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What acts of kindness have you experienced during lockdown? - £100 voucher to be won

(144 Posts)
YanaGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 21-May-20 14:46:09

We live in times we wouldn’t have expected even just a few months ago. On the surface we’re navigating stockpiling, how to cut hair at home and maintaining social relationships, but the extraordinary situation is bringing communities closer together with people showing true kindness.

So, we’d like to hear about your experience of acts of kindness during this difficult time, whether you’ve been on the giving or receiving end of them.
-What’s the most memorable act of kindness you’ve seen recently? How did it help others?
-If you or anyone close to you needs special care, how are they getting it?
-What’s been the most challenging aspect of lockdown, and has an act of kindness helped you through that?
-Which organisations or brands would you like to thank for going out their way to help during the crisis? What have they done?

Whatever acts of kindness you’ve experienced during the pandemic and lockdown, share your experience on the thread below. All GN users who post sharing their experience will be entered into a prize draw where one GNer will win a £100 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
GNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

grannyactivist Fri 22-May-20 23:57:07

Today I represented a client at a Tribunal that was conducted by telephone [eek!], so for the past ten days I have been absolutely no use to my husband in the house as I've been knee deep in preparation. Nothing daunted he has taken over just about everything else that I would normally have done, including visiting and shopping for my vulnerable clients. He's a very kind and thoughtful man and an absolute star!

[I'm on tenterhooks now about the result, which won't be received until early next week.]

Liz46 Sat 23-May-20 10:18:25

I am in the extremely vulnerable category. Three neighbours who are all busy nurses with families offered to shop for me. Another neighbour (this is the best) works at our GP practice. She gave me her mobile number in case I have any problems.

I've managed to get a weekly Asda slot until October so I'm fine for food. I tried to order some bleach and that was not available. We have Prime (don't really want to advertise) and ordered ten bottles yesterday that should be delivered today so I'll be able to give some away.

ujhunt1961 Sat 23-May-20 11:07:52

My neighbour leaving an eter egg on my doorstep just to cheer me up

mbody Sat 23-May-20 11:54:20

Lots of offers of help so bey grateful. My daughter WhatsApps me each day to see and talk to the grandchildren, we have lovely virtual bath times and watch them play. We are very lucky

jocork Sat 23-May-20 12:05:22

Our vicar is visiting all her parishioners and checking we are ok at a safe distance, especially those of us who live alone. Every time she comes she brings a small treat - homemade biscuits or fairy cakes or a small bunch of daffodils. It's lovely to see someone in the flesh even if we can't have a hug. She must spend hours baking for us all!

Kaggi60 Sat 23-May-20 12:35:46

I think. act of kindness and support of my daughter that lives with us. We had the virus could not get out of bed it was really hard to do anything . But my daughter took over looked after us did all the shopping brought us tea in bed and food if we needed it. It was reassuring she was here to help us don't think we would be here to tell the tale. I'm very grateful at this difficult times.

Charliechoc Sat 23-May-20 14:47:46

I manage a small Independent Living Retirement Estate. Over the past few weeks I have seen many kind and generous acts of kindness but the one that touched me the most was this. One of our residents wanted something from the local co_op, where you can ring up and order and a volunteer delivers. Sadly there were no volunteers available, so the guy that works there delivered the ladies order after his shift at ten o'clock at night, so that she could have her bacon sandwich for breakfast. X

kathcake Sat 23-May-20 15:05:52

my local community dropping off a leaflet offering help if its needed

vampirequeen Sat 23-May-20 16:21:06

My neighbour's daughter (who we'd never met) brought us bread and milk when we were in quarantine.

annep1 Sat 23-May-20 16:36:00

I have tears in my eyes reading all these lovely posts. I do hope that this has changed some of us and we will continue to care for each other in this way.
My daughter sent us a jigsaw and some audiobooks as soon as it all started in March.
At the beginning I put on our local facebook that I couldn't get bleach or handwash. A young girl who lives a 15 min drive away insisted on coming after finishing work to bring me some. She asked if there was anything else I needed and I was grateful as we needed coffee. She came and presented me with a box containing bleach, handwash, soap,toilet rolls, coffee and a box of chocolates. I had to really insist on her taking payment which she was very reluctant to do. She was apparently doing this for all her elderly neighbours. Such kindness from a total stranger. I don't even have her address to send some flowers.

Angel17 Sat 23-May-20 21:51:43

One of my neighbours has co-ordinated efforts for the whole road to obtain shopping and medical items needed, as there are a large number of elderly and shielding neighbours among us. She sends out a weekly email bulletin to update us all re requests and the neighbours with supermarket slots who can offer 'space' on their orders, and manages to supply us all with fresh eggs, weekly, which are left on our doorsteps. She has been an absolute treasure and her efforts have made all the difference to us all.

