A Message from New Communion, NBA Health and Social Services Partner
New Communion
When I think about the ways that my community has been affected by this health pandemic, I think of New Communion and our food insecure neighbors in the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The biggest questions and concerns that I hear daily is the fear of the unknown. So many in our communities are afraid of the unknown: work displacements, school closings, length of isolations, and so forth. For our communities, the most vulnerable and the marginalized, access to food is in question, amongst other healthcare concerns and needs.
Our community is making efforts to prepare and care for others by coming together. Winston-Salem is a resilient city, with resilient people. My words of encouragement that I have offered within our community as recently as this weekend, is that during the time of crisis, one thing is for sure, that we will all get through this if we work, rely and depend upon each other. If there has never been a time to show the strength and the power of community, it is now.
In New Communion’s response, we have shown or at least tried to convey resilience and hope, as we have now adopted our initial response to this pandemic. Our initial response was on the lines of everyone else, we stopped the mobile pantry in the face of the unknown. However, upon hearing that our state had shut down all public schools, without hesitation we have restarted our distributions to the community.
I am reminded of a quote by Rahm Emanuel, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that, it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” In the face of this ever-changing pandemic, we have found the courage and the resiliency, to step forward and continue to support our communities. We find hope in our communities, we find hope in our motto of “shared abundance.” As a community that shares resources, faith and courage, we will survive this and be stronger than ever.
New Communion is a faith-based organization with the goal of enhancing community relationships and diminishing the impacts of hunger and food insecurity. New Communion is an Incubate Partner ministry with the NBA.
As the health and social services general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the National Benevolent Association partners with congregations, regions, general ministries, and a variety of Disciples-related health and social service providers to create communities of compassion and care. Founded in 1887 by six women responding to the needs of the day and on their doorsteps, for more than 130 years the NBA has continued to serve “the least of these.” Learn more at www.nbacares.org.
