Coronavirus: How to help and why it's good for you

Writing for The Wall Street Journal (4/17/20) Michelle Ma writes: "When you're down, help others."
"Psychologists and stress researchers have long understood the mental and emotional benefits of doing good."
Research by Dr. Emily Ansell demonstrated that "performing compassionate acts, even small ones, can help mitigate the negative effects of stress on an individual's mood and mental health."
Benefits of helping others: 

• distract us from our problems
• increase our sense of purpose and meaning
• reduce the impact of stress on our bodies
• increase feelings of self-efficacy and control 

Things you can do to help in the time of coronavirus:
donate blood redcrossblood.org or americasblood.org
donate to your local homeless shelter or food pantry (they need $ more than canned food)
sew face masks to donate
donate PPE to your local health care facility (getusppe.org)
volunteer at your local food pantry
Check out: mutualaidhub.org

Be kind and generous to front-line workers who may be under presuure and putting themselves at risk!

• Tip more 
• Be patient
• Show empathy and gratitude

Alternative Gift Mart in Cache Valley Nov. 12

If you are tired of the holiday gift giving frenzy, it's time to visit the Alternative Gift Market  Give, in honor of a friend or relative, an alternative gift of food, medicine, livestock or education. These gifts will be sent to areas with great needs around the world and here at home. When you purchase an alternative gift,
you will receive beautiful gift cards with informational inserts describing your gift. Your gifts of peace and compassion will change the world!
These alternative gifts are life-saving gifts of hope. They empower the poorest of the poor on our planet to sustain life and to build a future for subsequent generations. When people share with their world neighbors; a more peaceful, equitable global community can flourish. This year's Cache Valley Community Market, where you can enjoy fair trade shopping, learning about the projects, lunch, a bake sale, music, and purchasing your gifts is at the Presbyterian Church, 200 West Center St., in Logan on Saturday Nov. 12, 9 am - 2 pm. If you can't fit Saturday into your schedule, visit Global Village Gifts, 69 East 100 North.
For more details see: http://www.altgifts.org/

A chance to help the people of Nepal

The devastating earthquake in Nepal is a reminder of how lucky we are to be safe, well-fed, and secure. The devastation from the earthquake is incredible and many villages which were totally destroyed have yet to receive any outside assistance due to the poor infrastructure, rugged terrain, and the bad weather that will only get worse as the monsoon intensifies. Having traveled in Nepal I wanted to make a contribution, but one that I felt confident would do the most good. So I contacted author Jeff Greenwald (http://www.jeffgreenwald.com/) who has lived in Nepal and has written extensively about the country. He recommends donations to Portland-based Mercy Corps which is a 501(c)3 IRS-approved non-profit. Mercy Corps meets all 20 of the Better Business bureau Wise Giving Alliance standards for charitable accountability as well as Charity Navigator's highest 4 star rating. 88% of funds go to humanitarian programs with only 12% spent on fundraising and administration. Greenwald worked with Mercy Corps in post-tsunmai Sri Lanka. According to Greenwald, "they are already in Nepal, have been for many years, and are excellent with their distribution of funds and resources." According to Mercy Corps, they have 90 people (many of them locals) working to distribute aid. Donations can be made at Mercy Corps' website: https://www.mercycorps.org/donate/survivors-need-your-help-now