An assortment of cards Bloomington resident Brynn Canary has been sending out to lift spirits amid the coronavirus pandemic.
(Courtesy of Brynn Canary)
Since Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb initiated the state's stay-at-home order in late March, our City Limits: Coronavirus series has received notes from people about how they are helping their neighbors and community members and also those who are grateful for the help they have received.
Brynn Canary is a graduate student at Indiana University and owns a cleaning and organizing business. She says she decided her business was non-essential and put herself out of work indefinitely.
“I’m the sole employee, so I’m glad I have the flexibility to do that without harming anyone’s livelihood,” she says.
Canary says when it became clear that COVID-19 posed a serious threat, she saw an outpouring of connection from the Bloomington community. Mutual aid groups popped up overnight and she saw community members going the extra mile to help others with tangible needs such as food and masks.
“My background is in activism, and in activism, the question you’re always asking yourself is where the need is which is not being filled, or not being filled in the way that you can uniquely contribute,” she said.
Canary asked herself where her own skills and the needs of her community overlapped, and she realized that many people in her life were experiencing mental health struggles because they feel isolated.
“I’ve always known my greatest strength lies in writing and in making people feel good about themselves, so that’s what I decided to do,” she says. “Every year since I was 11, I’ve done a holiday card project in which I write recipients long letters about how I’ve seen them grow and change for the positive over the course of the year. Each message takes hours to compose, and the cards often make my friends cry. I decided to take on a modified version of the holiday card project for as long as the COVID-19 crisis lasts, and I set a goal to deplete my stockpile of cards and stationery by sending them to anyone I came across who seemed like they needed their spirits lifted. In a similar vein, I’ve taken to writing glowing reviews for local businesses who can’t take clients or customers in the way they normally would.”
She has sent cards to nursing homes that aren’t accepting visitors, grassroots local leaders, those who are celebrating birthdays and milestones in quarantine, and high school and college seniors who are sad that the end of this chapter in their lives isn’t going the way they’d hoped, among others.
(Courtesy of Brynn Canary)
Canary also started a local business review campaign to support the helpers in the community.
“The very first one I did was for Cardinal Spirits, because by that point, they had dived right into making and distributing hand sanitizer for free to community members, first responders, and healthcare workers,” she says. “I imagined that these people who had just become Bloomington’s 'Atlas' had to be exhausted and overwhelmed. It took less than five minutes out of my day to leave them a glowing review on Facebook telling them how much I loved them and supported what they were doing.”
She says it seemed like it made them happy and they reshared it. Canary also sent cards to her gym, salon, coffee shops and small short and organizations she frequents and knows are struggling.
She says she is the only member of her immediate family that lives in Bloomington and she is accustomed to seeing them every week or two, but they are finding ways to stay connected.
“We talk on the phone now almost every day, and my brother has been livestreaming video games he plays to show me,” she says. “My mom is a painter who’s been saying since this started that she’s not feeling inspired, so I send her art ideas and inspirations.”
She says oddly enough she feels more connected to her friends now that they’ve been mandated to stay apart.
“Pre-pandemic, it was far too easy to let life get in the way of making an effort and taking for granted that the people you love will always be here. I’ve been attending online workouts, and with other friends, we’ve arranged art nights, ‘quarantine dance parties,’” and group check-ins, all virtual.”
Susan Louden is a retired schoolteacher and lives in Seymour. She has been on the receiving end of many kind acts and is grateful for them all. When the crisis began, she was contacted by a retired fireman who owns a lawn care business. He called her and others who live alone or are older to ask if he could offer his services.
Retired teacher Susan Louden says she remains hopeful and looks forward to getting back to her normal duties as a volunteer and her weekly visits to a local nursing home. (Courtesy of Susan Louden)
Louden says, “The little blessings of being thought of by others are so uplifting during this time of staying at home.”
She says neighbors have sent her books. And while she is a retired schoolteacher and is happy that students are continuing their education via e-learning, she says. “I am thankful I don’t have to attempt it.”
She is keeping in contact with her family during the Stay-At-Home order with a lot of texts and phone calls, but no video chats.
“As one of the older generations, I’m really glad that my son long ago forced me into texting, and equally as glad he doesn’t video chat,” she says.
When asked if they were hopeful that the stay-at-home order would be lifted in the near future, Louden says she remains hopeful and looks forward to getting back to her normal duties as a volunteer and her weekly visits to a local nursing home.
And Canary says she doesn’t have it in her to be pessimistic, no matter the situation.
“But the hope that this is going to end someday in the not-too-distant future is precisely what will get me through to the other side,” she says.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that Susan Louden lives in Seymour, not Spencer.
For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here.
