Make the Big City Smaller
Dear Friends and Advocates,
Most of you are in New York City. Many of you are advocates to one vulnerable person with disabilities. Those of you who are not, I know you are supporters of Do For One so I hope you'll find this relevant and helpful. As the coronavirus virus has spread and the response of the city intensified I want to offer some guiding principles rooted in the sacred words of the Old and New Testament Bible. My hope is to help alleviate fear and strengthen our responses.
Fear and anxiety is provoked because so much of this is out of our control. See this article on taking care of your mental health. Submitting this reality to prayer will help reduce anxiety. Pray for those affected by the virus and for New York City Officials who are responding to the issue. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145: 18
Let's remember our responsibility as citizens of New York. It can feel overwhelming to think about what we could possibly do. The idea is to make the big city smaller. We can't do everything but we can do something. First of all, proactive containment has been shown to be the best way to protect a community. Younger demographics are reportedly less likely to be as severely affected by this virus. However, as you know we live in a densely populated city where many of our neighbors are much more vulnerable and at risk.
As we prepare and make decisions, make the big problem smaller by assessing your priorities:
Care for those in your own household. Your spouse, your children, other relatives, significant others, and yes, your roommates! Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
Care for those most vulnerable within your reach. Your (Do For One) partner, someone in your local faith community, or someone in your neighborhood. If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Deuteronomy 15:7
Don't assume your partner or neighbor knows what is going on and what to do. For example, some have limited access to the internet
Be mindful of those who live alone. Visit them (with caution / unless you're sick!) or call them! Inform them and help them make any necessary preparations
Be especially mindful of those higher at risk that make them more vulnerable
Act now
Do what calms you and makes you feel safe. Take care of your and others' mental health
Laugh, cry, and be especially loving to those most dear to you
Use the following points as a guide for any visit or small gathering, including one to one visits. (thank you, Andy Crouch)
No one present is sick or has any reason to think they have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus)
Shared surfaces are disinfected before and after the meeting
Everyone washes their hands thoroughly (more than 20 seconds) upon arrival and upon returning to their home
Food and drink are served individually
As much distance as possible is maintained between members of different households and their belongings
Regulations and preventive measures will change so stay updated by following state and city officials. Keep the vulnerable within your reach updated. Avoid hysteria (especially to be found on Social Media) and pay attention to updates from trustworthy resources such as the CDC website.
Call me if you have any specific questions or concerns. (917) 202-8636
Yours,
Andrew