Communities everywhere can show their support for critical service workers everywhere without ever even leaving their front yard.

During this time when many are currently out of work and confined in their homes to stop the spread of COVID-19, equally as many find themselves working essential jobs, heading out into the field each and every day. These workers, though taking measures to help prevent the spread of the virus, are at a higher risk than those staying indoors. So how can you show your support for such employees while still maintaining social distancing?

“I’m a researcher by trade, and I’ve researched tons of COVID-19 material recently,” said Linda Spangrud. “I read an article about how in Paris people are opening their windows and shouting out to show their support for critical service workers and to support each other. And since we cannot leave our homes to show support, why not do something like this?”

Spangrud reached out to some friends and together they fleshed out the idea before distributing the initiative to local communities, beginning with GlenLakes. On every remaining Sunday night in April at 6 p.m., Spangrud is encouraging residents to go into their yard and make as much celebratory noise as possible for five minutes.

“You can yell, whistle, honk, ring bells, bang pots, play music, play musical instruments, whatever you’d like, to show your support for these amazing critical service workers,” she said. “There are so many of these workers who need this support. We have doctors and nurses on the front lines, but then there’s also police officers, firefighters, retail and restaurant workers, and truck drivers.”

Though starting with GlenLakes, Spangrud hopes to see the initiative take off on a countywide scale, and to see neighborhoods everywhere coming out to show their support on Sunday nights. She hopes to post videos online of the celebration that can then be shared with service workers everywhere. She also asks the community to tell all the essential, critical service workers they know that they are much appreciated.

“After finding out about other places doing similar things, I just thought it would be something we could do in our communities,” Spangrud said. “It’s a positive thing to bring us hope. And Sunday to me is just the perfect day to do this. It’s a day to reflect, a day to give thanks to God, and the perfect day to show our support.”