A heart emoji is sympathy. Showing up with food is love. Both are fine; know the difference.

Two different currencies are at work, and confusing them is what leaves people feeling unsupported. A tap costs nothing and says you noticed, which is genuinely worth something. Arriving with dinner costs your evening, and the cost is what makes it register as care. Neither is fake, they simply buy different things.

Think of one person having a hard month and give them the expensive kind once. Bring something, sit for an hour, take a task off their list without asking what they need. Keep the light version for the many people you cannot reach, and let it be light without pretending otherwise.