COMETH the hour, cometh the acts of kindness.
While coronavirus and the battle against it continues to dominate the news, all round the UK volunteers are dreaming up imaginative ways of doing their bit to help.
As I write, 99-year-old, World War II veteran Tom Moore, raised more than £12 million to help the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden.
He’d originally set out to raise £1,000 before his 100th birthday.
He is a beacon of hope, but there are many other shining examples, not least in our constituency.
Individually, many local people have stepped up to ensure that their neighbours are safe and surviving.
On Portland, the wonderful Island Community Action (ICA) is calling on an army of 300 volunteers to support everyone over 65 and those considered at high risk.
Organised by Kim Wilcocks, Katie Pascoe and Jackie Carpenter, helpers collect prescriptions, drop off shopping and run errands wherever needed.
ICA also have 600 callers who offer a telephone befriending service, making sure that no one is alone and frightened during these difficult times.
The whole operation is a spin-off of ICA’s regular work, which includes projects for older people, local food and craft producers, a volunteer bureau and a group which refurbishes used, donated furniture for resale.
Elsewhere, Dorset Council has delivered 582 food parcels to 322 separate households since April.
Last weekend, the council’s highways officers delivered 90 Easter eggs to ‘super shielding’ families, where children would otherwise not have received any treats.
Meanwhile, our supermarket staff, bin-men, emergency services, posties and other essential workers strive to maintain an air of normality in unprecedented times.
And, of course, we are indebted to the continued devotion and courage of those who work in the NHS and care homes.