How can I give back to the Tallahassee community from my TCC apartment?

The COVID-19 situation has created a lot of stress and uncertainty, so now is a great time to give back to your community. While you're social distancing and spending the majority of your time in your TCC apartment, there are still a lot of things you can do to give back to the Tallahassee community, as well as the staff and students at Tallahassee Community College. Here are some ideas:

• Share your talents. When you're focused on school work, it can be hard to remember you have skills beyond cranking out a term paper overnight, but this is the time to show off your skills to the world. Whatever your talents might be, there is someone who could benefit from it at this time. For example, maybe you're a whiz in the kitchen; if so, why not write up a few recipes with easy substitutions (since some key grocery staples are hard to find right now) and share them? Or maybe you're a Zoom master user; if that's the case, record some tutorials for those folks working from home for the first time, and post them online. Put your extra time at home to good use, rather than just feeling "stuck" in one of the apartments near TCC.
• Sew (or print) face masks. Right now, there is a serious shortage of personal protective equipment for the medical professionals in Tallahassee, as well as state- and nationwide. It might not seem like you can do much about this, but there are actually a few ways for you to contribute here. This is a great article from Time on what people are doing, ranging from sewing face masks to 3D printing face shields. While anything you make in the comfort of your TCC apartment won't be medical grade quality, it can still provide some much needed protection for your community. See what materials and tools you have at home, and see what you can do!
• Help your neighbors. Whether or not you live in one of the pet-friendly apartments near TCC, it's the perfect time for you to make them more "people-friendly." Now more than ever, it's important to look out for your neighbors. Consider how you can support the people around you, particularly if they are older or immunocompromised. Maybe you could offer to pick up prescriptions or groceries, limiting their increased risk of going into crowded spaces; or maybe you can create a group chat with your neighbors, helping them feel less isolated while they're social distancing. These might be small steps for you, but your neighbors will really appreciate you looking out for them. 
• Shop local businesses. Unfortunately, the virus has meant that many small businesses have had to close, and they may not open again - at least, not without your help. Take this time to reach out to the local businesses surrounding the apartments near TCC to see how you can help them. If you can afford to do so, buy a gift card for future services from everyone from your hairdresser to that downtown Tallahassee brunch spot. Many restaurants also offer orders for takeout or pickup, which can save their business while saving you a night of cooking. If money is tight, leave these businesses positive only recommendations. It's important to show your love to these Tallahassee businesses now so they'll be there in the future.

You're doing your part to give back to the Tallahassee Community College community, as well as the greater Tallahassee area. As Mr. Rogers once said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" Thank you for helping - we'll all get through this together.