Germantown is a community that rallies together in times of need.

After the June 2019 flood, a group of citizens started a Facebook grassroots effort called Germantown HELPS.

Now, some Germantown residents have used social media to look for ways to serve their neighbors as the coronavirus effects more people in Shelby County.

Patrick and Toni Green have launched Germantown Delivers to help identify residents who need help and have been affected by COVID-19.

“We are currently living in a world that most of us have never seen and hope to never see again,” Patrick Green said, “All of our living situations are different and some of our neighbors need our help.”

The couple said they wanted to help the elderly, those with underlying conditions and those who are scared to go out during this time.

Residents in Germantown are asked to sign up for a time slot to be on-call and can run errands for those needing help as part of the effort. 

“As we always do in Germantown, we come together during the toughest of times and the best of times too,” Green said. “That is what makes Germantown the great community that we are all proud to call our hometown.”

The Medical Education & Research Institute has stepped up to donate medical supplies to Methodist University Hospital and hopes other agencies with extras on hand will do the same.

“We didn’t have everything they needed, but we were happy to give them what we could,” said Jason Owens, MERI executive director in a news release.

The institute donated face shields, N95 masks, paper scrubs and Tyvec coveralls that were leftover from a 2019 training program.

“MERI wants people to know every little bit matters,” Owens said. “Your extra face masks or gowns can help save the lives of our nurses and doctors. We challenge you to donate what you can.”

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After weeks of pandemic fear and cold, rainy weather have conspired to keep Memphis residents indoors, a break in the clouds brought out friends and families - at a safe distance - to enjoy a budding spring day at Shelby Farms.

The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-South is partnering with local restaurants to feed the community’s most vulnerable and there are ways you can help.

The Salvation Army’s FedEx Disaster Response Unit has served 250 people each day. Now, with the help of a group of anonymous donors, the agency can channel funds to several local restaurants, which will prepare and provide boxed meals for the daily distribution.

These donations relieve the Salvation Army of a significant financial burden, while providing revenues for the participating restaurants. So far, those restaurants include: Garibaldi’s, Huey’s, Paradise Cafe, Hog Wild, Lenny’s, Pimento’s Kitchen and the Spell Restaurant Group.

Local restaurant owners interested in taking part should contact Eric Monroe at eric.monroe@uss.salvationarmy.org.

Or financial gifts to the Salvation Army can be made online.

Young children obviously don’t understand the ramifications of a deadly world pandemic.

But they do understand hard work and how wonderful it is to be encouraged.

So, the kids on Overland Place in East Memphis are leaving messages on their sidewalks.

Sanitation workers got a personal shout-out, along with others who must continue to work regardless of the order from city and county government officials to stay home.

People out for a stroll are uplifted as well as they get virtual hugs, smiles and told of a “beautiful tree ahead.”

It was all 7-year-old Elliana Mohundro’s idea.

Her mother, Summer Mohundro, said they were on social media and saw a Girl Scout troop engaged in acts of kindness.

Elliana wanted to do something as well.

“We used imagination and we made art,” said an excited Elliana in a telephone interview.

Elliana is in second grade at Holy Rosary Catholic School.

“They teach them so much about caring,” Summer Mohundro said.

Neighbors Lena Koelsch, 6, Lewis Koelsch, 3, and Naomi Burton were invited to join in, while the adults have helped with spelling.

“I thought it was really cute,” said Emily Koelsch, Lena and Lewis’ mom.

Koelsch is a freelance writer and has watched from her window as people stop, read the messages and smile.