People across the province have found ways to spread some happiness during these uncertain times.
Most people are following the rules of social distancing due to COVID-19 and children and their families are searching for activities to keep them busy. On March 19, Jennifer Snook and her sons Kenneth Cooper, 11, and Eric Cooper, 10, of Torbay, created the NL Easter Egg Hunt 2020 with Social Distancing Facebook group after joining a similar group in Alberta.
“It’s a way to spread positivity smiles and bring us together during a time when we have to stay apart,” Snook said. “The more positivity we spread the better.”
And spreading it is. By March 23, almost 1,600 people were members.
“This is something fun for all ages and truly helps keep our minds distracted and upbeat,” Snook said.
The week was dedicated to educators, teachers, early childhood educators, day-care workers, coaches, music or dance teachers, and others.
“A way for our kids to say thank you and see you soon since they couldn’t do it in person,” Snook said, adding they will be posting craft ideas each week corresponding to the theme.
The week starting March 30 is beach week, the week of April 6 will be dedicated to front-line workers to show them how much they are supported and appreciated, and the week starting April 13 is NL Strong, highlighting the province.
They will also have birthday card days. For anyone in the group with a birthday, they will ask people to make a birthday card, take a picture and post in the comments.
“So many kids have been disappointed with having to cancel their party. We thought this would be great to help bring smiles back for their days,” Snook said.
“The response has been amazing,” Snook said. “It really is bringing people together and is brightening peoples’ day. It’s a great distraction right now.
Snook is crocheting bunnies and happy faces to put on poles around metro and is encouraging other knotters and crocheters to join in (though social distancing and not touching anything is stressed). The group also does not encourage people to go looking for them, or the window signs, in groups, offering the advice instead to follow social distancing from the government.
“This is something to help keep people close together during a time when we need to keep our distance physically,” she said.
Growing idea
After seeing a few ideas like Snook’s on Facebook, Krista Blanche (Simms) asked Katherine Arnold if she would be interested in starting a similar more local group with her.
"Katherine thought it was a great idea so I started the group and added a few friends,” she said. “Katherine added a few friends and overnight it ballooned to 200 members. We got pretty excited at that point.”
Created on March 19, “Window Crafts in GFW And Area - having fun while social distancing” Facebook group had almost 1,300 members as of March 23.
The group is doing themes each week, the first being rainbows, and was inviting residents of the area to drive around and see how many they could see in house windows.
"We wanted to bring some positivity to our kids and to the residents in the town,” Blanche (Simms) said. “We wanted to have fun but do it so that people were still able to practice social distancing. Putting pictures in the windows seemed like a great way to show positive vibes and you could view them from the comfort of your car without directly interacting with anyone, keeping everyone safe."
They hoped to attract a few members on the page, but the support is amazing. People have been sharing posts from not only the central area but all over Newfoundland, and they have comments from people in the United States posting that this ‘is how Canadians have fun while staying safe.’
“It's amazing to see the pride in the faces of the kids and to see how many adults are enjoy rainbow hunting.”
Blanche (Simms) said while this virus is something that has been difficult to control and scary, it's important to stay positive and have fun, especially for children.
"Most of them don't understand the gravity of the situation and that's fine, they are kids, they shouldn't be exposed to it,” she said. “They should just know to keep safe and practice social distancing.”
By doing activities such as this, it gives them something to look forward to each week, and a new theme is exciting as well.
“For the adults, it's also important to stay positive,” she said. “These are difficult times but we can get through it if we stick together and being part of a group like this, even if it is through social distancing, makes people feel like they are still able to be social and have fun.”
Arnold said some of the rainbows are incredible, like something off of Pinterest. Some are painted, some drawn on paper, which is a good thing because it is meant for everyone.
“We live on a quiet street with not a lot of traffic. The number of cars driving past this week is almost just as exciting!”
Arnold said she has only heard positive messages from the experience.
Gloria-ann Butler of Port au Choix posted a “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” idea on Facebook after seeing her sister Tina Crocker’s post of the same in her hometown of Trout River.
“I was hoping to get the virus off everyone’s minds, even if it was just for a few hours and giving the kids something to be excited about,” Butler said.
The bear hunt started March 22 in Port au Choix, Port Saunders and Trout River.
“The participation from all the town in the Bear Hunt is nothing short of amazing,” Butler said. “Not only are the kids excited but so are the adults. There is such strong sense of community. I’m just happy I got to put smiles on everyone’s faces even if it’s just for a short time.”
As of March 23, there were more than 300 bears counted in Trout River, and more than 250 in Port au Choix and Port Saunders, and there were even paper teddy bears put up at Lane’s Retirement Home.
“I’m just so very proud I’m from Trout River and that I’m living here in Port au Choix and seeing people pulling together.”
