June 1, 2020
Dear Friends,
NGFM’s COVID-19 Prevention Group has advised that we continue to keep the meetinghouse closed until further notice.
NC’s Phase 2, which the Governor is calling “Safer-at-Home,” allows more businesses to reopen and permits outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people (with social distancing); however, the risk of coronavirus transmission remains high, and New Garden Friends Meeting has many households with at least one member at high risk for serious complications of COVID-19.
New Gardeners of all ages and risk categories are advised to continue wearing masks in public in case they themselves are asymptomatic carriers of the virus, to stay home and call their physician’s office if they experience any symptoms of illness, and to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from non-household members. Each of us can do our part by continuing to follow these guidelines. Preventing spread of the virus will be an even greater challenge during Phase 2, with more people out and about.
Although the meetinghouse will remain closed to the congregation, some New Garden Friends Meeting staff members will be entering the building individually to perform necessary duties, staggering their times in the building to reduce risk of viral transmission among themselves. In order to keep them safe, we ask that any New Gardener with an urgent need that requires entry to the meetinghouse or access to something or someone in the building, please make advance arrangements with Karen Garraputa by text at (336) 706-1715.
We hope you will continue to enjoy New Garden Friends Meeting’s virtual ministry on FaceBook Live, Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. If you know of Friends in need of contact or other forms of support, please text or call Jane Carter at (336) 402-2127. We can stay connected and support one another, even if not in person.
Please stay safe. Every life is precious. We look forward to the day when we can safely be together again at our meetinghouse.
Jane Foy
Clerk, Meeting on Ministry & Counsel
Tim Lindeman
Clerk, New Garden Friends Meeting