Community Care as Self-Care
Above. Our table for accepting contributions at our first self-care pop-up event in October 2020.
The idea for a self-care pop up event series was born in 2020 as a response to the ongoing pandemic. At this time the importance of self-care was also being woven into a new initiative of the Compeer program titled the Community Supported Friendship (CSF) project. Through this project, Compeer set out to create a unique volunteer opportunity that would motivate volunteers to tap into their own forms of self-care and creativity during these unprecedented times. Volunteers’ creative contributions became meaningful gifts to our Compeer participants who were facing increased isolation and mental health concerns due to the pandemic.
The inaugural event took place on the Uptown Shelby court square in the Fall of 2020. Local artist Betsy Kendrick led a group of participants in a collage and printmaking workshop. Participants contributed much of their artwork to the CSF project. These framed prints were included in our very first Friendship Bag deliveries in November 2020, along with sweet potatoes from the Cleveland County Potato Project, and a newsletter sharing stories of connection about the items in the friendship bags. We are now preparing for our seventh month of CSF deliveries!
In the Spring of 2021 we decided to celebrate the turning of the seasons and show our appreciation to our amazing Compeer volunteers with another community event. We organized our second pop-up event titled “Self Care in the Park” on April 13. Our local community gathered together at the Holly Oak Park Picnic Shelters to participate in a variety of self-care activities led by MHA staff.
This time we celebrated community- care alongside self-care, acknowledging that the two are inseparable. A delicious chicken salad meal was provided at no cost to everyone who attended. Common Ground Café catered the event and their mission was so beautifully explained on a card that was attached to a chocolate bar for dessert. A segment read: “We value people and our community over profit. Our philosophy is that everyone, regardless of status, deserves the chance to eat nourishing food while being treated with dignity and respect.”
We were pleased to welcome a variety of individuals to the event. Everyone connected with at least one of the self-care activities. It was enlivening to witness the joyful and meditative moments as folks settled down to paint a planter, get their hands dirty while potting up a plant, create a joy jar, or decorate a self care journal. Everyone helped make extra items to be included in CSF friendship bags for those who were not able to attend. The event closed with a guided nature walk along one of the Holly Oak trails. Participants spent a portion of the walk in silence, sensing the sounds of bird calls and the smell of dogwood blossoms.
We would like to extend deep gratitude to all who made this community event possible! Keep an eye out on MHA’s website and social media pages for our next self-care pop-up event, anticipated for late summer 2021!
