Seven Ways to Thank Essential Workers Fighting COVID-19
It’s no secret that essential workers are spending hours tirelessly working through the coronavirus crisis. If you’re looking for simple ways to thank essential workers in your neighbourhood, we’ve come up with a few ideas for you to try out.
A few ways you can thank coronavirus helpers
While we may never be able to properly thank coronavirus frontline workers and express our gratitude for all of their hard work, there are a few very easy things we all can do to show our appreciation. See which options work best for your situation and remember to adhere to social distancing practices when showing your admiration for workers on the COVID-19 front lines.
Write a letter or draw a picture
The list of essential workers to thank is long. Consider the postmen, doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, delivery drivers, assisted living workers, bin collectors, repairmen, social workers, police officers, and rural farmers who help keep the world running on a daily basis. Now, you can choose one of them and write a letter to say thank you. Or, if you’re more comfortable with drawings, say thank you with a handmade sign or picture.
Donate to a fundraiser to provide PPE to essential workers
Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, Australians have been rallying together to make sure essential workers have access to the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need by crowdfunding for supplies. If you’re looking to make a donation to help essential workers get access to masks, gloves, face shields, and other protective equipment, exploring and donating to one of these COVID-19 fundraisers would be a good starting point. Or, you can make a donation to the Happy Scrubs fundraiser that is funding the production and delivery of PPE supplies for frontline workers in hospitals.
Fundraise for essential workers
If you’re inspired to take action and encourage your community to follow in your footsteps, use these fundraising ideas to start a fundraiser of your own. You can raise funds with any of the above causes in mind. Perhaps you want to raise funds to send food to essential workers in need?
Maybe you’d like to raise funds to provide PPE to essential workers who live in your area? Or, maybe you’d like to raise money to buy craft supplies to make a few signs that thank essential workers in your community? Whatever your cause may be, you can start a fundraiser to make an impact.
Make a sign to put up in your suburb
Putting up a sign or banner in your suburb is a great visual way to thank essential workers that live or work in your community. Whether you put up a small sign on your front door or a massive banner across the garage door, the sentiment remains the same — those working on the front lines will surely feel touched by this small act of kindness.
Send food to a local hospital or business
If you want to thank COVID-19 doctors, nurses, and essential hospital workers, sending them food is a great way to show your gratitude. Be sure to check in with the hospital or establishment where you are planning to deliver food to make sure they are equipped and able to receive your generous gift.
Also, keep in mind that organisations like Alex Makes Meals, Buy Them A Coffee and Shout A Meal For Healthcare Workers have started fundraisers to support essential workers and people in need. If donating is a simpler option than delivering food to local hospitals in your area, look for an organisation doing something similar.
Make care packages full of items they might want or need
If you’re looking to thank COVID-19 nurses or doctors for working to keep us all safe, keep in mind that they are likely working longer hours than normal. If you personally know a doctor working on the front lines, consider putting together a care package of things that they might need when they’re working long shifts: an extra pair of comfortable socks, a favourite snack, or even just a handwritten note can help them get through their shift.
If you want to send a care package to a local hospital, touch base with the front desk to see what types of items the hospital is able to receive during this time. Also, keep in mind that this may be taxing on delivery drivers, who are also essential workers. Delivery drivers may be good candidates for care packages as well.
Reach out to the essential workers in your life to support them
Essential workers are not made up of one demographic or economic status. Many essential workers are simply trying to learn how to homeschool their children and make ends meet during the coronavirus crisis. If you personally know any essential workers, reach out to them and see what they need. If they’re a single parent, perhaps you can babysit their children for a few days. If they’re part of a low-income family having trouble gathering the funds to buy food, maybe you could drop off a bag of bread, jam, milk and free-range eggs?
We’re all in this together: share your gratitude
The coronavirus knows no borders. The only thing that we can do to protect ourselves and others is to rally together as a community while we physically distance ourselves. By starting a GoFundMe, you have the opportunity to bring your community together to work toward a common goal in these uniquely challenging times. Start a GoFundMe for the essential workers who are working tirelessly to make sure we all stay healthy and safe during these stressful times.
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