American icon Mister Rogers once said that his mother told him that in times of crisis to "look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
In among the panic-shopping and social media hysteria, Nikki Glahn decided to be someone to watch.
A new Facebook group has popped up to assist during the recent coronavirus situation. Barrie Families Unite is described as a “space created to facilitate help within our community. Posts are made of needed help due to self quarantines, school closures or other trickle-down effects that have resulted from the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
Glahn created the group on Saturday at approximately 9 p.m. and today at 8 a.m., the group boasts 1,875 members.
While she was amazed at the response, Glahn believes people want to help and just need a place to start.
“People responded in droves,” said Glahn. “Before I headed to bed there were 250 members who had signed up. Truth is that I feel better when I feel like I am doing something productive and helpful. I think that is true with a lot of people, which is why they have gravitated to this page.”
Social media is full of photos of shoppers hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Many have been caught selling the high-demand items to others for a big profit.
BarrieToday asked Glahn what she thought about images of people buying toilet paper and other items in bulk, leaving some without them.
“Personally, I can legitimately understand why people panic and hoard as we are being bombarded with various COVID-19 information on all sources of media, but I really wish society would take a moment to think about the big picture and relax with the stockpiling,” said Glahn. “In my opinion, stockpiling does not serve the greater good.”
Clearly many others share her opinion as the Barrie Families Unite group has people posting items they have lots of that they are willing to share. There are babysitting requests and offers and offers for anyone needing items dropped off who wouldn't normally get out to get them.
Glahn doesn’t believe that social media is a negative tool as long as you use it in a positive way.
“I have a mostly positive outlook on social media and the positive it can bring into the lives of so many,” said Glahn. “Maybe it's because of the social media apps I choose to use and how I use them, but I am constantly grateful for the connections that social media has brought to my life over the years.”
With March Break this week, schools shut down for two weeks after and recreation centres closed for now and with health officials asking people to practise distancing, Glahn sees Facebook as a way to keep in touch.
“I think technology can be used positively or negatively, it depends on the user,” said Glahn. “Barrie Families Unite is just one small example of social media and technology coming together to provide a sense of community when we are being asked to physically distance ourselves from our communities.”
