by Gabrielle Jamora
Our world has looked a little different recently. The roads are empty. Nonessential businesses are closed. Unemployment rates soar. Instead of being on my college campus finishing up my senior year in lecture halls and in classrooms, I am sitting at my desk at home staring at my screen for hours at a time.
Due to COVID-19, the past month and a half has presented us with a new normal and has challenged the ways that we think about our everyday lives. Even social interaction comes in a new form. Being the social person that I am, I have found it quite difficult to adjust to staying at home and solely relying on technology such as Zoom and FaceTime to stay connected to friends.
I have always rooted myself in my community and have found solace in the support that it provides. In extraordinary circumstances such as this, I would usually turn to others but in turn, COVID-19 does not allow it. With this, we can only do the next best thing such as utilizing video calls and messaging apps to stay connected to our loved ones. Although it does not provide the same satisfaction as meeting in-person, it doesn’t necessarily diminish the value we get from the interactions from those we care about.
How then, are we able to provide support and help others in these given circumstances?
First and foremost, by maintaining social distance, we are indeed helping others. By staying home, we show that we not only care about our own health, but also the health of others, especially that of at-risk and immunocompromised populations.
Another way to lend support for others is to help with their needs. In unprecedented times such as this, people need support now more than ever. Whether this means helping with grocery pickup and delivery, sharing some ingredients for quarantine baking, or simply needing a friend to talk to (virtually, of course), they are many ways to lend a helping hand.
A way to lend this helping hand can be through the Mayo App. Need some help or would like to offer help? Post it to the app. Mayo broadcasts these asks and offers quickly and locally to people in your area. Essentially, Mayo offers a way to connect to those around you in order to help each other out.
In times like this, we could use the help of our community. Social distancing does not have to mean social isolation. Download the Mayo App and begin by supporting those in your community.
