Times like these, where everything is unprecedented, uncertain and devastating, people’s true colors are exposed. In the face of disaster and pandemonium, people turn to their outlet of expression to deal with the stress of the situation. Some have their anxieties manifest into an ugly shade of racism and bigotry, welding accusations to help fend off the possibility of vulnerability. Others, however, turn to kindness and empathy to help bridge an isolated world. The latter of which is the case for a group of Canadian high schoolers, who banded together to launch a hotline for contact-deprived seniors.  

The project, fittingly titled Joy4All, was led by students in the Calgary district. Upon calling 1-877-JOY-4ALL, callers will be enlightened to hear any variety of messages- ranging from delightful jokes, or heartening messages of hope, to calming poems or spirit-lifting quotes. These simple audio clips, however, have the power to truly transform a person’s day, as explained by teacher Jamie Anderson. “A lot of folks who are in isolation are really missing their families right now,” Anderson explained to CBC news, “So we’re just trying to fill in some of the gaps and bring them a little bit of joy and levity during these difficult times.”

In addition to the hotline, the teens have encouraged others to join in on the good deed. “Children and youth can submit their own written messages, content and even recordings!” the JOY4ALL website explains. “We encourage kindness, creativity, and diverse messages of joy, especially for our Indigenous elders in isolation, as well as seniors who are newcomers, immigrants and refugees.”

Composer and social activist Bernice Johnson Reagon once said that “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” Feeling scared or upset are not unreasonable reactions to what is currently occuring in the world, for it is not a bad thing to be frightened and angry at the state of the globe. What does matter, now more than ever, is what to do with that fear and anger. In the case of a group of teenagers in Canada, they chose to find a safe but effective way to reach out to the elderly. When future generations look back at this time in history, and they definitely will, it is better they remember this as a period where people looked after one another despite their confinement over a time marked by finger-pointing and assigning blame on others. For not even a deadly pandemic can stop the magic that happens when a group of people come together to do some good in the world.