In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Nathan Ho found himself suddenly more appreciative of the sacrifices of people who work at his condo building.

On Monday, the 34-year-old realtor with Century 21 was on his way home from grocery shopping when he noticed the concierge and other staff working away, as they normally do. But this time, something struck him about it.

“While everyone else is panicking about the virus and food and supplies, here are these people taking care of us and keeping us safe,” said Ho of the staff members at Market Wharf, a condo building near St. Lawrence Market.

He immediately felt the need to show these people that he was “thankful” for what they are doing, showing up at work and continuing to keep the building secure and clean during this difficult period. He went out and bought two large boxes of pizza, some chicken wings and bottles of water. The whole supply cost him about $70, he said.

“I talk to some of them all the time about sports and whatever is going on,” said Ho, who has lived at the building for three years. “It’s the least I can do just to say to them I am thankful for their continued support, even during this crisis.”

In communities across the province, many people are stepping up with random acts of kindness during the spread of COVID-19, by taking care of the elderly and those most at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus. Support groups have been created to help with grocery shopping for those who are in quarantine or in self-isolation, buying medication, sharing hygienic supplies or even walking dogs for those unwilling to go outside.

The head of concierge services at Market Wharf, Michael Kallis, said he and nine other staff members (who include security officers and cleaners) were “very happy” to see someone recognize their efforts and show a gesture of kindness.

He said it is rare in condo buildings to get a chance to know one’s neighbours, but there has always been a sense of community at Market Wharf.

“Nathan is one of our very generous residents here,” said Kallis, who has been on the job for five years. “It’s nice to see someone being kind. It makes our efforts feel worthwhile.”

Kallis said he and the staff are taking precautionary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic — wearing gloves and masks, washing hands and sanitizing. Their ultimate goal is always to make sure everyone in the building is safe, he said.

“However dire the situation is, we always try to take care of each other. That’s something I can’t take for granted,” he said.

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As for Ho, he said he has been practising as much social distancing as possible, while checking in with family and friends to ensure they stay aware of the latest developments.

“We can all do our part in helping to flatten the curve,” he said about individual contributions to stopping the spread of the virus. “Hopefully this thing will go away sooner rather than later.”

Correction — March 17, 2019: This story has been corrected to fix a misspelling of Michael Kallis’s surname.