There's Good News Across America About Coronavirus: It's You

We're All In This Together: Help Patch Help Our Communities

Folks, you've got it going on. You woke up in a country all but shut down by the new coronavirus, and polls show most of you are taking seriously both the threat of the virus and the guidance from public health officials to stay home.

What the polls don’t show, but what the collection of stories below does, is that you’re finding ways to lift each other up, help each other out and laugh when you need it the most.

Scroll through the stories below in this coronavirus edition of Good News Across America, and see an editor’s note at the end to find out how you can be part of the conversation about coronavirus in your community and connect with your neighbors.

True Confessions In The Drive-Thru Lane

The confessional is a sacred place for Catholics, and the temporary suspension of public masses worried the Rev. Scott Holmer of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. He came up with an ingenious solution. To find out more about it, read Michael O’Connell’s story on Bowie Patch.

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A 'Drive-By' 5th Birthday To Remember

In an age of social distancing, a child's birthday party takes on a host of problems far beyond picking out a cake and a party theme. For Jennifer Schneff Williamson of Elgin, she knew she'd have to cancel her daughter's in-person birthday party with family and neighbors. Then, magic happened. Warm your heart: Read Amy Schaenzer's story on Elgin Patch.

Taking Purim To The People

New Rochelle, New York, is one of the communities hardest hit by the coronavirus. Several members of New Rochelle’s Jewish community are in self-quarantine after possible exposure to the virus. Purim is the Jewish holiday celebrating the defeat of Haman, the adviser to the Persian King, and his plot to massacre Jewish people more than two millennia ago. This year, the holiday came to the worshippers. Read Michael Woyton’s story on New Rochelle Patch.

Love Triumphs Over Coronavirus

Bob Shellard wasn't going to let something like a nursing home coronavirus quarantine get between himself and his beloved wife, Nancy, on their 67th wedding anniversary. OK, a few yards of grass and some concrete separated them, perhaps. But, after all, it took a shipwreck and a trip across the sea and back to meet her, so why let concerns about the new coronavirus get in the way? Read more about how they celebrated in Chris Dehnel’s story on Vernon Patch.

The Show Must Go On

Among those most disappointed in our hunkered-down state are students who have been preparing for musicals and plays, proms and graduations, and other big milestones. Nearly 100 California high school students have been preparing for months for “All Shook Up,” and they got creative when they filled the auditorium seats. Read Courtney Teague’s story on Pleasanton Patch.

Coronavirus, The Musical Parody

Humor is said to be a good medicine. So is music. Siblings in New York mixed the two together and gave us some needed comic relief with their parody of “Hey There Delilah,” called “Hey There Corona.” Have a listen and read Alex Costello’s story on Massapequa Patch.

‘Touching You’ From 6 Feet Away

No, we can’t touch. From his second-story brownstone to the street below, a guy in Boston belted out a version of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” perfectly tuned to the coronavirus times. Read Beth Dalbey’s story on Boston Patch.

Need Hope? This Town Lights The Way

Americans are seeking symbols of hope to get through the uncertainty, and the town of Castle Rock, Colorado, plans to illuminate the way by lighting The Star, a 40-foot, Great Depression-era structure. Read Amber Fisher’s story on Littleton Patch.

Artists Light The Path, Too

Health care workers fighting on the frontline of the coronavirus battle, as well as the patients they’re caring for, got a nice lift from some artists. Read Chris Mosby’s story on Middleburg Heights Patch

You Can Brighten Others’ Days, Too

As California residents shelter in place, Candyce Roberts wanted to find a way to tell people, “Don’t Worry. We are going to make it through this together.” To find out what she did, read Courtney Teague’s story on Pleasanton Patch.

We Are All In This Together

We’re all looking for answers in this time of confusion. “We are forced into a mandatory sabbatical where we must reassess our values, what matters and what does not,” contributing writer Hal Green writes on Across America Patch. “And twin realities will quickly stand out: all we really have is today; and just as importantly, all we really have are each other.” Read this and other op-eds from regular Patch contributing writer Hal Green on Across America Patch.

These People Are In This, Too

The cavalry is responding to a plea in New York City, desperate for medical aid. Find out more about the 1,000 people who answered the call, even when they themselves are at risk. Read Adam Nichols’ story on New York City Patch.

So Is This 8-Year-Old

Marilyn Walsh, who is 79 and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is part of the population most vulnerable to the new coronavirus and is sheltering in her home. Her 8-year-old neighbor Finn O’Connor made a gesture of help Walsh just can’t get over. To find out what it was, read Anna Bybee-Schier’s story on Fairfield Patch.

So Are These People

The number of jobless claims rose 70,000 last week, and the pain is being felt in every corner of America. An Illinois town is banding together to stock a free pantry for their neighbors. Read Rebecca Bream Hughes’ story on Grayslake Patch.

And So Is This Man

When Illinois restaurants were ordered closed to walk-in traffic to slow the spread of virus, a real estate agent spent $625 on gift certificates to restaurants, buying one from each of the eateries in his neighborhood, and then held a drawing to give them away. Read Tim Moran’s story on Beverly-Mount Greenwood Patch.

Now, For Something Completely Different

Every once in a while, Rutgers University student Julia Van Etten heads down to a pond in New Jersey and chucks a plankton net into the water. She pulls it out and takes the contents back to the lab, where she peeks at the drops of water under a microscope. See more photos and read Eric Kiefer’s story on Newark Patch.

Finally, We Have To Talk About The TP

Of all the things people are stocking up on in preparation for social distancing, who would’ve thought toilet paper would be such a hot ticket item? To find out why, read Beth Dalbey’s story on Across America Patch.

The Fear’s Real; Someone Stole A Truckload

There’s always going to be someone who exploits fear. Police in North Carolina stopped a tractor-trailer truck this week and discovered that not only was it stolen, it was full of one of the most-in-demand items in America today. Read Kimberly Johnson’s story on Mooresville Patch.

TP Hoarders: Let Them Eat Cake

If we don’t laugh, we might cry. A baker in Pennsylvania gave us a dose of the former. Read Max Bennett’s story on Marple Newtown Patch.

Editor’s note: Do you have similar stories to tell about how we’re all helping each other through these unprecedented and uncertain times? Start a community conversation in a Neighbor Post on Patch, reach out to your local Patch editor or email beth.dalbey@patch.com and we’ll direct it to the appropriate person.

We're All In This Together: Help Patch Help Our Communities