Many local communities have organised hot spots – places
where people can gather to keep warm, have a hot drink, a simple meal and some
company and these are amazing places providing a very valuable service. But
when the weather is bad, it is not always easy for people to access them – the
dangers are too great or the weather too cold. And this is when problems can
occur. A lonely person can begin feeling more isolated. A cold person gets even colder. And a hungry person,
can’t get out to get something to eat.
So what can we do as a good neighbour to help those in our community who
are finding things hard?
I am sure you can think of lots of things but here are a few
examples:
Find out where your local hotspot is and offer your
services. You could help with the preparation and serving of food, donate some
produce that could be turned into nutritious meals, do the washing up or just
sit with the more vulnerable in your community offering companionship and
comfort.
Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours. Pop in to say
hello and ensure that they are warm and comfortable, that they have a hot drink
to hand and something warm to eat.
Ring people for a chat and brighten their day especially if
they have been confined to their house and unable to get out, providing a link
to the outside world and the opportunity to speak to a real person.
Ensure you have torches and candles to hand in the event of
a power cut and visit an elderly person if there is one to make sure they are
safe and not afraid.
Offer to baby sit for young families if a parent needs to go
to work or out to buy groceries but would find it hard to take their children
with them or offer to do the shopping for them instead.
Clear pathways for those unable to do it themselves so that
they can get to their cars, or to their dustbins etc without fear of falling
over.
Check for stray animals and leave out food and water for
them. Keep bird tables well stocked and
break ice on water bowls regularly so they have access to drinking water.
These are just a few examples, there are so many more things
we could do as a community to ensure that our friends and neighbours are safe,
warm, well fed and able to cope. I am lucky that I live in a small village and
although I don’t know many people who live here, there were clear signs that
our community is alive and thriving when I went out this morning. A farmer had brought his tractor and was
clearing the small roads. Some people
were using the grit tubs to make the corners easier to handle, others were
shovelling snow from driveways. The next village along has been partly hit by a
power cut but several households had sent messages to say that they had electricity and were
happy for anyone to pop in for a warm, a
hot drink or to fill their flasks with hot water. Others were saying they had
plenty of food and people were welcome to call in for a simple but warming
meal. When the news is often filled with gloom and stories of people being
cruel and unkind, these simple gestures truly make you believe that there are still
many kind people and good community feeling around. Wouldn’t it be nice to publicise that more
instead?
So this wintertime, when the weather gets bad, be a Rainbow
friend and call on someone you think may need some assistance. Even if they
don’t, having a visitor or a call from a friendly neighbour, will brighten their
day. No one should feel isolated, cold,
hungry or alone – it costs nothing to call in apart from time but the good that
you could do with that simple act is immeasurable.
Be a good friend and neighbour, keep that community spirit
going and know that by helping someone else, it will brighten your day
too!