Since we’ve been quarantined, some of us have had to change the way we communicate with others. For example, instead of talking to loved ones and co-workers in person, we might have started merely calling them on the phone, texting or emailing them, or even video chatting with them. Is not being able to chat in person a bummer? Yes. But many would agree that these alternative ways of communicating are important during a time where we might be physically separated from the people we love.
One Manhattan college student named Lillian Kogan had an interesting method of communication that she tried while in quarantine. Lonely and bored within her apartment, Kogan decided to hang sticky notes on her window to spell out, “Hi!” It was a kind, simple message to send out. That said, she didn’t necessarily expect any of her neighbors to also respond with sticky notes, but not long later, they did. Next thing you know, the across-the-street neighbors began to engage in a back-and-forth sticky note conversation with Kogan.
Then one day when Kogan peered out her apartment window, she noticed that the neighbors, who were sunbathing on their front porch, she was communicating with were in their senior years. That’s when she decided to ask them sticky note-style if they needed food.
The elderly couple politely said no, but Lillian still decided to drop off some homemade cookies on their doorstep while wearing gloves and a mask as a gesture of kindness. She also included a sticky note with her name and contact information in case they needed anything. She’s so thoughtful!
The neighbors were surprised when they opened the door and saw the gift. They were certainly grateful, especially during this crazy and hectic time.
“Cookies were delicious. It was fun—it felt like the beginning of a relationship,” 84-year-old Toni Sonet said. Sonet also admitted that when communicating with the college student, she actually taped up construction paper instead of sticky notes. Either way, it got the job done!
Kogan is such a sweetheart for going out of her way to not only find a way to communicate with her lonely neighbors quarantine-style but also deliver cookies as a little gift to neighbors she hadn’t know of before. Hopefully Kogan and her two neighbors will be able to continue to maintain that special bond throughout quarantine and even long afterward.
Here’s an interview with Kogan for you to watch below.
