What acts of kindness have you seen during lockdown?

[YanaMumsnet]

Despite the struggles we’re all facing, we’ve seen some wonderful moments that have brought people together: families sending each other gifts, friends hosting online quizzes, neighbours picking up food for those stuck at home and can’t get a delivery slot.

Yes, it can be tough. But it’s those little moments that show our spirit. We’re curious to hear from you about any acts of kindness that you’ve seen and find the areas that people might be struggling with the most.

So we are asking you:
How have you or your family been supporting each other through these times? (Especially if you’re looking after elderly relatives.) Have you seen anybody reach out to someone in need? What did they do and how? If you or anyone close to you needs special care, how are they getting it? Which organizations or brands have you seen going out of their way, if any? What have they done?

We’d love to hear all your inspiring stories, so share them in the thread below. All MNers who post with their experience will be entered into a prize draw where one will win a £100 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Terms and conditions apply

for the first time in two years we've met our neighbours! Our next door has a gorgeous front garden and he helped us get rid of our dead tree in the front garden (we rent so we were hoping for landlord to get rid of it).

When I became unwell with Covid my brother and sis-in-law (who live a long way away) sent me and my DC a fruit and veg box to keep our vitamins up! They paid extra to get all our favourites in there!

I’ve been amazed at the kindness my 11 year old daughter has been showing to older ones.
She’s made cards for all the elderly people we know saying she hopes they’re not lonely and phones them regularly to see how they are.
She’s set up zoom quizzes for her friends weekly as some have no siblings and she’s worried about them.
I’m really impressed with her, I’ve always known she’s kind but to see it being displayed without me prompting her in heart warming.

My neighbor is a frontline NHS worker with a sickly son. As she had to go to work and could not return due to her son's medical condition, she has reached out to us whether we could look after their dog until further notice. We were happy to help of course and have been looking after the dog for over 2.5 months now. We also check on the family as the little boy is with relatives and I am just happy we could help this wonderful family out.

I have collected the click and collect shopping for my children's piano teacher, who is an elderly lady living close to my house. We have also bought stuff for the temple and offered a meal to the priest. We have donated to the food bank bags with more items than our usual monthly donations.
My sister got connected with a mum and son, who had to be extra careful, as they had underlying health conditions, via whatapp and did alot of activities along with her two kids.
In the outer world one of the best things, which raised my spirits was seeing a video of my children's teacher playing the trumpet for her neighbours.

My very elderly neighbour
A veteran of WW2. His cheery face and smiles to everyone. Jollying everyone along. Coming out every Thursday to clap his hands for the NHS. Never complaining. Always smiling. Always lifting everyone's spirits

Our street is 10 houses and a bungalow where a very elderly couple live. Everyone has been helping by bringing them meals . And when it was the lady's birthday we decorated the street and all the children made her cards

Also hi and welcome to our new girls 😊

I have seen lots of kindness, and heard of many more. Threads like these always seem to bring out the odd whining self-pity post or brave martyrs insisting that nobody wants to help them, while expecting others to make the first move. Even at a time like this, some people can only see negativity. Here's a tip for those who haven't seen any kind or helpful acts: try doing some yourself.

I'm an unpaid full-time carer for my disabled wife.

Because of a lack of diagnosis, she gets very limited support, most of it from myself.

The act of kindness that I would like to point out that I have seen is when we have gone to the supermarket for her daily exercise, the people at the front of the store politely suggest that we could come to the front of the queue and effectively skip, it as they would let us in first at their discretion.

While we do not partake in skipping the queue, we still really appreciate the gesture.

An old couple who we've never seen before stopped at our garden gate and asked if they could pray for our little family to stay safe at this difficult time x I'm not religious but it really touched me how they thought of us x it weeks later I still smile at their act of kindness x

I live away from my elderly parents, one of whom is 80 and has COPD. He loves his newspapers. A complete stranger has been buying and delivering their newspapers every single day, travelling several miles and popping them in the letter box every morning. She has offered to pick them up foods as well. My mother says she is an angel.

Thanks to the co-op with their delivery service. They have been amazing and saved my sanity when I couldn't get things for a disabled child.

Innocent smoothies sent a enormous box of smoothies to my autistic child, with a really nice note for him, saying he was a legend. I had got in contact and asked for help sourcing them after I had not been able to get hold of them.

So many small things here amongst friends and neighbours - picking up bits of shopping if they are in the supermarket, leaving a bunch of flowers on an elderly neighbour's doorstep, a friend running a 'no contact jigsaw library', people making an effort to celebrate children's lockdown birthdays with cards and small gifts when parties are obviously cancelled, dog walking for others...

It's been lovely to see and hopefully some of these new friendships will continue.

I've not seen a single one.

So, its nice to read all this.

My local police put out a message about an officer who found £5 and a note left on his car windscreen saying thank you for all you do, get a tea or coffee on me. Made me want to weep a little...

My daughter has made cards and raised £50 for nhs charities. Everyone has been so kind in supporting her to support the NHS.

Our neighbours have put out boxes of old toys / books - my kids thought it was Christmas!
I've loved the chatting to the neighbours bit as well - everyone has been so kind and they are really looking out for one another

Thank you all for sharing.
The prize draw winner is @buckley1983

I set up a WhatsApp group for a few neighbouring roads, the response to which has been immense! Online shopping is completed for multiple households, anytime anyone goes to a shop or a new location the my message the whole street to see if anyone needs anything, household items have been shared for those in need - such as baby clothes, toys etc as the new arrivals continue to grow and items are not as easy to get hold of! I’ve been astounded at the kindness and generosity of our community, long may this relationship continue!

I’ve been doing shopping for my mum as she’s 63 and high risk so wouldn’t want her going anywhere and possibly contracting this virus as she’s very important to me and my children ❤️

Me and my partner are both keyworkers. At the very start of lockdown when some items were hard to get, our neighbours (dont know that well) left us a small food parcel at the front door.

A few people round my way, myself included, have put free stuff outside the house so those walking by can cheer themselves up with a little something (and it helps us declutter too, especially while the charity shops are closed)