Responding to COVID-19 as a community

Before entering the building, please read and practice the following guidelines in Elim’s Covid-19 Preparedness Plan.

We recommend this article from The New Yorker that discusses what safe reentry could look like: “Amid the Coronavirus Crisis, A Regimen for Reentry”

We also encourage you to get tested if you think you have been exposed. It is free, open to all (no insurance needed), and convenient; you do not need to exhibit symptoms to be tested. Here are two links for finding a test site near you:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites.html

https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/testing-locations/index.jsp

In the midst of strange and difficult days, we want to find ways as a community to come together and to meet the needs of our larger neighborhoods/city.  This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it intended for us to feel pressure to do ALL the things. But if you want or need ways to connect, here are a few things to help us stay “in it together” right now:

  1. SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP: Sunday at 10:45 am.

  2. COMMUNITY FACEBOOK PAGE: Connect with others via the Genesis Community FB page.  Not yet a member of the group, join here.

  3. GRATITUDE JOURNAL: Check out the shared Google Doc and if inclined, add your own snippet of gratitude for something. Add your name or remain anonymous. This is a place for us to practice attentiveness together. 

  4. ONLINE ART SHOW: Upload pictures of the creations/pictures/sculptures/et. kids (and adults) are making to the Community Facebook page with the hashtag #genesisart and we’ll upload to a photo album on the page in a virtual gallery of beauty and creativity.  (Great idea, Molly!)

  5. VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB: Starting soon, look for more info on the Community FB page. (Great idea, Bryan and Molly!)   

  6. KID VIDEOS: Allie Lee, Director of Kids + Teens, is creating videos for kids and families. Check the first couple here:

    Overwhelmed and Washed With Tears

  7. MINDFUL PARENTING: Mike and Erin Chamberlain created a Mindful Parenting group on FB with great ideas on how to engage with kids in a thoughtful, feasible and healthy way during this pandemic. 

  8. TEXT GROUP: If anyone is interested in being part of a text group for encouragement, email hellowest@genesiscov.org with your name + preferred phone number and we will connect you with others who want to text with one another.  (Great idea, Catie!)

WAYS TO HELP OTHERS IN THE METRO:

Besides heeding the recommendations from the MDH and helping to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak, there are tangible ways we can assist others in our community. These are not organized by Genesis West, but are some of the many ways we know of to help.  

  • FOOD SHELF: Prism continues to need financial and food contributions (in addition to packing assistance) as they serve needs in the Metro. 

  • MEALS FOR KIDS: The Sheridan Story provides meals for children and has had to increase their number of meals exponentially.  TSS is partnering with the school districts to provide food drops at the school emergency sites. They are in need of funds for meals as well as volunteers to safely pack the meal bags. 

  • NEIGHBORHOOD RESPONSE TEAMS: Local individuals are volunteering to deliver goods/food/medicine to those in need through neighborhood response team. You can sign up on FB to help bring deliveries of needed items to those who are elderly, immunocompromised, further quarantined. The link takes you to the main group page, but individual neighborhoods have their own sign-up pages. 

  • As more opportunities become available, we will continue to add them here.  

  • And if you need assistance in any way, please contact hellowest@genesiscov.org and we will work to assist however we can. 

If you have additional ideas for how we can create community together or help support the efforts taking place in the Metro, please message Kara at karav@genesiscov.org.  Peace to you in the days to come.