As you think of how to best keep your family safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may also consider ways to support and strengthen others.
With the recent news about the COVID-19 pandemic, closures of temples, and suspension of Church meetings, you may be filled with concern for those who are affected and worried about what you can do to help.
As the First Presidency recently said, “We bear our witness of the Lord’s love during this time of uncertainty. . . . He will bless you to find joy as you do your best to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in every circumstance” (Official Statement, Mar. 12, 2020).
As you consider how to best keep your family safe and healthy, you may also consider these six ways to support and strengthen others:
Let your local leaders know you are willing to help. Those who are affected by quarantines, changes in employment, or the virus itself may need additional support. Let your local leaders know how you can help while still protecting yourself and your family. Consider how you can share resources with those in need or provide emotional support and encouragement.
Find ways to keep in contact with ministering brothers or sisters to care for their needs while also following health guidelines for social distancing. When helping your ministering brothers and sisters, allow them to express their feelings, and be understanding that their feelings may be different from yours. Consider brainstorming positive ways to cope, and try to be free of expectations and judgments of their situation.
Find ways to keep in contact with ministering brothers or sisters to care for their needs while also following health guidelines for physical distancing.
Pray and fast. We believe in the power of prayer to help and sustain those who face disasters. Join in prayer personally, as a family, or as a ward. Consider dedicating a fast and donating a fast offering for those who are suffering. Donating to the fast offering fund through your regular contributions can support families and individuals in your area who are personally affected by the pandemic.
Join in prayer personally, as a family, or as a ward. Consider dedicating a fast and donating a fast offering for those who are suffering.
Be an advocate for correct information about the pandemic. Share correct and validated information about the pandemic and about how others can help via your social media channels. Take a few minutes to verify what you share is true and from an accurate source before passing it along. Consider following Newsroom or Latter-day Saint Charities on their social channels to follow how the Church is responding.
Work on your own preparedness efforts. Emergency situations are often unexpected. Those who are prepared to handle emergencies have greater peace of mind, are better off in emergency situations, and can then help others. Consider what you can do to be more prepared with your financial situation, career goals, food storage, family emergency plans, mental and emotional health, spiritual strength, and so on. Being prepared yourself allows you to help others in need not only in the affected areas but also in situations where funding is needed to respond quickly or volunteers are called upon.
Being prepared yourself allows you to help others in need. Donating to a food bank is one possible way you can help the community.
Find ways to help in the community. Consider the needs in your own community and what you can do to help. For example, consider donating to a local food bank or offering to donate blood. These efforts are always needed and can relieve some strain on areas no longer able to provide that assistance due to resource or personnel constraints. Be careful to check what the needs are of your local organizations before donating supplies. You can find local organizations through sites such as JustServe.org. Read more about how to find reliable community organizations to support.
Donate funds. Donating to the Church’s Humanitarian Aid Fund (Latter-day Saint Charities) via the “Humanitarian Aid” section of your tithing slip or through Philanthropies is a way to support relief efforts worldwide. Your donation to Latter-day Saint Charities will go to support those with the greatest needs, including other worldwide disasters that similarly affect many lives. Many other organizations and religions have charitable efforts dedicated to helping those in need. These organizations have connections, plans, and the resources to quickly provide relief. Their first need is generally funding to handle relief efforts, as these organizations can maximize monetary donations.
