It was the stranger on Whatsapp 

Who was begging for assistance

Asking for someone to help her

Siphon fuel from her car

When the petrol stations ran out

So she could drive and give it to a friend in need.

It was the Zulu grandmother

Who I called after only 2 days 

Who was sitting in the dark and bitter cold, alone

With no electricity, no gas

Who softly and humbly answered "nothing ma'am" 

When I asked her if she had food to eat.

It was a friend with MS who answered

Another community member's call for food for their children

Giving what he had to spare

Even knowing he too might soon be without

And offered it freely.

It was a young African lady

Who I saw drive to a Pet food shop that was closed

And watching her drive away on the verge of crying

Hopeless and helpless.

It was the local small farmers and businesses

Who banded together 

To create pop-up markets

To feed their communities

Hundreds of people volunteering 

Their time and energy.

It was the lady who worked tirelessly

To try to secure food

For an elderly home of 200 

Who couldn't find bread

Or even simple things like milk and eggs 

But she continued.

It was local bakers I know

Who worked over 18 hours a day

To make bread for their community

Losing sleep to help others eat.

It was a 22-year-old skate boarder

Who offered to do errands for people

Volunteering to clean up

Be on guard duty

Do deliveries

To help in any way he could.

It was the friends who contacted me from abroad

To ask if I was doing ok, if I was safe

Who asked me "what can I do?"

And I said Pray for Peace, and if you can send money 

So I can feed a few more people

And they did!

It was the desperate mothers 

Looking for formula and nappies for their babies

And watching others share

And work tirelessly to find solutions.

It was the men and women who I saw

coming together every night, all night

To stand guard on their neighborhood streets

In almost zero degree weather

To protect their children and homes.

It was the hundreds of people 

I saw on social media

Cleaning up the streets

Helping each other

Choosing to act constructively

After such destruction.

It was the kindness and the sacrifices

It was the care and love

The generosity I have seen in the past days

In the face of danger, fear, uncertainty and even possible death

That broke me down to tears

It broke away my fears, my panic, my anger, my judgments

And rather than running away

To a "safer place"

Or hiding in my house 

Hoping I would be safe and have enough 

I was broken open 

And invited silently

Unknowingly

To join a Revolution of Love

To find ways to help others

And in so doing 

Forgetting all my worries.

Written 16 July 2021 

Jacqueline du Plessis, Founder of Growing Hope.