AIBU to ask for how your communities are coming together ?

[Pollyanna58]

There is so much doom and gloom around, and I get - I really do, but at the same time I don't understand why we insist on only seeing the dark side of this time. To my mind the press are being totally irresponsible with the fear mongering and general negativity. I worked myself up into such a frenzy of fear over the weekend until I realised that actually that was helping no one. So I logged on to our community group and found that people are generally kind and helpful and putting themselves out there to help others.

Surely, if you have mental health issues or acute anxiety then seeing the relentless negativity pouring out of the media you're very likely to be pushed to the edge. If you were kept informed of what to do to keep you safe, and factual, honest reporting alongside the good things that were happening in your local and national communities this would give you more of a boost and probably help with your physical health too.

So go on, fill me with hope - tell me what good things are happening in your neighbourhood. One of our local pubs is doing meals on wheels for the vulnerable and offering NHS staff 50% off any meal either sit fown or takeaway.

We're in a small village. There's a What'sApp group already in place for people self isolating, a list of volunteers to get shopping etc, postcards with emergency phone numbers delivered to all houses.

The pilates teacher is going to run a live streamed session as is the circuits instructor. The book lending scheme is going well (with appropriate hygiene precautions).

People are all checking in on each other. It gives you a really good sense of the community in our little village.

And, although my coffee with friends has been cancelled, we're going to try to do it via FaceTime instead!

No one gives a fuck about anyone here. Physical fights in local stores over tins and loo roll. Feral and selfish assholes here.

lots of people on local fb group offering to get stuff for anyone isolating, but it is a small friendly village

in the local towns nearby, loads of shops from chocolate to deli to cafe/pub etc is starting to offer takeaway or delivery where they didn't before

We’re in a small village with a very elderly demographic. The village charity and church have both, separately, mobilised volunteers to do shopping, a buddy system for people self isolating and the church has a food bank where people can help themselves. The shop is doing delivery for anyone who needs as well. For such a small population there’s a lot of help on hand and it’s been heartening. Messages have gone out on the village email, Facebook group, fliers in the pub, shop, church and we’re doing a letter drop too.

@grudieabbey

London by any chance?

We've got a FB group going around here with people allocated to help in every road. Others are printing posters and leaflets, contacting the local shops and pharmacies etc. All good.

I'm in northern Spain in proper, 600€ fines for leaving the house lockdown. But our children are conference calling, our teachers are sending us daily family brain teasers, and every night at 8pm we all go onto our balconies and sing the city song we normally sing during fiesta time. Then we applaud for the healthcare professionals. Children are drawing pictures of hearts and writing messages for the hcps and sticking them to windows.

It's really lovely to see.

I'm in London. Three separate pieces of paper through the door setting up local WhatsApp and FB groups and offering numbers to ring or text for anyone with an issue.

So far my street has had someone providing a bunch of new toys to a single mum with a 3yo, and lots of reassurance to someone in a small flat and medical conditions that we won't let them go hungry (others of us on the street have large houses and families so had large larders even before stocking up).

Grudie, that is so sad. Maybe you could be start a group ?

That makes me a bit weepy Ofitck

Volunteers in seaside town I live in have delivered 10000 postcards and plan to do more, with the coordinators number on and they have 1000 people helping. It's just incredible. My sister has a vulnerable child and the help provided to her has been incredible. Obviously we can help her but can't visit so nice to know others can help her too

On the Nextdoor website we have a few people who have put posts up with their phone numbers and said where they are based and that they are happy to help out getting groceries etc for people who have been told to socially distance or isolate themselves, which is warming my cockles.

I live in a deprived, under resourced, poor area that’s considered pretty rough, certainly not somewhere people choose to move to.

It’s my parents home town but I didn’t grow up here (long story!)

But on the Facebook pages and
what I’m hearing from mum etc the community pulling together.

Pubs and cafes/restaurants who didn’t previously do take out/delivery are now doing so (admittedly there’s likely an element of self preservation here but still helpful)

Corner shops and other small shops prioritising vulnerable customers, doing deliveries where previously they didn’t.

Individuals and businesses offering to get supplies for folk.

Admins on the pages keeping them updated with national and local info

New pages being set up for info and ideas to keep occupied while in self isolation, also so that people can vent and get moral support

But also it’s actually good to see the profiteers named and shamed there’s a certain camaraderie on those posts too!

I’m also on some local pages for where I used to live as I like to stay in touch and see how the old place doing. It’s in a far more wealthy part of the country but similar happening there too.

It is heartwarming to see.

We’ve got a surge in businesses just now telling people to come in for free meals or to continue to support local businesses by dropping in for coffee. It’s absolutely maddening.

@Crunchymum, why would you immediately assume London? I live in London. I’ve shopped for an elderly neighbour and another disabled neighbour. I’ve not seen any fights. Orderly queues.

Some people can’t help but hate London even when we’re on the frontline of a terrible virus. People are scared and suffering.

Our village and surrounding area have a survival fb page, with offers of help. There’s been toilet roll and baby formula sharing already. We’ve already made and posted flyers for those not online with a list of people’s numbers if anyone needs anything. The two pubs and several local eateries are doing takeaways and home deliveries. The local village shop is taking phone payments and delivering for free to those who don’t want to venture out anymore. Feels really lovely that our village can band together when it needs to. We are a relatively poor area that relies on tourism, so that sucks a bit.

My neighbours who Ive said hi to a few times brought me round food from the husbands work because his work is closing for a couple of weeks. I thought that was so kind and I have no idea why they thought of me

I live in a village and the fb page has already organised food deliveries for those self isolating, including my family. We've had extra bin bags dropped in, and my neighbours out my bins out. Our cafe is dropping off hot meals to the elderly, and the locals restaurant is now offering very cheap takeaway pizza that they will deliver for those self isolating.
Yoga and boxercise classes will be online and a phone number and advice line is being offered by our vicar in case anyone needs to talk.
I love living here.

Big family, I'm a couponer and batchcooker so I've got some stocks I've been going through instead of shopping now. I'm ready to help anyone I can who needs it and have let neighbours know to come to me if they're in need.

We live in a small seaside village and DH has tonight had racist abuse shouted at him for the first time since we moved here for being the last person allowed in the shop when it closed two hours early. "He's not even f*ing English", He has a slight olive complexion from working in the garden, British from birth, European and British heritage. People hammering on the doors, crowd gathered outside, staff intimidated. He ran home. This is a retirement community, it's a bit scary.

We're staying home now for the foreseeable future.

A group of friends have set up a virtual pub using Zoom. At the same time every night those who are self isolating and need company (or who are stuck at home for whatever reason) can dial in and chat. Tonight we covered everything from chocolate hummus to strange loos! We are expecting different people to join every night - a bit like popping into your local and chatting to whoever is there.

@Tellmetruth4

I too live in London and it's not been pretty.

Maybe you are in the 'burbs