How to help your neighbors

It’s the Northwest Corner tradition to reach out and help, in good times and bad. Volunteerism is largely what makes this part of the world such a lovely place to be (and exactly the locale you’d like to escape to during a  global emergency such as the one we are experiencing now).

Groups are forming to offer aid. Requests are out from groups seeking help.

Here are a few options if you’d like to step up; it will help us maintain the way of life we treasure here and it will help you pass the time during the quarantine with productive effort.

The state also has a website where you can find out about ways to volunteer and donate; go to www.211ct.org/search/67353902.

Deliveries, donations

Call or email the town hall in your town, whether you are a full-time resident, a part-time resident or a newcomer who is renting. Every town now needs healthy volunteers to deliver food, put together care packages, and more.

Blood donations

There is a critical shortage of blood. The U.S. surgeon general, the Red Cross and the Food and Drug Administration have all said it is urgent that healthy Americans continue to give blood and that blood drives must not be canceled. The Red Cross promises it is doing health checks on workers and donors and keeping facilities extra clean.

On the schedule at the moment are the following drives. Go to www.redcrossblood.org to make an appointment.  Thursday, April 2,  Salisbury Congregational Church, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, Noble Horizons, 1 to 6 p.m.  Wednesday, June 3, United Church of Christ Congregational, 8 Bolton Hill Road, Cornwall, 1 to 6 p.m.

Pledge funds for ALICE

The United Way in Connecticut has launched a COVID-19 Response Fund to “rapidly deploy financial resources to individuals and families economically affected by the pandemic, including those who are out of work or have reduced work hours.”

Beneficiaries of the funds will be categorized as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). “These are our hard-working neighbors who already live paycheck to paycheck. Many of them provide crucial services in our community —such as caring for our children and elderly parents.”

In the Northwest Corner, get information from United Way Executive Director Owen Quinn at owen@northwestunitedway.org.

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Hints and tips

Reader Molly Fitzmaurice, a Salisbury native, suggested that longtime locals “adopt” a part-time family seeking information.

The Lakeville Journal is happy to help with any inquiries; send them by email to cynthiah@lakevillejournal.com and we will try to answer them as quickly and correctly as possible. If any new residents would like a buddy, send a request to the same address, tell us a little about your interests and we will try to match you up.

Editor’s note: The Lakeville Journal is providing content related to the coronavirus outbreak for free as a public service to our readers. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Lakeville Journal, The Millerton News, or TriCornerNews.com or by becoming a contributor to our membership model. Click here for more information.