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2024-05-20Walk With Me Surving Covid
This book takes you on Tracys journey as a COVID survivor through a traumatic experience. She is faced with losing her independence, having to rely on others, and letting go of a love she thought she wanted only to find the real love she needed. Tracy shares how she copes with depression and PTSD and lives and functions with it daily. This book is a powerful testimonial from a truly strong woman who shares how her faith was her strength -
2022-01-10Criticizing Teachers
Even before the pandemic, many teachers have felt that they are underappreciated. During the pandemic, the number of responsibilities on teachers increased. They have been forced to teach during a health crisis, putting themselves at risk. When teachers are sick, the remaining teachers are forced to pick up the work without any empathy if they are not able to fulfill all obligations. The expectations have increased as teachers are also battling increasing behavior issues. -
2022-04-11Fundraising for Ukraine
This is an Instagram post by maniteeshirts. This post is about people fundraising for Ukraine since they have been hit hard by the Russian invasion. Noticeably, all of the people posted in this picture are all wearing masks. This picture helps show that where some places might not require masks, some people are still wearing them. Due to not being given a location, I am not sure on the status on masks where this was posted. Since everyone is wearing them though, I am at least guessing it is a store that requires masks to enter. -
2022-02-22COVID support groups
I did some heritage work for this hospital a couple years ago so I follow their social media. Apparently they’ve founded a COVID support group for people who have been profoundly impacted by COVID-related illness, death, and disability. I sometimes think that the chronic illness and disabling nature of long COVID is often overlooked. Who can blame anyone for overlooking it with all of the more obvious, loud, visible problems wrought by the pandemic? Anyhow this is something to think about. -
2022-02-07T10:00:00Taking Covid-19 Step by Step
My story describes the cycle of emotions I went through during the past two years of the pandemic. I try to make sense of the situation, especially with high school, and find some negative and positive outcomes from my quarantine experience. -
2021-08-14
Beware a Pandemic
As we approached our second year of the Covid-19 pandemic things like mask and disinfecting door knobs just became a norm to me. Unconciously, I wouldn't think of Covid-19 as the virus Id just live life with the existence of COVID. I am known for my obsession of believing a single cough could mean I'm at a near death so mentally I was just exhausted. After some time I began to worry about my two year old daughter, she was starting school at a special needs program which I could not wait for. I knew my daughter's progression was one of my top priorities but what about her health and well being? I couldn't help but think "What if there is COVID in the school?" I kept my company very small as I lived alone with my daughter. The only time we were exposed to other people was when she visited her dad on the weekends, but he too was very cautious. A week into my daughters schooling I finally stoped worrying and celebrated my cousin's birthday with her. A day later my cousin had called me with the news that she was COVID positive. My mind raced as I graphically remembered my daughter sharing a bite of a burger with my cousin, it was almost no doubt in my head that we were infected. I got both of us tested that very day and we were negative but I had knowledge on this infection I still held my breath as I knew I had to retest in two to three days. After three days when I planned to get tested I woke up with soreness in my eyes and a headache, I explained my pain to my boyfriend and he had said that he felt that pain too. Minutes after I got tested and I was positive my daughter was already at her dads house so I told everyone to get tested and everyone else was fine. Two weeks, fourteen days in quarantine drove me mad. I suffer from depression and something about being completely alone triggered me. I could not eat my symptoms continued to change. I lost my taste and my sense of smell. I couldn't walk or stand for too long but honestly my common cold from a month back felt worst than this. The mental and emotional aspect of this situation is what really hurt me. I was so alone and worried I missed my child and her dad had to take off work for a week. I barely had any money and I just felt like I couldn't reach any type of human interaction even with my electronics it wasn't the same. On my tenth day of COVID I went to retest and I was negative. The after mass of Covid took a toll on me. I lost 16 pounds and I already had issues with my weight personally. My stomach felt faint and empty for weeks after the virus was gone and I felt like I did not want to go anywhere. I decided to still quarantine for the full fourteen days just to be safe and rest. My daughter's school (which she wasn't attending due to not being home) called and said someone tested positive and that school would be closed for two weeks. My mom whom I haven't seen in weeks also called on the tenth day to tell me that she had a fever and went to get tested, another positive. I felt trapped almost as if I couldn't breathe. Getting back into the real world without seeming like a hypochondriac was so tough but just like the virus things change and I was over my anxiety. All that's left now is to worry about the long term effects... Who knows what the future might hold. -
2020-04-30Minions!
