Creative Outreach During a Pandemic
Churches throughout the Diocese are reaching out actively to their communities during COVID-19. A variety of churches report that partnerships with the community, which seemed nearly impossible just a few months ago, are now forming easily as all embrace the common theme of “together, we can beat this.”
Below are some examples of what is being done in the Diocese that you can also do:
Pray for your neighbors:
Find a map of your community, lay hands on the map and pray.
Sign up for www.blesseveryhome.com, a free tool that gives you the names and addresses of neighbors closest to you with a reminder to pray daily with specific prayer points and scripture.
Prayer walk: As you exercise and get fresh air by walking and riding bikes or taking afternoon drives, pray for your neighborhood.
Post signs on your house that say “Need Prayer?” and provide the URL to your church’s prayer website.
Place a note in your neighbor’s mailboxes letting them know you are praying for them.
Use a neighborhood Facebook group or the NextDoor app to host a community live chat to discuss how everyone is doing and offer to pray.
Provide for your neighbors:
For the tech-savvy: Using one of the apps mentioned above, create a google survey to invite your local neighbors to share if they have any needs or if they have anything extra they can provide. Create a database that will help match up needs and offerings.
For the crafty: Make face masks and offer them to your neighbors. Also ask neighbors to help make masks by donating materials or sewing. (Homemade face masks are generally not acceptable at health clinics and hospitals.)
Contact the local food bank to see what needs they have. Work with your neighbors and parishioners to collect the specific needs.
Volunteer at shelters, if permitted. There is a desperate need for manpower.
Contacted your local United Way chapter to see what organizations are currently providing for your community and partner with them.
If you have a local restaurant or small business you visit often, find out if a waitress or sales clerk you now know by name needs financial support. If your small group has met regularly at a restaurant, collect the money you would normally use for meals to support the waiter or waitress who typically serves you.
Deliver to front steps rolls of toilet paper and other necessities to neighbors, include a note.
Contact your local schools to see how they are supporting families in need. Offer support from your church or small group: food for meal delivery, school supplies for homework, art and craft actives for fun.
Provide meals and messages of gratitude to your local healthcare workers.