As we engage in physical distancing practices, it's important to note that there is a big difference between social distancing and social isolation. Isolation and loneliness negatively affect our mental and physical health, as well as overall well-being. Most of us have experienced a dramatic change in the amount of face to face interactions we have with people at work, school and church. At the same time, more people are out walking in our neighborhoods than ever before. As a result, we have a unique opportunity to build connections with the people that live near us that will make a big difference in their lives, and ours. The key is learning how to do this from six feet away! 

 

There has never been a better time to meet and connect with the people who live right outside your front door.

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"Right now, we don't need churches to create a bunch of new programs. What we need is for the people who attend those churches to simply be good neighbors and to do it in a careful and thoughtful manner."

Karen Gieseker, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, PhD, MS, MTS