Fred Rogers was an American icon, and many of us fondly remember Mr. Rogers as part of our children’s lives. His kind words were educational and comforting to youths from the late 1960s through the early 2000s. Even today, his words can ring true. When things become challenging, people frequently advice his mother gave him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Right now, the most prominent “helpers” are the healthcare professionals and essential workers who are keeping our country running and treating people afflicted with COVID-19. Without their ceaseless work, we would be lost. However, many other people are helping in their own ways as well. We see it in the form of volunteerism and donations! We see it in incredible acts of kindness.
We’ve written about pen pal programs with volunteer strangers stepping up to write letters to make people feel less isolated. People put up Christmas lights to make people passing feel less lonely. We shared the story of a restaurant that gave away 7,000 meals in 100 days! We wrote about a 90-year-old woman who climbed the height of a mountain on her stairs to raise money for charity! People have certainly been trying their best to help others throughout this challenging year!
We recently heard of two more helpers that we wanted to bring to your attention to make you smile! A six-year-old girl called Bethany and a 51-year-old newspaper delivery man named Greg.
Early this year, Bethany saw a homeless person and decided she wanted to help. But when COVID-19 spread across the country, her desires were shelved for more immediate problems. When her birthday rolled around in August, she said she wanted to help people for her gift. Reaching out to shelters in their area and Amazon Wishlist, they started to make care packages for homeless folks.
Each care package has a handwritten note from Bethany and has food and Gatorade, first aid and masks, toilers and more. After a post on Facebook went viral, they received 85 bags of donations from strangers in one day to add to their care packages! And it kept growing! It became too much for them to handle alone — and too many notes for one six-year-old! Children at school started to help, and the lunchroom became an assembly line with kids packing bags and writing letters. In under three months, they have already handed out more than 750 care packages!
Greg Dailey is another helper worth celebrating. for 25 years, Mr. Dailey had a second job as a newspaper deliverer. But when stay-at-home orders closed his small business, it became his only job. In addition to newspapers, he is now delivering groceries to older people!
He realized how many people along his route were house-bound due to be older and at high risk for COVID-19. So he stuck a note in their newspapers. “I understand during these trying times it is difficult for some to get out of their house to get everyday necessities. I would like to offer my services free of charge to anyone who needs groceries, household products, etc,” the note said.
Soon his phone was ringing off the hook, and his wife, mother-in-law and two sons were helping him take orders and shop! The demand became so high people have to fill out a spreadsheet just so he can keep track! His early morning job now doesn’t finish until six or seven at night. But he says it’s worth it.
“Some of them, honestly, want to talk. They’re lonely ... while others just stand behind their door and give me the prayer hands,” Mr. Dailey said. “It just melts your heart. The interaction just eliminates me being tired. It lifts you up and gives you energy because they’re so grateful.”
We are grateful for these helpers and moved by their actions. If you can help the people around you, that’s wonderful. If you need helpers of your own, reach out to your community. If you aren’t sure how to start, call your town hall, ask what services might be available to you. They can point you in the right direction!
