HOW WE CAN HELP YOU and HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US FROM HOME. FeedCommunityNOW.org Virtual Food Drive.
For far too many people in our community, life was hard enough before COVID-19. For many of these neighbors and others who are suddenly without work, the last few days have been too much.
I don’t know about you, but this moment feels like a movie, like we're all trapped in some sort of Outbreak meets the The Truman Show, and yet it’s real. Many of us have been asking the same questions - how long will things be this way? How do we begin to accept this new normal? Is it possible to be informed but not afraid? What happens if I get sick? What about my parents? What about my grandparents?
For a lot of our neighbors in Northwest NC, the questions don’t stop there:
“How long will I be out of work?”
“How will I pay my bills?”
“I live in a rural area. Our one grocery store is out of everything, where can I go?"
"I'm older and scared to go out. How do I get supplies?"
It is a time of fear and uncertainty, to say the least. Each new day seems to lead to more questions. While we don’t have all the answers, there are a few things we at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC want to share.
First, your questions matter. Your feelings and concerns are valid. You don’t need to be ashamed to ask for help. That's what we're here to do - HELP. Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re afraid of, there’s a good chance that other people in our community in this exact moment feel exactly the same.
So, let's speak practically. This is a moment to lean on your community resources, like the food bank, if you need to, and, if you can, support us. After all - We’re all in this together.
START WITH SELF-CARE
It’s important to practice self-care and things that support you and your family's physical health and mental health during stressful times. Here are some suggestions:
1. Need help? We're here. We are experts in our mission. If you have questions or need support in where to go to find food assistance, call us or use our FIND HELP tool.
2. Wash your hands and practice safe food handling. Hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.
3. Don't rely on social media for accurate information. Follow guidelines suggested by trustworthy sources. World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are both trusted and reliable.
4. Budget food purchases wisely and prepare meals for your family that can be eaten on for several days. Check out Second Harvest's NUTRITION RESOURCES for more information.
5. Remember to unplug from the media and take some time to focus your family's attention on positive activities.
Arts & Crafts will not be cancelled.
Conversations will not be cancelled.
Cooking together will not be cancelled.
Music will not be cancelled.
Reading will not be cancelled.
Exercise will not be cancelled.
FEED YOUR COMMUNITY.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC plays a central role in Northwest North Carolina's emergency food assistance system. Our network of more than 470 partner programs (pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and meals programs for children and seniors) serve communities throughout 18 Northwest North Carolina counties and relies on us for the majority of food they provide to neighbors in need. Responding to the on-going crisis of poverty is what we and our partners do each and every day. While these are unprecedented times, Second Harvest Food Bank is well-positioned to remain responsive to shifting challenges facing our community.
Thousands upon thousands of families rely on the Second Harvest network each year—and in times of crisis, the need only grows as many of the support mechanisms they usually rely on are put on hold.
School schedules are disrupted, and traditional youth program schedules are altered or placed on hold, creating a potential gap in meals for countless families. Seniors, people with chronic conditions, and those with compromised immune systems face high risks in public spaces, forcing many to remain home.
We're all in this together and Second Harvest is here to help - but we cannot do it alone. That's why, right now, we are asking all with the capacity to give financially to do so through our virtual food drive: FeedCommunityNOW.org.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.
Comentarios