Americans all across the country are stepping up to help their neighbors in need.

Culture Beat · Mar. 24, 2020

“While many of us turn to the government for answers to the COVID-19 pandemic, others rightfully seek solutions from the private sector. Last week, the Hoover Institution’s Russ Roberts asked his many twitter followers to help ‘create a list of voluntary (non-coercive) actions taking place right now to reduce COVID-19 spread or impact.’ The answers are too inspiring not to share.”

“First, many of Roberts’ followers shared a list the benefits offered by their employers that help to alleviate workers’ financial hardships or ensure their health is protected. For instance, Walmart, Target, Gap, and many other firms announced that they will provide up to two weeks of paid leave to every worker who is sick or taking care of sick family members.”

“Even companies that rely on self-employed contractors are stepping during this crisis. Uber, for example, emailed its customers to inform them that ‘Any driver or delivery person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 or is individually asked to self-isolate by a public health authority will receive financial assistance for up to 14 days while their account is on hold,’ adding, ‘We’ve already helped drivers in some affected areas, and we’re working to quickly implement this worldwide.’”

Restaurants are also restructuring their operations in order to protect workers and customers. In Seattle, high-end restaurant Canlis went from offering a $135 four-course tasting menu to "selling bagel sandwiches in the morning, running a drive-through serving burgers and veggie melts for lunch and delivering dinner to the doorsteps of Seattle residents," according to The New York Times. Roberts' feed is full of examples of local restaurants offering free lunches to children in need whose schools have closed.

This column is too short to list everything that companies and citizens are now doing to help during this crisis. From private companies searching for cures and developing a vaccine to private citizens tutoring kids for free online to neighbors using the Nextdoor app to set up mutual-aid resources for vulnerable community members needing food, medicines, and services, examples abound of the generosity and sense of community of the American people.

If you need inspiration during the long upcoming social distancing stretch before us, just scroll down your Facebook feed. America, you've got this!

Read more at Reason.
https://reason.com/2020/03/19/coronavirus-pandemic-inspires-private-generosity/