STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A resident has come up with a creative way for neighbors to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lacey DeVivo is a Stevens Point resident who is organizing a nightly event to keep neighbors connected. DeVivo is starting a nightly wave to her neighbors to make sure they’re alright while still practicing social distancing.
“Basically you come outside at 7:11 p.m. every day with a light if you have a light or your porch light. And then you just wave to your neighbors. So it shows that they’re okay and you’re okay. And we’re also practicing social distancing so we can make sure that we don’t come in close to each other but we also have that human contact.”
With the nightly event, DeVivo says her goal is to make sure people know their neighbors are okay and to have a way to connect with others. “I don’t want to hear that down the block little Betty Sue couldn’t get off from her floor for two or three days and she was very ill.
“Like I just want to make sure that our neighbors are okay. And I love this town so much and I just want to make sure everyone is okay. And that we’re going to get through this together.”
While DeVivo only thought of having the nightly wave happen in Stevens Point, she’d love to see the event taken up in other cities. “It wouldn’t be a bad thing for everyone to do it, for all the towns to do it at a certain time.
“I reached out to many news sources today [Thursday] and I just hope that I get the word out. Because this is how we’re going to get through this is to take care of one another. And I think it’s a great thing and hopefully, it will expand to Wisconsin if not bigger.”
So far DeVivo has held the nightly wave twice starting on March 24th. Wednesday evening it was raining, but DeVivo said a couple of neighbors participated on Tuesday evening when the weather was nice.
You can participate in the nightly wave by going out onto your porch or front lawn at 7:11 p.m. with a light and wave at your neighbors.