LJB70 Sat 23-May-20 23:18:00

My partner has gone up shaky ladders to remove foliage growing from a roof gutter, and always mows the neighbours lawns, despite being a shift worker, whos worked throughout this

Lisapaige24 Sun 24-May-20 00:35:27

I have been shopping for my elderly neighbours as well as my own family whilst holding down a full time job in a busy pharmacy and redirected my food from hello fresh to my sister’s house as she is a severe epileptic and finds it hard to get out with her two small children but acts of kindness should be shown to otherS who need it all the time as it’s the decent thing to do

mumofmadboys Sun 24-May-20 07:59:00

Our neighbours have started a WhatsApp group so if any of us need anything we just need to put a note on the groups WhatsApp. It has brought us all closer together.

Willow500 Sun 24-May-20 08:01:09

I've had 2 parcels from a friend 60 miles away containing SR flour and cakes she's baked for us which is just so thoughtful.

A neighbour rang the doorbell and handed my husband a tray full of different coloured buns all decorated for VE day. I still haven't seen her to say thank you yet!

Gymstagran Sun 24-May-20 08:47:20

My next door neighbour rang from the supermarket to ask if I needed anything. He and his partner are both key workers and have been working evry weekday. Since that first week he always checks if I need anything and also shops and delivers his parents needs. He is so thoughtful and kind and always checks I am ok and has a chat when he sees me.

bikergran Sun 24-May-20 09:20:03

Although I work in a Supermarket it can still be a little bit scary with whats going on.

But when people let you know they are thankful that supermarkets stayed open it was lovely to be thanked personally .

I came home about 4 weeks ago to a little bunch of daffodils on my doorstep and a card, it was from my next door neighbours(I hadn't done anything for them, but they just wanted to acknowledge my work.

Last month a youngish man came through my checkout and gave me a Cadburys cream egg he said " here thats for you and thank you" smile

I've had two more bunches of daffs from customers and a little angel made of wire given to me.

It really does make your day at a tiny little random act of thoughtfulness and kindness, no matter how small or large. ;)

mandydoherty65 Sun 24-May-20 09:33:18

On my daily walks there is an elderly lady who I always wave and smile to, sometimes she comes to the window for a chat. I have given her my mobile number so she can ring me anytime she wants for a chat or if she needs something. She said it makes her day as she gets quite lonely being on her own. My daughter and grandson bake cookies and cakes that they leave on their neighbours doorstep since lockdown, my grandson has also made cards for all the neighbours to brighten their days.

sunshine57 Sun 24-May-20 13:19:05

I live on the island of Fuerteventura where lock down rules have been very strict.We were at one point only allowed to go to the village shop.One day in the shop I noticed an old lady struggling to carry her shopping and several large water bottles.
I rang my husband who was waiting for me in the car and asked him to come and help the lady carry her shopping to her car which he did,She was very grateful.
She must have been well over seventy years of age.

Lock-down rules at the shop are a temperature check at the entrance,everyone must wear a face mask and gloves and the gloves themselves have to be sanitised with gel.

This has gone on for eight weeks and tomorrow the rules will be relaxed but we still have to wear a mask in town if we go there.

Hope things get better in the UK and perhaps one day soon holidays to this beautiful island will resume.

All the best to everyone and keep safe.

quizqueen Sun 24-May-20 13:49:25

My grandchildren sent me a 'hug me' token through the post that I could carry that around in my pocket until I could hug them for real.

Harris27 Sun 24-May-20 19:29:14

There was a little knock on my door and when I went to answer it at the bottom of my steps where three children I had taught the youngest still in my room. They had left me three lovely title plants and lovely drawings which said “ please stay safe” I was in tears.

Fennel Sun 24-May-20 21:33:12

Silly old woman that I am I went out on Friday in that terrible wind to the local shops and on the way back I tripped and fell. Couldn't get up. It was in an estate which is a bit notorious for drug abuse etc.
2 people came running to help me. There's good in everyone.

marymod Mon 25-May-20 01:18:24

We have a community facebook group set up and we are all offering to do what we can to help each other. This varies from offering extra items that we have to checking that everyone is alright. It is really lovely how we've come together as a community to look after each other.

fullarton121 Mon 25-May-20 08:35:44

We are continuing to do our more elderly neighbours weekly shop throughout these troubled times. It's the least we can do and they are very grateful.

kazzabarbie Mon 25-May-20 08:39:36

My Sister walked for 2 1/2 hours to deliver a bottle of Gin and some tonics to my house as I was suffering from depression. Now that is love and kindness smile