If Not Me, Then Who?

If Not Me, Then Who?

Denver’s top mortgage company emphasizes personal character in times of crisis.

I have seen some things in my lifetime but I have never seen anything like what COVID-19 is doing to the economy or our lives. The constant feed of bad news can drain the most determined of us, but personal character – deciding to put others ahead of ourselves – will keep more neighbors from getting sick.

One of the best mottos to fostering leadership in dark times is, “If not me, then who?”

As a mortgage lender, I’m not on the front lines. I am not a trained medical professional, but I want to do my part to help those who are on the front lines. Even if my team are not the ones walking into hospitals filled with sick patients and limited safety equipment, we can still do our part to help. “The Rueth Team” has followed the advice of public officials from the CDC and Colorado Department of Public Health and moved to working entirely from our homes.

While we may play a small role in isolation, we’re doing our part to keep those on the front lines from having to make unimaginable decisions, like deciding who will or will not survive due to a limited number of ventilators.

As public leaders decide how to best manage this crisis, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our small part to help our neighbors. Luckily, we can make a difference from isolation such as supporting non-profits who are supporting those on the front lines, promoting your small businesses over your social media, and by simply respecting your fellow neighbor’s space.

I’m a believer in supporting causes whose missions focus on those in need. As is true with most natural disasters, the neediest are affected the most. As non-profits continue to serve the neediest, they rely on public donations, which can be especially difficult as a fluctuating economy scares potential donors. If you don’t support non-profits, who will?

Here is a list of a few of my favorite non-profits:

• SECORCares – Committed to supporting families who are living paycheck-to-paycheck in the suburbs, Colorado-based SECORCares defines suburban poverty as the aftermath of when “life happens.” SECORCares understands all too well how many families living in the suburbs are one disaster away from poverty. SECORCares needs donations of rice, beans, oatmeal, sanitizing wipes, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, and financial donations (click here) to purchase large amounts of food.
• Nurse-Family Partnership – Nurse-Family Partnership is a community health program that truly changes lives for generations to come. Through ongoing home visits from registered nurses, low-income, first-time moms receive the care and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy, provide responsible and competent care for their children, and become more economically self-sufficient. Even as COVID-19 spreads, it’s more important than ever for mothers to learn how to care for their newborns from nurses. Read more about what they’re doing for COVID-19 here.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver provides a home away from home for families of children being treated at area hospitals and supports community programs that serve the needs of children. Their main focus is providing comfortable, low-cost housing to out-of-town mothers and fathers needing to be near their hospitalized children.
• United Way – Your generosity will help families and people in need to access critical information and services like food, shelter, and more through the global United Way network. 95% of your donation will provide relief to those left vulnerable by the pandemic.

If you don’t have the financial ability to donate money to charities, you can make a difference for your local businesses. As we continue to self-isolate, we still need to eat. Order takeout from local restaurants! Not only are you helping restaurants keep their workers on payroll, you’re helping the farmers who source the restaurant’s produce and ingredients, the delivery driver who needs to afford rent, and so much more. If you’re not supporting your local businesses, who will?

If your friends or family own a small business, promote them on social media. There is no shame in offering a bit of free exposure for your tribe in today’s environment. It’s why you’re in their network! Your recommendation might just be enough for someone in your network to hire your friend. If you’re not supporting your friends and family, who will?

At the end of the day, my actions may not be enough to shorten how long this virus will affect our community, but it helps. Winning this war will come down to respecting people’s space and thinking of others before yourself. This virus is affecting everyone in different ways and you have no idea if a stranger is more susceptible or if they’re the primary caretaker of someone who is. If you don’t respect someone’s space, who will?

Now is the time to lean into your character and take care of your neighbors. Even if it’s something small like ordering takeout or donating what you can, we need to spread positivity. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with negativity when each day brings worse news and updates, but it’s up to us as individuals to do our part. If you’re not spreading positivity, who will?

The Rueth Team of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is serious about taking care of our local metro Denver community. We understand very well how this virus is affecting everything and everyone, some more than others. It’s important to keep the neediest in mind. If not us, then who?