#viralcaring – We Really Do Need Each Other
Students, are you going crazy being stuck at home? Parents what can you keep your kids busy due to school closures? Teachers, how do you navigate the online responsibilities of educating your students? Adults, do you face the new stresses mounting each day with the COVID-19 pandemic? We can all make a positive impact in these tough times!
The isolation we are all experiencing can lead to difficult times, but research shows that connectedness is one of the most effective protective factors to prevent things from spiraling down into serious mental health issues including suicide. B.I.O.N.I.C. (Believe It Or Not I Care) has an idea we are calling #viralcaring.
Students (Parents and Teachers can help make this happen):
#viralcaring. Students – kindergarten through college – can make a positive impact and help heal our land from the divisiveness of the past months!
Students can do something each day while you are out of school. For example, make a list of all your friends and send them a message thanking them for their friendship. For those you haven’t seen for a while, ask how they’re doing. Think of the staff at your school, send an e-mail thanking them for what they do and wish them health and safety. Send e-mails to people in the district office or Board Members thanking them for what they do to keep schools safe. Think of the businesses in your community. Support their websites or social media pages. *Note, in the subject line type “THANKS” so they know it is not an urgent e-mail, and in the body of the e-mail say that they don’t need to respond. Always add #viralcaring.
If you know students at another school, challenge them to see how many outreaches their school can do. Challenge the students to each send an e-mail to as many staff members and other school leaders like we mentioned above. See which school does the most positive outreaches.
Community Members:
Knowing that this is a stressful time for businesses, order take-out, pick-up, or delivery to help them to keep earning income. Buy gift cards from their business to use later.
As mentioned above for students, contact each of your friends and family members – a few each day – to check in on them. Message your social media (and add #viralcaring) and e-mail contacts at your business, church, organizations to thank them for being in your life and wish them well. Pray or send positive messages or thoughts for each of those people. *Again, note in the subject line “THANKS” so they know it is not an urgent e-mail, and in the body of the e-mail mention that they don’t need to respond. Special note – do not do this for first responders, doctors, hospitals, and others in the middle of responding to this crisis at this time. We don’t want to add anything to divert their attention from their crucial work! We can thank them later.
Check-in – by phone or virtually – with the elderly or those who have health conditions in your area to see if they have any needs. Buy groceries and drop them off on their porch. If they need books or puzzles drop some off – make sure you have no symptoms of any illness!! Buy online subscriptions to movie or entertainment channels or game apps for them to enjoy. Offer to pay one or two of their bills. Ask what they need.
Send thank-you e-mails (again with “THANKS” in the subject line) to elected officials, and other people in your community, state, country. Let’s see how much of a difference we can make through positively reaching out to our communities. The World Health Organization and countries are keeping tallies of how many are infected with COVID-19. Let’s see if we can make this movement go viral to far surpass that number and bring hope and joy to people in these dark times.
Let’s make a positive impact!
- Start going viral now with caring actions.
- Make sure you add #viralcaring to all your posts
- Share what you’re doing in the comments below.
- Thanks for caring!
- Let’s go #viralcaring
