For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.

Like many people, Kerry was forced to cancel an appointment recently to maintain social distancing. While Kerry couldn’t get her nails done, she offered to pay anyway. But the nail artist refused to provide her bank account details. With an envelope of cash, Kerry went down to the salon. The owner still wouldn't take it.

Below are a selection of short stories where people have done just that. They're from different walks of life but they show that we are all in this together.

Rather than grand deeds, many of these acts of kindness are small. They are moments and gestures that offer a hand to someone in need.

But there are glimmers of light as well. Facing a health and economic crisis like no other, people have come together in ways that offer hope amid great uncertainty.

At times like this, it can be hard not to be pessimistic. Each day brings more news of the immense damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The “TP fairy” bagged up some toilet rolls and delivered them to his elderly neighbours for free.

When supermarkets were hit by a shortage of toilet paper, nine-year-old Carter sprung into action.

“It’s just caring about what the other persons’ situation is,” she said. “Asking what it would be like if I was in their shoes.”

Kerry said she knows what it’s like to run a small business and has sympathy for those who will now have to shut down.

“I said well you better get it before it blows away, I dropped it and ran,” she said. “I just care about her, I was being kind.”

With nightclubs and venues closed, John played a three-hour set from his spare room and livestreamed it on Facebook. It proved to be a hit, as thousands tuned in from across the world.

John Course, a well-known DJ, was due to appear at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl recently, however the show was postponed.

“Kindness to me is giving a person a hand in life,” he said.

In return, one thankful recipient sent back some chocolate bars for Carter to enjoy.

He included a note: “I hope times get easier for us soon but for now, know there is someone looking out for you.”

To six-year-old Masha, her father is a superhero. He’s been working long hours stacking shelves at a supermarket and as a security guard at a chemist. She wanted him to know just how important he is, so she drew a picture of him as a superhero.

John now plans to do a show from his spare room every week.

He said now was a good time for people to think about how they can apply their skills in a positive way. “Obviously the doctors and the nurses of the world are doing an amazing job ... but everybody has got little things they can do to help.”

“I think it was a great way to connect with music and the community,” he said

Cameron was in the Bunnings carpark when he saw a stranger with the bonnet up on their car. He went over and took a look, figuring out it was the starter motor that had caused the problem.

Dusan said he hoped people look at workers like him with a new appreciation and respect. “We are helping to keep the country going. We’re risking our lives and our families' lives every day,” he said.

“I wish they could understand that I’m not a machine, that I’m a person with a family who is just as worried as everyone else,” he said.

Dusan said it had been a stressful time but he’s grateful to still be working when many cannot.

“He’s working hard and helping everyone during COVID-19,” she said. How did it make her dad feel when he saw the picture? “Proud,” she said.

“I rang up one of my suppliers around the corner, got it at trade price,” he said. “As we were going there he broke down in the car saying how grateful he was and how things were really tough at the moment for him.”

Responding that he was happy to help, Cameron fetched his tools and returned to the Bunnings to fit the part.

“He goes ‘how much do I owe you?’ And I said ‘don’t worry about it, mate. It’s free of charge’,” he said.

“He shook my hand ... and we left it at that.”

Tim and his partner letterboxed their street and invited all the residents into a Whatsapp group.

About 20 people, many of whom had never met, joined the online chat and are now helping each other in any way they can.

A nurse is making homemade hand sanitiser from donated aloe vera plants, another is offering free distanced fitness classes.

“We’re just sort of banding together and offering some support,” he said.

“It’s been lovely to watch people swapping supplies, leaving them on doorsteps.”

Isa and her husband organised to donate 10 kilograms of Lindt chocolate, worth $500, to “give a bit of kindness” to hospital staff tackling COVID-19.

“Rather than focusing on the struggles and stress, we tried to bring it back into balance by sharing the kindness by helping wherever we can,” Isa said.

“So people, hang in there and share the kindness, that will help to uplift the mood.”

When Harrison Oliver’s 11th birthday party was cancelled due to coronavirus, his mum, Megan, came up with a few ways to make it special.

“Because we’re all in social isolation, we had to think a bit differently and get a bit creative,” she said.

Neighbours put happy birthday posters on their front doors, drew messages in chalk on the pavement and a procession of cars honking with balloons greeted him for his birthday.

“It made me feel happy. All the support that everyone has given me with cards and money, anything they gave was really appreciated,” he said.

Gay is now unemployed after her catering company lost all of its clients due to the coronavirus shutdown.

She had a kitchen full of food and started cooking free meals to be dropped off for the nurses and doctors in the emergency department at her local hospital.

“I’m a big believer in kindness really helping those around us,” she said.

“If we’re thinking of ways of radiating kindness we’re taking away the time that our brain thinks of all the negative things that are going on in the world.”

