Don’t just survive the pandemic, build the world we want

Let us start from a realization of abundance. We have enough, and more than enough, of all that we need. All may eat. All may have a decent place to sleep. There is no good reason for anyone to be denied care. Let us not accept deprivation amidst abundance.

We are in this together, but let’s start with you. To face this, you need sleep, good food, and plenty of deep breaths. Most of all, you need to remember: every life is precious, including yours.

Good. Now we can start. We are ready.

We in the cooperative world know that we are stronger together. We may need to keep physically distant to slow the spread of infection, but we will stay socially close. #physicallydistant #sociallyclose

Start Simple

Use soap: besides learning to not touch your face with your hands, it’s the cheapest and most effective form of protection. Soap breaks the virus apart, and then carries the pieces away with water. Work the soap all over your hands for 20 seconds, then rinse. Zappo! Do it when you come home, before and after eating and after using the toilet. If you don’t have soap and running water available, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content, which can also zap the viruses. Shelves bare? You can make it yourself with 60% isopropyl alcohol and aloe gel.
Phone trees and buddies: make sure you know the numbers of everyone in your neighborhood. If you don’t already know, you can leave your contact info with folks and compile a list. Then give everyone the list and a suggested phone-tree for relaying info. Make sure that people who are vulnerable — whether to illness or deprivation — have a buddy who can check in with them every day.
Set up or participate in a local Facebook group: this is also a great option for keeping in touch with neighbors and organizing mutual support.
Lend a hand: people who are vulnerable may need someone to do a grocery or pharmacy run for them, cook or deliver food, help with childcare, just get a ride, or hear a friendly voice. Now is a good time to ask for help from volunteers. You can also help people get set up with grocery/pharmacy delivery services, if those are available and accessible.

Ramp Up

Learn and teach to video call: almost everybody has a smart phone these days, and at least the power is still on! We can be a bit more present with each other if we show up through WhatsApp, Facetime, Zoom, Google Hangouts/Meet, or Skype. Most of these are free if you’ve already paid for internet connectivity. If you know how to do it, teach someone who doesn’t. And be kind — it’s not intuitive to everybody.
Bulk buying: save a buck and cut down on grocery runs with bulk group buying. Crown O’ Maine Organic Cooperative has a great resource for buying clubs: https://www.crownofmainecoop.com/spreadsheets.asp — you can use it to order from COMOC or from any other supplier, such as UNFI (select business type “buying club”). The idea is to get a group of people together who are willing to split larger orders of necessities such as produce and staple foods. Look into whether a local pharmacy would facilitate a bulk buy of over-the-counter products.
Care rotas: now is the time to provide care to so many people who may need it for so many reasons. Houses of worship may already have a system for doing this within the congregation. People may be willing to sign up to serve beyond their fellow congregants. Talk to those setting these up and suggest bigger pools of volunteers as well as recipients.

Now Think Big

Moratorium on evictions and foreclosures: it should be the case that no one loses their home or their business because they can’t pay the rent or mortgage. Pressure banks to forebear on taking anyone’s home or livelihood away.
A healthcare system that serves and protects all of us: we are all worse off when anyone can’t get care. We will all be better off when all people can access the care they need to heal and stay healthy. Specifically, let’s extend enrollment in Medicaid, and make sure prisons and densely populated housing projects get the healthcare staffing they need.

Now Think Beautiful

With people thrown out of work because of canceled events and limited outings, now is the time to set up a public works program. Why not focus it on land stewardship?

What are the beautiful things your community could make outdoors? Here are just a few ideas. Just stay 6 feet away and don’t share tools or snacks. You can still get lots done!

Murals and other public art
Converting lawns to food production
Planting fruit and nut-bearing trees in public parks
Building accessible infrastructure–ramps, elevators, braille etc

As the weather warms up, can you recruit knowledgeable members of your community to run things like historical tours, wilderness appreciation walks, and outdoor exercise? What about landscape painting?

If you can share

For anyone reading this who has resources to share, now may be a time to do some pre-paying for the community you want around you.

Community-supported agriculture and fishing: if you don’t already subscribe to local farmers or fishermen, give it a try. https://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Consider getting a gift card to your favorite restaurants, venues, etc. who will be struggling during this time of canceled events and restricted gatherings.
Your local food bank/pantry will have extra work getting food to people. An extra money donation now is a good idea.
CDI will be setting up a solidarity fund for co-ops in the Northeast. Stay tuned for more details and share what you can.

In a time of Corona, let us acknowledge our fear, but feed our hope. What we feed will grow.

– Noemi Giszpenc, Executive Director

Love in the Time of Corona