7 ways you can help right now

A thread...
1. Be a verifier. Not a forwarder.

The worst thing for someone in need, is to navigate through tens of numbers, in order to find help.
Be it beds, oxygen, medicines or any other critical supply.

So the next time you see a forward on WhatsApp and DON’t forward it. Instead...
...call those numbers up, verify them and then share it with those in need, with your stamp of verification.

Please use your time to help others.
2. Spend time with your parents/grandparents

Our parents and grandparents are the worst hit right now. Eleven if not by COVID, then psychologically, because everyday they are hearing news of their generation passing away.

That makes them lose hope.
Spend time with them.
If you are away, call them everyday. Maybe more.
If you are with them, speak to them about happy times.

The other day, I asked Ma “how did I decide to go for the US, when we had absolutely no means and no precedence?”
Her eyes lit up.
“I will tell you...”

As simple as that.
3. Be thoughtful

A simple act of generosity can light up someone’s day temporarily. You have no idea what that would mean to someone in despair.

Everyday at 4pm, we send Nimbu Paani to all security guards of the colony.
Yesterday, our tower guard remarked “main apne glass ko poore aadhe ghante chalata hoon. Uss 30 mins mein lagta hai, sab kuch theek ho jayega”

“I take 30 mins to sip my one glass. During that time it feels everything will be fine”

Nothing can buy this feeling.
4. Drop the anger. Just don’t forget it.

There is no point being angry right now.
Towards the government, private sector, public sector, doctors, black marketeers, press, whosoever you feel anger towards!

Direct your energy towards helping.
Not towards blaming.
Just do not forget this anger.
Every 5 years, we get to exercise our votes, our anger, our hopes, our expectations and our betrayals.

Right now, the world needs your empathy.
Not your anger.
5. Help with your privilege

If you are privileged and have money to spare, please use that, as freely as you can.
That doesn’t necessarily mean donating.

Pay your vegetable vendor generously. Tip the delivery guys generously. Give an advance to your help.
When it comes to donating, I am contributing in 2 directions

1. Towards causes arranging infrastructure
- Sourcing ventilators, oxygen, setting up plants

2. Towards causes helping on the ground
- Arranging cylinders and medicines for people locally
- Feeding homeless people
6. Donate. Share. Vaccinate.

If you have had COVID in the last 3 months, donate plasma.
If you have recovered from COVID, share your medicines, oxygen cylinders with those currently recovering.
FORCE your parents to vaccinate.
If you are above 18, register. And get it done asap
7. Stay indoors

Most of us are privileged that we do not have to step out for survival.
Please exercise this privilege and act as responsible citizens.

The best thing we can do to help, is to not put any extra pressure on an already crumbling medical infrastructure.
There are SO many people who have come forward to help right now.
Which creates a very unusual feeling in some of us.
We question whether we are doing enough?
We have FOMO around help, as strange as it sounds!
But it is important to realise that help can come in different avatars.

And at times the best help you can extend, is to take care of your own self.

Stay safe. Stay strong.
“A hero can be anyone, even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat on a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hadn't ended.”

- Dark Knight Rises

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