social capital noun. the value of our social networks & relationships

We Need Each Other Now

Published by David Crowley on

We need each other, now more than ever.

These are clearly challenging and scary times. But we are often at our best when faced with big challenges. We plan to highlight some hopeful stories of kindness, compassion and neighborliness that emerge; and we’d love to hear what you are seeing! 

I will get this started with my story from this past Friday.

After we got the word that our local schools were closing for two weeks, our family realized we needed to take our preparation for COVID-19 to another level.

It was definitely hectic and slim pickings at the grocery store this morning. But I am happy to report people seem rolling with it reasonably well here. Letting people pass in crowded aisles and even an occasional smile. Perhaps a few are trying to channel a bit of the Brits during the WWII bombings of London.

This isn’t a crisis of that level, but does require some similar collective fortitude and pulling together.

At the checkout line, the woman in front of me noted that despite not being able to find many things, she was pleasantly surprised to see a good number of things on the shelves.

The cashier explained that a crew had spent the entire evening working hard to re-stock the shelves.

That made me pause and think not about the shelves that were missing items, but to appreciate the people who worked hard make it possible that I was able to fill my cart with the necessities our family would need over the next couple of weeks.

We need each other, now more than ever.


David Crowley

David Crowley founded SCI in Woburn, his hometown, in 2002. Under his leadership, SCI has grown to serve 20 communities in the region while continuing to make a difference in Woburn. Prior to SCI, David was the Executive Director of Boston-based Generations Inc. (now Literations). He has been involved in AmeriCorps since the program began in 2003, and served as the founding Director of the Kentucky Community Service Commission, which oversees the program for the state. David currently serves as Steering Committee Chair for the CHNA 15 regional healthy communities network. David graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government. Unsure of his long term plans, and after many service activities in college, David set out to do a year of service in rural Kentucky, which began his career in service! In his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family, reading and walking nearby Horn Pond. He also shares his kitchen creations on his food & wine blog, Cooking Chat.