The Girl Scout Guide to Helping
Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic
It’s in our Girl
Scout DNA to help in a time of crisis. For those that are healthy
and want to help others, there are multiple ways to help those in
need during the novel coronavirus outbreak. But how can we do so
responsibly? In some cases, you don’t even need to step outside your
home to help in a meaningful way.
Here
are 4 things you can do to support your community:
1.Sew
masks – Girl Scout Senior Sarah has created video tutorials to
machine and hand sew masks as part of her Gold Award project.
Watch her videos to learn how to make masks to donate:
Machine sewing
video
Hand Sewing
video
Safety/Caring for Ourselves
and Others video
While
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not suggest
cloth material as a first-line defense against the coronavirus
causing COVID-19, cloth masks work well for other conditions and
can help conserve precious reserves of N-95 respirator masks.
These masks might be used for non-medical personnel or
non-critical patients.
2.
Say thank you – Write a thank you note to healthcare providers,
food bank volunteers, teachers, or a troop leader. Note: Check to
see if the organization will accept the physical copy by mail or
if you should scan/email them copies of these instead. Be creative
and say thank you to anyone who is on the “front lines” helping
keep everyone safe or supplied.
3.
Be tech support- If you’re technologically savvy, offer to help a
neighbor, friend or relative get set up and act as their “tech
support” hotline. The elderly population is at high risk. Show
them how to order their groceries or get audiobooks from their
local library so they stay home and safe. You might even consider
reaching out to a local assisted living facility to see if you can
do a tele-visit with residents to keep their spirits up. Maybe
they can teach YOU a skill, like knitting!
4.
Donate to and/or volunteer at the food bank Note: Check with your
local food bank for needed food and to ask for age requirement for
volunteering. You may also want to ensure they have put in
measures to keep you safe through social distancing.
We
would love to see how Girl Scouts in our council are helping their
local communities during this crisis. Share your stories and
pictures with us by emailing us at communications@girlscoutsnca.org.
