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Hi Friend, It’s March & spring is upon us! Here in Minnesota, I am gladly welcoming the sunshine and warmer weather. Families can once again enjoy the outdoors together. The strollers, scooters, and bicycles are out. Chalk-drawn pictures cover neighborhood driveways. Cars are clean and shiny, and folks are almost ready to swap out their winter tires. Kiddos everywhere are planting seeds in preparation for “May flowers.” Some people are even wearing flip-flop sandals! And we can’t forget to mention SPRING BREAK! Woohoo! But, as we all know, we’ve got to take the good with the bad. And in this case, the “bad” is this coronavirus (COVID-19) ordeal. So, in light of all of the news, I wanted to take the time to share a few comments. Things have been fairly slow with Handlender because of the spread of the coronavirus. We haven’t been able to connect with as many organizations as we had hoped this month, but we continue to move forward. We’ve added more members and our services are still open for use! So, keep submitting requests, and offering to lend a hand. Your help may be needed now, more than ever. A Note Regarding COVID-19 I’m sure you have been inundated with various news reports, articles, and updates on the coronavirus here in the United States. Many domestic communities have been affected, having one or more confirmed cases in their midst. Many schools and community facilities have closed, events have been canceled, and stores have been emptied of disinfectants and toiletries. I don’t need to remind you of what you already know (well, except maybe a few things), so instead, I’d like to share some additional tips that you may not have thought of as we strive to prevent and control the spread of this disease. First Thing’s First... We are a part of a society where the theme is often “every man for himself.” But that’s not the mission of Handlender, and I encourage you not to take on that motto either. There are poor and less fortunate among you. There are elderly neighbors near you. There are children and families in need, everywhere. With some schools shutting down for two-weeks (or longer), there’s likely a large number of children who don’t have access to food. I encourage you to think about ways you can help, while still protecting your own health. For example, get your elderly neighbors phone number, and call to make sure they have what they need and are doing well. Drop off a bag of groceries even. Give to your local Church and/or other organizations that are committed to helping the poor, the underprivileged, and low-income families. If you are one of the people stockpiling food, disinfectants, toilet paper, and water, consider sharing with the single mom who couldn’t make it to the store before the supplies were all gone. Think about resourceful ways you can position yourself to extend your food and household goods to other families in need, if it becomes necessary. For simplicity sake, spend 1 minute considering the Allegory of The Long Spoons. Remember, Handlender’s purpose is to enrich and strengthen communities. We are stronger when we work together. We do better when we take thought of other’s needs. Be kind, and do to others what you’d want them to do to you…if you were in their shoes. MEMBER ZONE! Important Note: If you are in need of help due to the COVID-19 virus, submit a request, select “Other” from the services list, and enter “COVID-19 Help.” Provide as much detail about what you need, and we’ll work hard to identify members who can assist you. PSSST! NON-MEMBERS! If you need a hand, you can register right now! It takes less than a minute! Second… If for some reason you aren’t in the “know,” you can visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website. You can find updates on the spread of the virus, as well as primary methods for preventing and/or controlling the spread of diseases, like COVID-19. While it might appear to be overkill, here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you prepare to weather the storm: Routinely disinfect your own homes, even these seemingly uncommon areas:
Build up your immune system!
'Til Next Time
I hope things will be on the upside sooner than later, and that we’ll be able to communicate a lighter message in our next newsletter. In the meantime, don’t get lazy! The longer this pandemic lasts, the more tempting it may be to relax on your prevention methods. Resist the temptation! We don’t know how long it will take to contain and stop the spread of COVID-19, so be on guard, be wise, and stay prepared! And finally, protect your body AND your mind. Keep overwhelming feelings of fear at bay by limiting the time you spend reading COVID-19 updates on the Internet and social media. It's good to be aware of what's going on, but remember to give your mind more exposure to positive news & thoughts rather than negative or worrisome. As always, thank you for supporting and/or being a part of the Handlender network! |
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