Care-mongering In The Times of Coronavirus

Are you getting forwards and messages from your contacts that make you want to scream in panic?

Tell them scare-mongering is not cool, they should take up care-mongering instead.

A viral trend now, widely attributed to Canadians, care-mongering is about helping the most vulnerable, especially the elderly, during the Coronavirus pandemic.

In times of the #COVID19 crisis, let's not forget that we are all scared and need to look out for each other. If you want to volunteer time/resources in Toronto, may I suggest the FB group made by our great local communities advocating for #caremongering: https://t.co/vmWgHE7FHz

— Michael Cheng (@michaelchengly) March 17, 2020

Nothing like music to spread some hope in these trying times. Beautiful! 🎶 #COVID19 #caremongering https://t.co/by5YJx4RVD

— Victoria Reedman (@VicReedman) March 17, 2020

While a care-mongering group recently helped a disabled person get a hand sanitizer in Halifax, Canada, another in Malaysia is offering university students help with food and finding shelter.

#caremongering in #Spain https://t.co/auhkd868Lz

— me (@L82be) March 17, 2020

The trend is picking up in India now. Caremongers India, a Facebook group started by a Bengaluru-based digital marketing professional with more than 300 members, is helping the elderly and anyone in need of assistance. At its core, care-mongering is an act of unconditional kindness. Here, how you too can be a care-monger:

1. Know an elderly couple in your neighbourhood who can’t go out to buy groceries? You can do the chore for them. Just keep the grocery bag outside their door, that way you avoid direct contact. 

   "...countless examples of goodwill...These include a single mother in Ottawa receiving food for her baby, a group of people in Toronto offering to cook meals for those who are unable, and a community in PEI who gave grocery store gift cards to a woman laid off"#caremongering 🇨🇦

   — Kelly Hoey (@jkhoey) March 17, 2020

2. Your friend is out of town and her elderly parents need medicines? You have a car but you aren’t sure if you want to drive that far? At a time when the elderly are at greater risk, you can do your bit. Drop the medicine bag outside their gate. Yes, you do get their blessings in return!
3. Your friend is feeling anxious and lonely, it’s obvious from his text on the common WhatsApp group. You know he is all by himself in this city and is working from home. You also know that you can’t catch up with him over coffee in this scenario. But, you can definitely pick up your phone and talk to him. He is likely to feel better. 

   Hey @tomhanks. Hope you are feeling okay. I was just at the park outside Toronto, Canada for an exercise, and a (small) group of children were yelling "Run Forrest Run" as they played at their games. We are thinking of you all! #caremongering #TomHanks pic.twitter.com/mXHlIyOScO

   — The Whole Family Lab (@WholeLab) March 18, 2020

4. Your domestic help is unwell but doesn’t want to take a few days off, fearing a salary cut. Tell them they don’t to need worry. Remember the countless times they have helped you by doing additional work when you were sick?
5. You a part of several groups on WhatsApp and Facebook, but hardly engage with them. How about using them now to find out who needs help and where?       

 There is a body of research to suggest that people who come forward to do acts of kindness experience a sharp spike in happiness. Isn’t it cool that it’s also trendy?