Let’s Keep an Eye on Each Other
The Como Community Council and the City of Saint Paul are working to help residents keep track of each other during the physical distancing we all need to follow during this pandemic.
Seniors
First, plenty of seniors in Como are even more cut off than usual. Interested in sending a card or letter to reduce their isolation? Let us know if you, your children, your classmates, or your circle of friends are interested. Sign up – we’ll handle the logistics of connecting you with neighbors living in Lyngblomsten, Arbor Pointe, or in their longtime home.
Residents in need
Saint Paul is creating a volunteer force designed to support community members who can’t meet their basic needs during the coronavirus pandemic because of their age, mobility issues, limited income, or other factors. Sign up for Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Putting your skills to good use
Donate Good Stuff, a nonprofit based in Como, has created a resource page that compiles locations where you can donate masks or other safety equipment for local health-care workers. For those of you with craft skills, the page also has instructions on how to make masks and headbands for medical and other front-line workers, where you can get supplies, and how you can connect with others doing the same thing.
Blood donations
The Red Cross and Memorial Blood Centers have had to cancel hundreds of blood drives, costing them thousands of donations. Both blood banks are taking in-person donations Mondays-Saturdays in Saint Paul. To make an appointment:
- American Red Cross, 176 S. Robert (just south of downtown): Call 1-800-733-2767 or schedule online.
- Memorial Blood Centers, 737 Pelham Blvd. (near University and Highway 280): Call 1-888-448-3253 or schedule online.
Connecting your block or apartment building
Keep track of each other using a phone tree, email, text group, Morse code — whatever makes the most sense where you live. If you don’t have a list already, use the block template you can download as a PDF. Fill in the blanks.
- Whether you’ve got a formal block club or not, line up a couple of people to help out and coordinate your efforts.
- We’ve got a kit that will help out. It includes the block template and some green and red paper neighbors can use to indicate if they’re OK – or if they need a hand.
- You can pick up the kit outside our office at the Como Park Streetcar Station (which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton). Grab an envelope from the bin sitting outside the east door.
You can customize the Ideas Sheet; it includes things neighbors can do to help each other out, such as:
- Errands: grocery story, pharmacy, pet-care supplies, etc.
- A specific item that someone needs, such as soap, thermometer, etc.
- Child care
- Dog walking
- Other personal needs
It’s most important to do check in with seniors and other vulnerable neighbors — but don’t single them out. Try to get everyone to take part. This can be especially useful for neighbors who are:
- Ill
- self-isolating after possible exposure
- with physical health issues that would make them vulnerable if they go out in public
- have new restrictions because they have to keep themselves or children at home