Hayley, 17, was at her local 7-11 buying a cold drink for herself and milk for her mother when an elderly woman in line tried to pay for groceries with cash.

She was unable to because “most people aren’t taking cash because of the crisis,” said Hayley.

With $28 left on her bank card, Hayley paid for the woman’s shopping herself so she wasn’t “upset or stressed”.

“She was so happy and it really made her day and it made mine,” she said

“I really learnt this from my mum.”

Lester works full-time at a Woolworths store in Seven Hills. When a lady in her 50s asked whether there was any toilet paper recently, he told her they were out of stock.

She responded that she was a nurse, works more than 12 hours a day and rarely has time to shop.

Lester, who has copped abuse over the shortage, had bought a pack earlier in the day on his break.

“I just told her to wait where she is and came back and gave her mine,” he said.

“I told her thank you for what you do and the receipt is in the bag. She was really grateful and she thanked me.”

Later, he was called into the office by his boss, who gave him a gift. He thinks the nurse must have said something. But that’s not why he did it.

“Kindness is helping someone and not expecting anything in return,” he said.

“We’ve had a terrible week, feeling pretty drained,” said Cat Carroll who works at an aged care facility and had to impose visitation restrictions that stopped families from seeing their loved ones.

“Most people were understanding, some struggling with the grief,” she said.

But a care package from a colleague helped her see the importance of paying it forward.

“[It was] a small act of kindness which made a big difference to my day. I’m super grateful and really feel inspired to pay it forward," Cat said.

"We need to look out for each other ... and be there for others in their time of need.”

Joann was shocked when she received an envelope in her letterbox with the words “had some luck paying it forward”; inside were two $50 notes.

“This totally blew me away and made me cry,” she said.

“Financially I’ve been struggling so bad. For a stranger to do this restored my faith in humanity. And to whoever you are, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart I will never forget this.”

Amanda works as a scrub/circulating and anaesthetic nurse and was overwhelmed when a “food fairy” dropped six containers of chicken curry on her front step.

“[There was] no note, not saying who it was from, not saying what it was,” she said.

“I’m presuming it’s because someone out there knows I’m a nurse and they are saying thank you and have left all this lovely food for us,” she said as her eyes welled with tears.

“I was really appreciative, so thank you.”

She later found out it was a group of volunteers from the Sikh community.

“It’s these small gestures that make the world the wonderful place it is.”

No job is too small and no request too large for the Surfcoast Angels.

They have been letterboxing houses offering to pick up groceries, do chores or even just to provide someone to chat to over the phone.

“The reason we’ve come together is to help pretty much everyone who is feeling isolated at the moment,” said member Nicole Dickmann.

“Potentially those people who don’t have anyone, the people who are immune-compromised, maybe they are vulnerable in the community, they may be elderly – or someone who can’t leave their house and who knows, that could be any one of us,” she said.

"We may not be able to give you that pat on the back or that handshake. But we are neighbours. Our light is always on and our phones are always on."

Whatever the need is, the message is clear, “we are here and we are standing together”.

Frank, his family, friends and employees put together 120 boxes of household essentials to distribute across NSW to help the less fortunate, the elderly and people with low-immune systems who can’t leave their houses.

“During these tough times with this COVID-19 virus, I think it’s time that us as Australians need to give back to our neighbours, to our friends, to people who are less fortunate,” he said.

“I really do hope this starts a chain effect and that people, no matter who, start to help one another through these tough times.”

Cardboard boxes full of free footballs have been popping up around Australia in an effort to bring some joy to families stuck at home.

Upper Beaconsfield Auskick Centre’s Nicholas Payne said with Auskick postponed, they thought it would be a great idea to hand out some old footies to the community for them to use “while they are in isolation”.

They are also going to upload activities online that kids can do in their backyard with their parents.

“Together we can kick this COVID,” said Nicholas.

Fleur’s mum is in her 70s and lives by herself in Toowoomba, where she has been unable to access the libraries because they are closed.

To help her mum keep reading in social isolation, Fleur has been packaging up books and sending them in the post.

Australia Post has a way of paying for postage and printing out the labels at home, meaning Fleur doesn’t have to make the trip to a post office and possibly catch the virus.

Naomi and her friend Lynn thought the best way to help out was by cooking for people.

Supported by their church, they made 100 healthy meals for vulnerable people in their community and plan to keep doing the same each week as long as they’re able to go to the shops for supplies.

“We figure if you can’t love and care for people now when will you,” she said.

If you would like to see more stories like these, check out The Kindness Pandemic group on Facebook. With over 500,000 members, there are plenty of acts of kindness being posted regularly. There is also our own page, The Good News Group, for lighter stories worth reading.