"It's our neighborhood, but it's also a safety net:" How households in a Texas neighborhood banded together to exchange essential items and help each other through the coronavirus pandemic.

Joey HaddenJun 28, 2020, 21:24 IST

Christine Newman and her family live in the Rattan Creek neighborhood outside of Austin, Texas.Courtesy of Jennifer Kopp

A neighborhood on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, is coming together to help each other through the coronavirus pandemic.
Neighbors in Ratten Creek are donating supplies, money, and time to those who need help paying emergency bills and grocery shopping.
Others are using their skills and passions, like art, sewing, and landscaping, to serve each other's needs through this difficult time.
The neighborhood communicates primarily through a shared Facebook group, moderated by neighbor Christine Newman.

Christine Newman, a resident of Austin, Texas, says building a sense of community in her neighborhood was no small feat.

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, an out-of-work family had both of their cars break down. One of their neighbors checked out the car, while another recommended a local shop, which gave a discount on repairs. The whole neighborhood came together to chip in for repairs.

"It's been a conscious effort by the people who live here to embrace a smaller town community mindset, happening in a big city," Newman said.

The Rattan Creek neighborhood is on the northwest outskirts of Austin.

While walking through it, you might stop for a life-sized game of Chutes and Ladders in Aly Finely's driveway.

You might donate some fabric to Aimee Sharp's bin of materials for face masks, or you might grab a miniature watercolor painting from Natalie Flores's yard.

If you look down, you'll see positive messages like "you look nice today" and "be well" colored in chalk by Carolyn Jennings Brown.

In this neighborhood, members are doing what they can to help each other through the coronavirus pandemic.

Behind it all, Christine Newman is communicating with neighborhood residents to find out who has needs and who has services to offer and matching them together.

One Thursday night, Christina Newman posted that a family in the community needed groceries on her neighborhood Facebook page. Within an hour, she had bags of food on her doorstep from eight different people.

This was collected within one hour. Courtesy of Christine Newman

One Thursday night, Christina Newman posted that a family in the community needed groceries on her neighborhood Facebook page. Within an hour, she had bags of food on her doorstep from eight different people.

With Facebook as her platform, Newman is the thread of the Rattan Creek neighborhood.

Newman and her family in their neighborhood amid the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of Jennifer Kopp

Newman serves as a pickup and drop-off point, connecting neighbors in need with others who can help, sometimes anonymously.

This is what Newman said she collected in 48 hours for two out of work families, on top of cash and gift cards. Courtesy of Christine Newman

One of the people helping out is Lyna Sullivan. She has been grocery shopping for her neighbors.

Lyna Sullivan has been restoring furniture to pass time amid the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of Lyna Sullivan

Sullivan has also been at the receiving end of the neighborhood's generosity — her 4-year-old son recently got lucky and was randomly selected from a pool of neighbors to receive a new guitar.

Vincent Sullivan with his new donated guitar. Courtesy of Lyna Sullivan

Sullivan has also been at the receiving end of the neighborhood's generosity — her 4-year-old son recently got lucky and was randomly selected from a pool of neighbors to receive a new guitar.

Newman says that in Rattan Creek, helping your neighbors is nothing new and that coronavirus pandemic has simply amplified the camaraderie was already there.

Newman said her son helps her with volunteer work. Courtesy of Jennifer Kopp

When Newman found out that a family needed help paying an emergency vet bill in early May, she called on Katie Evans, a resident who is on the board of directors at a rescue non-profit.

Katie Evans and her dog. Courtesy of Katie Evans

When Newman found out that a family needed help paying an emergency vet bill in early May, she called on Katie Evans, a resident who is on the board of directors at a rescue non-profit.

Evans has also been helping out her neighbors by donating dog food and heartworm medication.

Evans with a dose of heartworm medication. Courtesy of Katie Evans

Amiee Sharp, a Ratten Creek resident, started making masks for her neighbors and healthcare workers in mid-March.

Aimee Sharp in one of her homemade face masks. Courtesy of Aimee Sharp

She has a system where neighbors can donate materials for masks to a bin in her front yard.

Sharp's front yard face mask set-up. Courtesy of Aimee Sharp

Another neighbor, Carolyn Jennings Brown, is chalking up the sidewalks with positive messages for neighbors.

Carolyn Brown and her family in front of their house. Courtesy of Carolyn Jennings Brown

Brown isn't the only one — her neighbor Ali Finley, drew a giant game of Chutes and Ladders in their driveway for the community to use.

Ali Finley's children playing in their driveway. Courtesy of Ali Finley

Cathleen Gail has been helping her neighbors with gardening and landscaping.

Gail and her landscaping work. Courtesy of Cathleen Gail

It started in her own yard, then neighbors starting asking Gail to landscape their yards as well.

Gail's landscaping work. Courtesy of Cathleen Gail

Nicole Flores, who has taken to painting during the pandemic, has been sharing her passion with her neighbors.

Nicole Flores and her free paintings. Courtesy of Natalie Flores

She leaves a plank of wood full of tiny paintings on the sidewalk in front of her house so that neighbors can grab one when they're out walking.

Flores's free paintings. Courtesy of Christine Newman

Several members of the neighborhood have been organizing social distancing neighborhood events as well, like parades, for graduating students.

A parade for graduating fifth graders in the Rattan Creek neighborhood. Courtesy of Christine Newman

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"It's our neighborhood, but it's also a safety net:" How households in a Texas neighborhood banded together to exchange essential items and help each other through the coronavirus pandemic.

One Thursday night, Christina Newman posted that a family in the community needed groceries on her neighborhood Facebook page. Within an hour, she had bags of food on her doorstep from eight different people.

With Facebook as her platform, Newman is the thread of the Rattan Creek neighborhood.

Newman serves as a pickup and drop-off point, connecting neighbors in need with others who can help, sometimes anonymously.

One of the people helping out is Lyna Sullivan. She has been grocery shopping for her neighbors.

Sullivan has also been at the receiving end of the neighborhood's generosity — her 4-year-old son recently got lucky and was randomly selected from a pool of neighbors to receive a new guitar.

Newman says that in Rattan Creek, helping your neighbors is nothing new and that coronavirus pandemic has simply amplified the camaraderie was already there.

When Newman found out that a family needed help paying an emergency vet bill in early May, she called on Katie Evans, a resident who is on the board of directors at a rescue non-profit.

Evans has also been helping out her neighbors by donating dog food and heartworm medication.

Amiee Sharp, a Ratten Creek resident, started making masks for her neighbors and healthcare workers in mid-March.

She has a system where neighbors can donate materials for masks to a bin in her front yard.

Another neighbor, Carolyn Jennings Brown, is chalking up the sidewalks with positive messages for neighbors.

Brown isn't the only one — her neighbor Ali Finley, drew a giant game of Chutes and Ladders in their driveway for the community to use.

Cathleen Gail has been helping her neighbors with gardening and landscaping.

It started in her own yard, then neighbors starting asking Gail to landscape their yards as well.

Nicole Flores, who has taken to painting during the pandemic, has been sharing her passion with her neighbors.

She leaves a plank of wood full of tiny paintings on the sidewalk in front of her house so that neighbors can grab one when they're out walking.

Several members of the neighborhood have been organizing social distancing neighborhood events as well, like parades, for graduating students.