As we are all marking one year in this pandemic and moving forward in new ways to work and carry out our daily lives, I wanted to pause and share on a couple of themes – reflection and reaction.  If we have not learned anything else this year, I think we have all learned to go with the flow!  We have adapted, shown patience and grace even when we were uncertain, and lifted each other up in times of need.  It’s important to remember these days, however hard and trying they have been, because through it all, we were there.  For each other.

My personal reflection on our community gives me great joy, as I have seen so many serving and loving.  From our tremendous partners at United Way, to Kinston Teens blessing box, the Kinston Trash Bashers group and so many in our nonprofit community who have supported Covid-19 relief efforts.  Our healthcare community and first responders – how amazing are they!  Our churches and their outreach efforts.  Neighbors checking in on the elderly or shut-in.  All of these and so many more acts of kindness are what the citizens of our community are about.

I, like many of you, yearn for the day when we can freely travel and be together.  I miss terribly so many who I have not seen, the smiles, handshakes and hugs.  I am naturally an affectionate person, so this has been especially difficult for me.  But as we move forward into hopefully more normal days ahead, I am so excited to share a chat and laugh.  The pandemic has taught me how much I value these reactions and the importance they hold for me.

Let’s continue to lift each other up and seek kindness first.  Please continue to support the organizations in your community who serve others. After all, giving is living.  It lives in me, it lives in you and it most definitely lives in this beautiful community we each get to call home.

With love,

Molly Taylor, Executive Director

Lenoir/Greene United Way