During this time of crisis, where many are feeling the financial pinch, perhaps the last thing on our minds is charity. But there are sections of society being hit far worse than the rest of us. These are people who were already on the poverty borderline, struggling to make ends meet, and people without a proper roof over their heads, or who were close to losing their homes.

There are many organisations dedicated to helping and aiding those people who are in great need.

These organisations are run by selfless individuals who dedicate a great chunk of their time and resources to helping others.

Such organisations include, but are not limited to, food banks, shelters for domestic violence victims or homeless persons, Caritas and id-Dar tal-Providenza.

Most require donations to stay up and running and, as has been pointed out by some organisations, donations are not going in at the same rate they were previously.

Given the current situation, they need our support now more than ever. The country should not abandon these organisations and should in these times still support them both from a government standpoint, but even on an individual and family level. Everyone should do their part.

The Maltese have time and time again shown that we are a generous people. Just look at the L-Istrina results year after year. But that was in the best of times. The period where people suffering need help most would be now, and this is the time when, as a people, the Maltese can truly show just how generous and caring we are.

There are of course many who are already helping, and not just those helping organisations that deal with the struggling sections of society.

The appreciation shown to medical workers on the frontline of the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus has been well noted.

As an example, the Office of the President is expressing its solidarity with the workers at Mater Dei Hospital during the Coronavirus pandemic, and cooked meals are being prepared by the Palace kitchen and sent over to the staff at the hospital – a small gesture which is surely appreciated by the medical staff who are giving so much to help society.

Many people are also volunteering their time to man the helplines and to support the health authorities in any way they can, even if it is not done through medical means – a very welcome gesture indeed.

Some organisations are importing medical supplies to help out, such as masks.

A united effort is required not only to contain the virus, but to help keep morale high and give hope to those people struggling, reminding them that they are in the hearts and minds of everyone on the island, and that they are not being left alone.

But generosity does not need to be shown through financial support, or through major gestures. If a family doesn’t have the finances to support others, acts of kindness cost nothing. As an example, if an elderly neighbour lives next door, call them up, see how they are doing. See if they need anything from the store and offer to bring over their required goods too when going to the store next. It’s a simple yet selfless gesture that could help prevent the elderly from thinking that they have been forgotten.

In these terrible times, while we must keep apart from each other, never have we needed to be more united than now.