If you missed our COVID 19 Community Forum You Can See the Film Here.
ESHC’s May 14 Quarterly Meeting offered good information and sound advice for many people expressing fears and anxiety over COVID 19 and for those wanting to know how nursing homes and poultry processing plants can reduce their number of virus infection. Attendance at the meeting reached 77 by computer and more by phone. If you missed the program, click the link at the top of this page for a replay.
Many resources were offered and can be found under the resources section of this page.
Additional Information
Thanks to Richard Williams, MD, Eastern Shore and Three Rivers Health District Medical Director, and Tom Hollandsworth, MD, Eastern Shore Rural Health Medical Director, participants got their health questions answered.
Trumbo, LPC, owner of Capture Your Own mental health counseling practice, told us that if you are feeling anxious and scared, that you are in good company. We are not living in normal times and you are being asked to cope in unfamiliar ways. She reinforced the 6 Keys to Resilience that Eastern Shore Healthy Communities has been offering for the past week and can be found here. She also said that this is not the time to keep secrets and suggested that if you are feeling depressed or suicidal talk to someone. She offered a hotline number.
Rev. Alex Joyner, District Superintendent, United Methodist Church, reminded us that our purpose as faith families is to love one another and advised the best way to do that is to socially distance, wear a mask, and follow all public health instructions so that we can slow the spread of virus. In their conscientious preparation to return to sanctuary services Eastern Shore faith communities are considering precautions for sanitizing touch surfaces, avoiding the human aerosol spray from singing, and offering the peace in ways that avoid hugging and shaking hands. Jerusalem Baptist Church Assistant Minister Karen Downing was the driving force behind this meeting, urging everyone to actively cope with stress by seeking answers to their questions and concerns.
Accomack County Social Services Department Benefits Supervisor April Graham assured one questioner that despite bare grocery shelves, the Eastern Shore is not being forgotten. Grocery stores across the country are having difficulty keeping up with the demand from customers who are stocking up to reduce their trips to the stores. Mozella Francis, Northampton County Social Services Director, reassured one questioner who is in the “at risk” category that on the Eastern Shore we are all in this together. We have many organizations, including her own, where, help is offered. For those not able to get to the grocery store the Shore Service Delivery Corp. can help. Charmin Horton, Eastern Shore Foodbank Manager, provided reassurance that the Foodbank is providing food for public school students at various locations. She encouraged the audience to call the Foodbank or go online to find a food pantry near them.
A list of helpful resources offered during the forum can be found here:
Six Keys to Resiliency
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Food Insecurity Resources
CARES Act Assistance
A Community Conversation: Creating an Environment
of Support, Information & Resiliency
Six Keys to Resiliency
1. We must take care of ourselves. Physical exercise and proper nutrition improves everyone’s mood and health. So does proper sleep. Taking care of ourselves is not selfish. It is essential.
2. We require healthy, supportive relationships. Bill Withers sang: “We all need somebody to lean on” around the same time Bette Midler echoed, “You’ve got to have friends!” Developing healthy friendships and having good mentors is lifesaving.
3. Remember to think flexibly. Look for the good in adverse situations. Deal with change. Stay calm when things don’t go as you expect. And remember, it’s okay to let other people have their way too. Don’t get stuck – remain flexible.
4. And think positively. Accentuate the positive – eliminate the negative. Bing Crosby had it right in the 1950s. So did Bobby McFerrin in the ’80s with his message “Don’t worry, be happy.” Up with positive. Down with pessimism.
5. Let’s actively cope with stress. Stop denying or ignoring your stress, or stressful past, start solving it. Seek information, support, professional help; change environments; plan activities and reframe your stressful situation. Be an activist.
6. Let’s discover our purpose – our moral compass. What’s important to us? Practicing mindfulness, praying, meditating can help us find meaning which we can channel into helping others in need. Develop and live by meaningful principles.
Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
Food Insecurity Resources
SNAP. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Accomack County Social Services Department 757-787-1530
Northampton County Social Services Department 757-678-5153
https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/
WIC. Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants and Children
Accomack County Health Department – 757-787-5842
Northampton County Health Department – 757-442-6448
Foodbank. The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
Eastern Shore Branch – 757-787-2557
The Eastern Shore Delivery Corps
If you would like someone to shop for and deliver groceries and prescription medicine to you, call or email the Shore Delivery Corp.
757-801-9950
Shoredeliverycorps@gmail.com
Assistance with the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & economic Security (CARES) Act
Congresswoman Elaine Luria
https://luria.house.gov/
Or her Legislative Assistant Caroline Botts
757-364- 7631
Senator Mark Warner
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/
Or his Legislative Assistant Drew Lumpkin
276-206-6472
.