Staying Connected...While We're Apart
As we follow guidelines for social distancing, it is more important than ever that we stay connected to those we love and care about. Besides help available through our Caring Circle and Pastoral Care Team, there are easy and natural ways we can engage with and look out for each other.
Pick up the phone! Call a friend, neighbor, family member, for fellow UU and chat! Get caught up on how they're doing, see if they need any help, and share tips on managing our lives of isolation.
Write a letter! Reach out the old-fashioned way - drop a card or letter in the mail.
Dabble in the new! Even if you don't usually communicate this way, try FaceTime, Skype or Zoom as a way to connect with those at a distance.
The power of connection can help us all make our way through this challenging time. Let's do it together!
Caring Circle Help
As part of our commitment to our mission of creating a compassionate faith community, especially as we are separated from one another during this period of social distancing, the Caring Circle is widening its scope by offering three new services over the next few months. If you have a need in any of the three areas described below, please email Caring Circle Co-coordinators Natalie Panshin and Eden Terrell at caringcircle@uucantonny.org and they will try to match you with a volunteer.
1. Phone check in – As public spaces close and we are all feeling more isolated, receiving a regular phone call from a member of our congregation might make you feel better and a little less isolated.
2. Shopping and errands – If you get to a point where you do not feel comfortable running your own errands - to the grocery store or the pharmacy, for example - a church volunteer can do that for you. If you prefer, we can help you set up home delivery/curbside pickup from some grocery and drug stores.
3. Technology help - With our church, public libraries, restaurants, and other gathering places closed, it will be more important than ever to use technology to stay connected. We can provide tutorials and walk you through getting systems set up. Some examples of what we could provide help with include:
- Overdrive (the public library ebook platform)
- Video chatting (Skype, FaceTime, etc.)
- Zoom video (for church services and church-related meetings)
Can You Help?
If you are not yet a part of our church’s Caring Circle and would like to sign up as a volunteer, please contact Natalie and/or Eden. Volunteers are never assigned tasks, rather given the opportunity to respond when needs arise. It is fine (and expected!) that you will decline requests and only pitch in when the timing is right for you.
As a volunteer, especially with one-on-one or running errand volunteer opportunities, please be very self-aware of how you are feeling and the interactions you have with others. If you are not feeling well or have reason to believe you may have been exposed to Coronavirus, please stay home and contact us to have your volunteer shift covered.