Cumberland City Council is extending its March Neighbour Day celebrations by encouraging community spirit in the wake of COVID-19, ensuring the most vulnerable community members are not isolated.
“Good relationships can transform communities and knowing our neighbours is important, and this resonates even more during the COVID-19 pandemic when those close to us are vulnerable, elderly or essential workers,” Mayor Steve Christou said.
“With social distancing regulations and public movement restrictions, it can be challenging to maintain relationships with those around you, but there’s never been a more important time to reach out to your neighbours and offer your support.
“Our neighbours are also teachers, nurses, health workers and other community champions who are currently on the frontline. We need to be there for them. There are also many people in our community who are alone or isolated, many don’t have family nearby or are just doing it tough.”
“The theme for Neighbour Day 2020 is social connection and so even though we have to be physically distant right now, we can still be connected.”
Get involved by printing and filling out the Good Neighbour Calling Card and leaving it at the door of your neighbour or someone in need. Let them know you’re around if they need any help.
“What help you can offer is up to you. Whether it’s helping with shopping, walking their dog or just having a friendly chat over the phone, it makes a difference because we’re all in this together,” Mayor Christou said.
“When we finally emerge from this crisis, it is safe to say the world will have experienced big change, but we will remember that the community was there when the going got tough.”
Council’s Good Neighbour campaign will also reinforce messaging about the importance of continuing social distancing and doing the right thing as well as important safety tips for those who are receiving assistance.
Council also wants to hear your stories of community connection and good neighbourly acts. Tell them how you are staying connected, random acts of kindness you have seen or experienced, and how our local community is coming together in difficult times.
Council has created a platform to Share Your Story and is inviting community members to share their good news stories and what makes them smile.
The Good Neighbour initiative compliments the other support measures that Council and local community organisations are providing in terms of emergency care packages, food relief and shopping assistance for people who are particularly vulnerable at the moment.
For more visit http://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/goodneighbour
For updates related to Council’s response to the Coronavirus, please visit https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/covid19