Deerfield Community Center volunteers (from left) Russ Peacock, Greg Frutiger and Phil Montalto recently help pack food pantry Christmas baskets.Karyn Saemann
A deepening web of Covid-19 stressors may now be tipping more people toward mental health crisis, say local organizations that offer help with everyday needs and local counselors whose job is to assess how weâre doing psychologically.
As 2020 ends, financial ruin is everywhere: job losses, surging reliance on food pantries and meal sites, housing loss, business failures and mounting unpaid utility, medical and other bills.
People remain isolated. Many are grieving. Others are angry about the national election, still reeling from summer racial equity protests, and devastated by the cancellation of travel and holiday celebrations.
Grace Lutheran Church in Cambridge has three trees in its sanctuary this holiday season one with Covid-19 ornaments, one in which visitors can take an ornament provided by the church, and one in which visitors can leave an ornament. Karyn Saemann
At local churches, December is normally the busiest and most anticipated month of the year.
Usually, there are choir anthems, childrenâs pageants and cookie walks. Festive brunches and candlelit carols. Towering sanctuary trees strung with Chrismons and antique ornaments.
This year, the Covid-19 pandemic upended most seasonal plans.
Where in-person Advent and Christmas services are still happening, most churches are requiring masks, pre-registration and strict social distancing.
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