Community soap, balcony singalongs and other good samaritan stories

If your view of the world is based on daily news reports, then one can conclude we will all continue to behave badly right up to our imminent and certain death! Fighting in supermarkets, panic buying enough canned goods to last them a year, flouting guidelines and spreading the virus with gay abandon are just a few of the bad behaviours being noted. But the actions of a few shouldn’t be taken to reflect the whole and there are plenty of global and local heart-warming stories to restore your faith in humanity.  Here are a few of our favourite good samaritan stories from the community keeping in mind that often it’s the little shows of humanity that matter most. [gallery link="none" columns="1" size="full" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2020/03/3412294209_ca47ecb036_b.jpg|"]

Keeping Jacob’s Ladder safe

220 stairs makes Jacob’s Ladder a fitness hotspot. Since last week, someone has hung a bar of soap in a net bag above the tap for people to wash their hands, before and after their workout, and continues to resupply. Considering soap is a hot commodity at the moment, with most supermarkets seemingly perpetually sold out, it’s a wonderful display of quiet community care.

Impromtu balcony signalongs

On an otherwise gloomy and isolated Monday night, one local artist decked out with a microphone and other music equipment sang his heart out from his Nedlands apartment balcony. A resident of the apartment block told us that she heard the loud music and went on her balcony to see what was happening, and when many of her neighbours did the same, it triggered a choir of voices joining in on his show.  The performer ended the show on an inspirational note, saying “we are all in this together, [so] let’s stick together… Peace and love can conquer all!” It wasn’t clear which apartment the voice was coming from, but whoever they are, we appreciate their positivity! [gallery link="none" columns="1" size="full" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2020/03/eric-ward-ISg37AI2A-s-unsplash-1.jpg|"]

Free coffee for the newly unemployed

As businesses shut and thousands of workers lose their jobs, the line to apply for benefits was long, with some waiting several hours to get inside. In an act of kindness for those who have lost their income due to COVID-19, an unidentified man both went on coffee runs for the masses and had his dog perform tricks to keep the crowd entertained as they waited in line.  There’s nothing quite like a cute dog to lift your spirits! [gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="https://media.localista.com.au/2020/03/voucher-1.jpg|"]

Good samaritan vouchers for your street

These good samaritan vouchers have been popping up on community Facebook groups as local areas try their best to support each other, particularly if someone is in social isolation. It’s best to either print them off, fill them out and drop them in your neighbours letterboxes, or post them to your neighbourhood Facebook group.