Love is the virus. Love is infectious. Love is the CURE.
May 26, 2020 10:51 AM Subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic has inspired a grassroots movement that is connecting people who need help with donors who can offer financial assistance. So far, contributors have passed $13 million through more than 100,000 matches. Shelly Tygielski came up with the idea that she named Pandemic of Love. […] "As the pandemic started, I started to see the fear bubble up on my social media feeds and from friends," Tygielski told CNN. "I wanted to turn from this environment of fear to an opportunity for us to create connection, community and strengthen the bonds of love between us."
I did the mental math and $13 million to 100,000 individuals comes out to $1300 each, or a little more than the much-heralded stimulus checks to .03% of the U.S. population, from an even smaller percentage, assuming there was double-or-triple dipping by some givers. Still, it's a nice but very small step in the right direction, and deserves to be massively expanded (maybe by a couple billionaires committing to help another 100K people).
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:53 PM on May 26, 2020
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:53 PM on May 26, 2020
I saw this article and something about Pandemic of Love read as scammy to me. Am I reacting too cynically?
posted by medusa at 5:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by medusa at 5:23 PM on May 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
medusa, I'm not sure. I'd want to see Pandemic of Love vetted. I posted about it, but with a caveat.
I expect there will be some recipients who are scamming, but I can hope it's a small proportion, and that wouldn't be enough to make the whole project be a bad idea.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 5:55 PM on May 26, 2020
I expect there will be some recipients who are scamming, but I can hope it's a small proportion, and that wouldn't be enough to make the whole project be a bad idea.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 5:55 PM on May 26, 2020
I looked at the website. So much woooooo. Mindfulness coach? Self-care activist? It hit all my buttons in the worst way. ugh. And yet ... I couldn't think of one reason not to contribute. I signed up to donate $200. Because I can and if I get scammed, well, so be it. It's worth the risk and right now I can afford it and I want to help and I like that it will go directly to someone in my community. Thank you Johnny Wallflower for the link.
posted by pjsky at 7:44 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 7:44 PM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
I can't with this performative sentimentality stuff. Your local agencies need you.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:05 AM on May 27, 2020
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:05 AM on May 27, 2020
Sorry. I'm tone policing the presentation. i need to chill.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:10 AM on May 27, 2020
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:10 AM on May 27, 2020
UPDATE: I signed up to help, got a very quick response connecting me to another donor + recipient. The other donor never responded and after I reached out to the recipient they told me they didn't really need help, but thanks anyway. So I forwarded that message to "Pandemic of Love". They responded quickly with another recipient. I reached out to the new contact and they responded right away. I zelled a single mom w/2 kids whose work has been cut back $200 to help cover rent. She was sweet and grateful and I was happy I could help someone directly, in a timely manner with an urgent need. I was a little disappointed it wasn't someone in my state, but that's minor and I am happy I could help. Thanks again Johnny Wallflower, without this post I would never know this movement existed.
posted by pjsky at 9:41 AM on June 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 9:41 AM on June 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
Another update - wanted to let everyone know that I'm having a great experience so far with Pandemic of Love. The organizers seem awesome. It took a few days to hear back from them (I'm sure they're processing a lot of potential donors / recipients).
I've been connected with a recipient, who seems both kind and in need of help that I can give. She's a single mom who has been hit hard by the pandemic.
I'd encourage anyone to try it who has some extra money and who might want to help someone directly. I've also handed the link out to some of my contacts who are suffering financially and need more help than I can give. I hope they can get matched with someone who can help. Thank you Johnny Wallflower for posting!
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 5:38 PM on June 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
I've been connected with a recipient, who seems both kind and in need of help that I can give. She's a single mom who has been hit hard by the pandemic.
I'd encourage anyone to try it who has some extra money and who might want to help someone directly. I've also handed the link out to some of my contacts who are suffering financially and need more help than I can give. I hope they can get matched with someone who can help. Thank you Johnny Wallflower for posting!
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 5:38 PM on June 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
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I'm going to take a look at my budget and sign up to help someone through this.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:06 AM on May 26, 2020 [2 favorites]