Community Connections Help Frontline Workers

Posted Apr 17th, 2020

In the midst of a history making global crisis, the needs of many frontline workers are falling through the cracks. Not only are they the boots-on-the-ground heros of our daily lives, they are also fending for themselves in many instances to keep safe so they can continue to serve others. While governments are working 24/7 at the politics of managing emergency response at every possible level of our society, it is the everyday actions of citizens across the world that are making a direct difference. Theirs are the hands holding heads above water.

This story starts with a woman named Kalli Rae. While on maternity leave from a nursing career with her fourth child, she is sitting at her sewing machine making scrubs that she knows her fellow co-workers are going to be needing during a shortage of hospital gear. Her example of combining skills and hobbies together is also the seed sowing of a bigger picture. The rolls of fabric she is using was a donation from a friend who is coowner of a local business, who asks Kalli Rae if she can also make masks for their employees to have.  Now circumstances unfold like the Kevin Bacon "six degrees of separation" concept, yet here it is more appropriate to call it six degrees of connection!

So the business woman with fabric to spare, has a business partner and husband who was one of the original founders of their local Rotary Club. Putting in action the motto of "Service Above Self" he goes to the next level by asking Kalli Rae what needs her co-workers in the hospital might have, and is put in touch with the local hospital charge nurse. Turns out they have the common cry of sanitizers for frontline workers to carry, along with a hope for safety goggles. As it happens that  business man owns a roofing construction company and they have many supplier connections. So their company Operations Manager is put onto sourcing out supplies, while the Rotarian and business owner asks other local business owners to get behind some COVID-19 plans for their community. He sets in motion a series of interconnectedness which sources the support needed, to get hold of those sanitizers and obtain goggles for frontline workers.

Today, 3 hospitals will receive hundreds of goggles for their frontline staff, and hundreds of bottles of sanitizers have been obtained for distribution all directly lead from one connection. In this story, everybody knows something or somebody that can help make a difference and this can and is happening in every-town, everywhere. It starts with a seed nurtured by ACTION!

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Just down our street, a neighbor obtained some fabric--she is now busy at her sewing machine making masks for the community.