Separate but Together
By: Emma Boley
Tags: Volunteering, Nonprofit, Halloween, Bethel University, Community

Separate but Together

By Emma Boley and Holly Haugen | News Reporters

The evening of October 31, 2020, members of the Frogtown community gathered outside at the Minnehaha Recreation Center for a Drive-Thru Trick or Trunk event. The air was crisp but that did not stop people from joining in on the fun. Halloween was a fitting time for masks to be worn- but instead of the traditional Spiderman masks or Scooby-Doo, families wore face coverings to keep each other safe. The Trick or Trunk event was successful and brought unexpected joy to the Frogtown Summit community.

Volunteers work wholeheartedly for Frogtown-Summit and Early Learning Coalitions, specifically Delinia Parris who earned this volunteer award. Standing at the Halloween event in 2020, Pierson states that she is “a Frogtown resident, parent, and organizer who helped plan the event.” Photo by Zack Pierson

Zack Pierson sits down with families from the Frogtown-Summit community to enjoy lunch at Minnehaha Recreation Center. Once a week, Pierson will get the chance to connect with children and adults while playing games, talk, and enjoy a meal. In March of 2020, everything this community had ever known was turned upside down. Instead of doing nothing and letting the pandemic get in the way, they continue to fight to remain connected through as many events they are able to host. Now, Pierson spends his days on Zoom calls in his office chair. Life for Pierson and the Frogtown-Summit community has shifted completely and isn’t the same. Improvising is a must as restrictions are set in place in the community.

Every Wednesday, Pierson, and members of Frogtown-Summit will meet on Zoom to meet and discuss future plans for them and have a chance to talk. Due to the pandemic, things have had to change drastically. Parents now sit with their children at their dining room tables across the neighborhood and play not only the parent role, but the part-time teacher one as well. After many months of separation, Zack Pierson shares the joy of these families.

“Seeing the excitement not just in the kids, but also in the adults [was the most rewarding], said Pierson.

“Pierson has seen the need for communities to remain connected despite the fear and loss that people have had to face in the midst of the pandemic.” -Emma Boley, Bethel senior

Pierson shares how many of these children will be able to see friends of theirs over the conversations, which connects them to each other despite the circumstances. These simple pleasures are what allows this pandemic to be a little bit brighter. His work is making a difference in many people’s lives by meeting consistently every Wednesday. Many of these families live in homes where they do not have the resources they need. Some struggle to receive proper education or the right amount of nutrients in their body. Others do not have the financial resources they need as parents struggle to maintain work. The work does not stop here. Pierson has seen the need for communities to remain connected despite the fear and loss that people have had to face in the midst of the pandemic.