Keep Your Toilet Paper, We Have a Bidet
Let’s skip the niceties and get to the point of the shitshow that is happening right now with the CV19 pandemic. There are people in your community who are in need and you may be a person who has something to share or give.
I respect your views on how you handle the virus situation. Let’s presume we’re each doing our best to navigate it, and everything else in our lives. I, too, tried to get some toilet paper and the shelves were completely bare at the local Costco. But I also have plenty of soap (there’s a bulk place where you can refill your containers in town) and a bidet, a water cleansing system for one’s tushie, in the master bathroom. I consider myself pretty privileged with this, plus canned goods, pastas, and frozen fruit and veggies. And I just realized we may not enough internet bandwidth for everyone to work and do online classes at home… but we are going to be OK.
If you, too, are in a place of privilege or abundance, there are things we can do to help others who don’t have our access, resources, or social supports.
Now is a good time to donate to your local food bank and emergency support programs.
For those who have resources to donate, please consider taking supplies (food and non-food items) to your local food bank. It is a hard time of year being off-holiday, and food stamps do not allow for the purchase of any non-food items.
As the economic impact of the virus hits communities, more people, new to being in need, will be going to the food banks and other community support centers.
Shelves in the food banks are already running low, and with prepping and hoarding in some areas, it makes it even more difficult for public services reps to buy supplies for the neediest in our communities.
If you have a case of wipes, or can do without them, there’s a not-so-obvious population that is getting inadvertently hit with these supplies being out of circulation. People with life-threatening food allergies need to use disinfectant wipes in all aspects of their life, not just for viral and bacterial germs. It is heartening to see that among online allergy groups, people are offering to share.
You can check the websites or call your local organizations and ask what they need, give them a financial donation, or bring something that you love to eat that can go right onto their shelves, including perishable items, to help your neighbors get through a week.
And I can’t overstate the obvious of checking on our neighbors, especially the elderly, with a phone call.
In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, let’s do something kind and good. Stay well, my friends. Virtual hugs for now <3