Northwood News ♦ February 2021

NFCCA Community Cares Network Offers a Range of Volunteer Help

By Sharon Canavan

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic back in March, NFCCA set up an online Community Cares Network on this website to help organize efforts by neighbors to support one another.  The goal was to make it easy for volunteers to connect with neighbors asking for assistance.  At the beginning, the most frequent requests came from at-risk neighbors who needed someone to volunteer to pick up groceries or medications.  Now, however, many of us who must continue to socially distance rely on the curbside pickup and delivery options that most stores and restaurants offer.

When the working group discussed the types of services that the Community Cares Network should offer, we anticipated that prolonged sheltering in place could lead to social isolation; loneliness can affect mental well-being.  A few of our neighbors have requested to be paired with volunteers who are making emotional-support phone calls.  Although the days are now getting longer, the winter cold will keep many of us inside for some time to come, so this is a reminder that phone calls from a caring neighbor are available for the asking.

The Community Cares Network request form also offers an option for assistance with pet care or dog walks or technical computer issues (for example, getting set up for Zoom calls or Facetime).  There is an “Other” category, for a neighbor to ask for help with other types of simple tasks.  Finally, our community listserv [see details here] is another resource to hire someone in the neighborhood who is willing to do more time-consuming jobs, such as snow shoveling or leaf raking.

Northwood-Four Corners is a caring community.  My neighbor drops the newspaper on my front porch as part of her morning walk.  Across the street, another neighbor takes the trash cans out for an elderly gentleman.  When we first set up the Community Cares Network, we had more volunteers who signed up than people asking for help.  So don’t be shy about asking for the help that you need!  Use button below to fill out the online request form.   ■

Online Request Form