caravan and drove by their students’ homes to say hello. Students waved and cheered as teachers honked from their cars in a sweet moment of solidarity. • In Severna Park, Maryland, a mystery resident has left bagged lunches outside a busy roundabout for “anyone who needs it” every day at 11 a.m. A sign left with the bagged meal reads: “For anyone who needs it: I will be leaving some healthy sack lunches on this table for you if you are hungry and need to eat. Made with love by a neighborhood mom in a clean and sanitized kitchen. I will leave this table up from 11am - 1:30pm”
