A community is more than just a group of people living in the same neighborhood. It’s a sense of fellowship and togetherness shared by people. Now more than ever, it’s important to keep that feeling alive. Stay in touch with your neighbors by participating in coronavirus activities for community associations.
Coronavirus Activities for Community Without Sacrificing Safety
The coronavirus outbreak has sent the world into a tailspin, with fear and panic spreading like wildfire. It has also forced businesses to temporarily shut down and Americans to stay home.
Since the virus is highly contagious, President Trump has urged the cancellation of gatherings of more than 10 people at a time. Events across the country and around the globe have been either canceled or delayed.
In a crisis like this, everyone craves a return to normalcy. Members within a homeowners association are no exception. HOAs usually hold community events every year. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, HOAs must put events on hold to limit the spread of the virus.
That doesn’t mean, though, that residents can’t socialize and stay involved while still maintaining proper social distancing. In fact, socialization and participation can help lift the spirits of community members.
Here are some coronavirus activities for the community that will surely help improve your mood:
1. Create a Community Facebook Group
Social media plays an essential role in maintaining a human connection without physical presence. And, one of the most popular platforms is Facebook. If your association doesn’t already have a Facebook group, now is the time to start.
Having a Facebook group lets you stay connected with your neighbors. It’s also a great way to receive or give updates on the regular.
To create a Facebook group, all you have to do is sign in to your Facebook account and click “Create” on the top-right corner of the page. On the dropdown list, select “Group.” From there, you can input your group name, add people, and adjust the privacy settings of the group. Make sure to choose “Private” so that only group members can see the posts.
3. Chalk Art
Another one of the imaginative coronavirus community activities you can do is to create fantastic chalk art. Communities everywhere are encouraging homeowners to express their creativity by drawing on the ground. Plus, it’s easy and doesn’t require a lot of resources.
All you need is some chalk and a clear driveway or sidewalk. After channeling your inner artist, drive around the neighborhood to see what everyone else has done.
4. Decorate Your Front Door
Visuals can have a really great effect on a person’s mood. That’s why bright, twinkling lights and pine trees give you that cheerful Christmas feeling.
And while you can certainly deck your entire house with Christmas decorations (like other communities), you don’t have to go that far so spread some joy. Simply decorating your front door with paint or bedsheets can liven the spirits of your neighbors.
Ask everyone to bust out their decorating skills and do the same. Aside from delighting those who look at it, this COVID-19 community activity is something you can do with your whole family. Check out these examples from Country Living to get some inspiration.
5. Give a Gift to Your Neighbors
A health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic can trigger fear, anxiety, and panic attacks in anyone. It has also resulted in mass layoffs, with thousands of workers in the United States losing their only source of income. There’s a real possibility that some of your neighbors are going through any of these struggles.
As a community built on camaraderie, it’s important to show your love and support for those around you. And what better way to do that than to send them gifts?
Social distancing has made it difficult to give gifts to your neighbors. However, there are a few ways you can give them support from a safe distance, such as:
- Buy a gift online and have it delivered to your neighbor’s address. It can be anything — from flowers and candles to coffee mugs and non-perishable sweets.
- Order a meal from Postmates, Uber Eats, or any food establishment and have it delivered to your neighbor’s door.
- Buy groceries to be delivered through Publix, Instacart, Walmart, or any other grocery delivery site.
6. Community BBQ
Community BBQs are a great way to promote fellowship among residents in an HOA. With the coronavirus outbreak, all you need to do is get creative with the execution.
Schedule an afternoon or evening when everyone can set up their grills in their front yard and have a BBQ with their families. Encourage your neighbors to participate. You’ll feel (and smell) the sense of community without the contact!
7. Scavenger Hunt
You can plan a community-wide scavenger hunt for everyone to enjoy. Homeowners can come together through a messaging app or create an email chain. The message will include what things kids can put on display in their own homes. The catch is, this “thing” must be unique. It can either be placed on the front yard, the porch, or seen through a front-facing window.
- I’ll leave a Toy Pirate Ship out on my Porch!
- Great, I’ve got the only bird bath in the neighborhood, so that’ll be me, 109 Main Street.
- Cool, and we can put our Teddy Bear in the upstairs window.
This activity is great because it gets people outside and gives them something to do other than staring at a screen all day. Just remember to practice social distancing at all times to mitigate the spread of the virus.
8. Community Beach Day
Who says you can only have fun in the sun at the beach? You can enjoy a beach day from the comfort of your own home, too. Set aside an hour or two on a specific day when everyone can go out on their front yard. Bring out some beach-themed toys, like beach balls, and lounge on some beach chairs.
Lay down a beach towel and have a picnic. Wear your swimsuits and play with bubbles or run around with the sprinklers on. Planning a beach day is one of the best COVID-19 activities for neighborhoods, especially on hot days.
9. Community Parade
You don’t need floats to have a parade. Simply ask members of the community to decorate their vehicles to celebrate virtually anything you can think of. Decide on a theme — birthdays, Easter, or even just go random. Then drive around in your decked-out cars for everyone to see. You can still enjoy coronavirus activities for neighborhoods while practicing social distancing.
10. Community Video Conference
Facebook groups are great for keeping in touch, but it’s often hard to communicate with someone you can’t see. As an alternative, coordinate a time for community members to have a video conference. There are plenty of applications you can use, from Zoom to Skype. Ask everyone to join in, including kids, and share what you’ve been up to. It’s a perfect way to share your experiences and check on everyone else at the same time.
11. Appreciate Your Graduating Seniors
If your community has seniors graduating this year, come together to do something special for them! You could:
- Create a Senior Banner: Collect the names of all of the graduating seniors and put them on a banner to be strung somewhere in your community. Maybe a clubhouse door or at the entrance between two light poles.
- Social Media Posts: If the parents and seniors are active on social media, ask for permission to create a recognition post for the seniors in your community! Post pictures, fond memories, and proud moments to share with the world how much your community loves your seniors during this tough time.
- Send Gifts: Feel free to simply send gifts! Use stores that deliver directly. Gift ideas could include gift cards, flowers, candles, coffee mugs, and other more personalized gifts!
Stay Safe, Stay Involved
In the midst of distress, people turn to other people as a way to distract themselves and seek support. It’s more important than ever to remain strong and stay together as a community. While you can’t stay together literally, you can do so virtually or from a distance through the use of coronavirus activities for community associations.
If your community is having trouble dealing with the current situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help. Similarly, if you have any activity ideas during this pandemic, share it with us by leaving a comment below!
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Coronavirus HOA Community Guidelines
- HOA Board Members And Covid-19: Duties And Responsibilities To The Community
- How To Get Rid of Apathy In The HOA
