8 Things You Can Do to Help Boston Today

America woke up this morning to witness what the people of Boston already knew – fast-paced developments in the search for this past week’s bombing suspects have resulted in a massive manhunt, as well as an unprecedented security shutdown of the entire Boston metropolitan area.

Boston was my hometown for 4 years as an undergraduate at Tufts University, located right near the current center of police activity in Watertown – so for me, this hits close to home. Everybody’s primary concern is of course the safety of responding police officers and the citizens of Boston and surrounding communities, however this lockdown has no doubt caused tremendous disruption to a city already reeling from disaster: businesses and schools shut, commuters stranded, peoples’ already complicated lives turned upside-down.

Whether you have a connection to this city or not, here’s 8 real, actionable things we who aren’t in Boston right now can do to help out:

1. 1. Buy something online from a Boston-area business

1. 2. Plan a weekend or summer vacation to Boston in the coming weeks or months – book your hotel room today

1. 3. Re-post official alerts targeting Boston residents via your social media channels

1. 4. Conversely, don’t RT or re-post any tasteless jokes, etc. People are suffering, and it doesn’t help

1. 5. Call somebody you know who lives in Boston – don’t text or Facebook message them, call them. They’re trapped indoors and will appreciate it

1. 6. Are you a teacher, or know any? Encourage students to make signs, banners & other signs of support to send to Boston schools next week

1. 7. Make an online donation to Boston’s emergency  services organization of your choice

1. 8. Contact your local government to find out what your community can be doing to assist Boston

I’m sure you can think of others – if so, please leave your ideas below!