With the continuing shelter in place order in effect amid the effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus, there will be no Love Escalon in 2020. The situation is similar in many surrounding communities as well.

“We had hoped at the beginning of the stay-at-home order we could still keep our city-wide service date of April 25,” explained Love Escalon City Leader Brittany Doornenbal. “As time moved on though and the COVID-19 situation worsened, our team made the tough decision of cancelling this year’s event. We are planning on coming back strong in April of 2021, and look forward to loving our community like Jesus does until then.”

While communities throughout the region are seeing the same cancellation for the coordinated day of service, Doornenbal said there is another effort growing out of necessity, as neighbors look to help each other through this uncertain time.

“The Love Our Cities organization has graciously included Escalon in their Love Our Neighbors program,” Doornenbal explained. “This is a website, loveourneighbors.org, connecting needs in Stanislaus County area cities to people interested in meeting those needs.”

She added that, on the website, you can sign up a need or sign up to be available to be matched with a local nee; neighbors helping neighbors.

“It is an amazing way for each community involved to support each other during this crisis, and I highly recommend as many residents as possible to go sign up,” Doornenbal said.