Following is a late April update from MY Neighbors:
Wow. Who ever thought we would see times like this in the USA? By the end of this week more Americans will have died of coronavirus than were killed in twenty years in Vietnam.
During this unprecedented time, MY Neighbors soldiers on. Some Villages like ours have ceased operation. We have not, though we have significantly scaled back our activities.
Since most medical appointments have been canceled our demand for services has been reduced by half. Mostly Volunteers are grocery shopping and picking up medications for Members.
Social events and plans for the annual meeting are on hold. Many Volunteers have “adopted” a Member or two and are checking on them weekly via phone calls. In addition to the increased risk of Covid 19 among elders, the mandate to stay at home also increases the risk of social isolation. Those with existing medical conditions are not receiving medical care.
Due to our reduced activities and the financial hardship of many in our county, the Board agreed to extend all Membership terms by three months at no additional cost to Members.
Since our orientation process involves face to face meetings we are currently unable to accept either new Members or new Volunteers. We look forward to the day when that will change.
A bright note among all the gloom has been the boost we received from our first intern, Brandi Edwards of Mars Hill University’s Department of Social Work. Karin Rolett supervised Brandi over the past several months during what has unquestionably been an unprecedented opportunity for learning. Brandi quickly became a vital part of the MY Neighbors team, serving as a Call Manager, organizing the “Volunteers Adopt Members” program, and calling numerous Members herself. She has participated in Call Manager and Board meetings and filled many service requests herself. We are deeply grateful for all she has done for us and we wish her well as she graduates into an uncertain job market.
Meanwhile, what should we be doing? Even from home, there is a lot we can contribute. MY Neighbors folks like Dotty Morgan and Paul Lundquist have joined the Yancey Mask Makers and produced hundreds of face masks! Board Member Gordia Robinson made masks for every Volunteer driver.
Wesley Cheng runs TeleVisit, a nonprofit in California that stimulates social interaction among elders via teleconference. He is facilitating a national dialogue in the Village to Village network on, “Post Covid 19 Planning: Building a Resilient Virtual Community.” Following are some (lightly edited) constructive ideas Wesley shared for navigating these challenging times:
Do Something for Yourself
- Do something that gives you joy. We need to break the monotony of sheltering in place. It does not have to be a major undertaking. For us, it is as simple as . . . looking forward to some fresh vegetables and cooking new dishes.
- Start a journal.Practice writing down one thing that you are thankful for each day. It is also a good idea to note who you talked to and where you went; it might be useful to trace where the infection may have started to reduce its spread in your community. Additionally, we will be able to look back on this record when this unprecedented crisis is over and remember how we made it through. Tough times bind us together, so let’s use this as an opportunity to build strong connections.
- Curate reliable sources of COVID-19 information.I am inundated with COVID-19 information and sometimes have to turn away for a while. In addition to all the people trying to help, there are bad actors who publish fake news and conspiracy theories that make us anxious. It can be exhausting. I have started to cull my news sources and ignore many others, relying on some major sites for reliable information (e.g. CDC, your county/city website.) If there are sources with helpful advice, share them with others!
Do Something for Your Community
- Walk around your neighborhood.Many people are staying indoors. In Palo Alto, the city has mobilized those of us who are emergency service volunteers to walk our neighborhoods and proactively see if anyone may need help. The weather is beautiful right now, so we don our masks and venture out with the dogs. I bumped into an elderly neighbor on a walk and got to ask him how he was doing, and offer any help. I also sent an email to another to see if she needed help.
- Build a plan for post COVID-19 life.It has been a month of lockdown for most of us, and we are emerging from the shock that coronavirus has unleashed upon the world. The worst may still be ahead so it is no time to relax yet. Older adults will be the last group to come out of lockdown when the economy reopens, so we are stuck for a while longer. Even after the lockdown is over, there will be people who are hurting. Think about how you may be able to serve others in your community.
- Encourage people in your community.We talked about mapping your community to identify the various vulnerable people: frontline healthcare workers, essential workers, delivery/warehouse, and those who are out of work. Perhaps make a phone call or jot a handwritten note; it can put a smile on their faces. As someone who has been laid off three times, once during the 2008 financial crisis, I understand the stress that some are going through right now. You have much to offer from your experiences.
- Start planting a victory garden.This was popular during WWII when neighbors helped each other by growing fresh vegetables. As we enter the Spring season, this is a perfect time to start! Coordinating and sharing with your neighbors will allow for an abundance of fresh produce, as well as strengthen your community.
Yes, we are going through a tough time, but we are all going through it together. Remember to be kind to yourself, to your family, and to your community.
To the above I would add: eat well, exercise every day, and strive to keep perspective. We are learning more every day about treating covid-19. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful place where the population density is sparse. Be good to yourselves and your neighbors. Take one day at a time, but keep practicing social distancing and by all means avoid crowded places. Call a friend or neighbor who might enjoy hearing from you. If you are a Member, call us to let us know how we can help.
For the Board,
Chip Poston