A family in San Ramon made a cutout of two minions wearing masks and put it in front of their home. The sign says "THANK YOU ❤️ HEALTHCARE WORKERS ❤️ FIRST RESPONDERS ❤️ ESSENTIAL WORKERS WE ❤️ U". The photo was taken on April 30, 2020. -
2020-04-10Thanks to Sheltering in Place, Animal Shelters Are Empty
This article discusses the animal adoption trend in the United States during the pandemic. Some shelters find themselves completely empty, which is a dream come true for animal lovers. On the flip side, there are families in crisis, particularly in large cities, that have been forced to give up their pets. Fortunately, with so many foster and adoptive families on waiting lists, these pets won't be going to shelters for any length of time. -
2020-04-18Support, Family & Friends
At the beginning of quarantine, people were planning surprise personal birthday parades filled with cars of people honking, holding posters, or even throwing confetti. I believe that this was one of the moments that showed communities coming together, and it is really awesome to see this good news. I am very grateful that my family and friends helped me celebrate my birthday safely like this! -
2021-04-22Community’s importance to the service industry during Covid-19: A business owner’s perspective
This article, written by small business owners, addresses the challenges faced by the service industry during COVID-19. These owners of a coffee shop share a list of ways that the community can support their local service industry, and why it is crucial to do so. They make it clear that it's not simply about buying a product; instead, it is about building a community and supporting those that you care about, which goes both ways. If you support small business owners and show that you're there for them, they in turn will give back to the community in any way that they can, creating a caring environment. The lessons they share are so important to keep in mind as we are still dealing with the pandemic, so that we can build a support system that lasts long past when the pandemic is over. -
2021-03How to Survive a Plague with a Disability
As I’m writing this, it is March 2021 and it’s been a year since I’ve updated this blog. Although I don’t only write about travel here, it’s been depressing to look back on my past trips and have to wonder when I could be in the world again. But I’ve been far from silent during this time. You can read many of my reflections on the pandemic and other topics over at The Mighty, where I have been an editor for the past five years. One year ago, when the pandemic was just beginning in the United States, one of my good friends posted a social media message about supporting each other during what most people thought would be a strange, scary, but ultimately short period of our lives. Part of it went something like this: My mask protects you. Your mask protects me. It’s a nice sentiment. Wearing a few layers of cloth over your face may not help you much, but it helps to prevent other people from getting sick. It’s a kind, visible act we can all do to show we care during a difficult time, to protect others who are at risk even if we may think we would not become seriously ill. It seems so simple, right? How could people not do this? But we all know what happened. “My mask protects you. Your mask protects me,” only works if the other person values your life enough to consider it worth protecting. I’ve been horrified by the number of government officials and online commenters who have viewed the deaths of elderly and disabled people as “acceptable losses” in exchange for keeping non-essential gathering spaces open. My life, and the lives of people with high-risk conditions, are more important than your trip to Disneyland. Don’t you think we want to go to Disneyland too? I’ve also noticed that able-bodied people often assume disabled people will be provided for in emergencies, and in general. They believe there are a lot of government programs and charities to help us, and that such programs are run well and meet our needs. This widespread — but utterly false — belief in a functioning safety net for “the vulnerable” gives people an excuse to behave selfishly while convincing themselves they’re not doing anything wrong. “Of course, there will be a plan to protect nursing home residents, and immune-suppressed people can stay home, so we can throw parties and go without masks if we don’t like them.” In reality, the needs of people with disabilities are often disregarded, misunderstood, ignored, and even actively opposed. We have to fight for access to everything, and sometimes end up on multi-year waiting lists for housing assistance, in-home care, and other essential programs and services. We must battle with government and private insurance to get the mobility equipment we need. We are GPS tracked like criminals if we need personal care assistants, with “fraud prevention” used as an excuse. We often depend on programs with ridiculously complicated requirements, and one missed deadline, one paperwork error, one month where we made “too much money” can cost us everything. -
2020-03Survivor Corps
One of the more positive outcomes of COVID-19 has been the mobilization of people to support one another and help mitigate the spread of the virus. Survivor Corps, started by an early COVID-19 patient, is “a grassroots solution-based movement to mobilize the sharply increasing number of people affected by COVID-19 to come together, support and participate in the medical and scientific research community efforts and take a more active role in trying to mitigate this pandemic.” Organizations such as this demonstrate the best in people and our potential and desire to work toward the common goal of beating this virus. -
2021-03-22BIDMC and Long-term Covid Patients
This article is about the new team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston whose purpose will be to study and support Covid-19 patients with long-term symptoms. These "long-haulers" have an array of physical and mental problems after their recovery from Covid-19. Unfortunately, since research on this virus and it's effects are quite new, experts are still finding out more everyday. This team at BIDMC is one of a few multi-disciplinary teams in the country that is specifically established to provide comprehensive care to these "long-haulers." With so many people contracting Covid-19, teams like this will be critical in how we move forward. As a matter of public health, we need to better understand if there are physiological changes to things like our lung and airway structures, brains, and other organs from having Covid, and if they are permanently damaged or not. This team will not only help these patients, but also help discover important answers for the public as a whole. -
2020-11-09Biden thanks his gay, straight, transgender supporters
Joe Biden credits the LGBTQ community while appreciating the "broadest and most diverse" coalition of support ever seen in a successful campaign for President. Swipe up in our stories for more. -
2021-03-16Local support group helps grieving families who lost loved ones to COVID-19
With COVID-19 restrictions, handling grief is difficult. The normal ways of showing support for a family, or person, that has suffered a death are not currently possible. People are isolated and are unable to receive the emotional support they need to handle the loss. Those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 seem particularly hard hit by the grief and isolation. In response, a grief center in Cincinnati has started a special online support group for people who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. -
2020-08-21Justice for Justin
"No one believed my story back then. I have an abundance of support now, where I didn't have none before. So I prayed for this day and prayed for each and every last one of you that's out here with me today. Saint Paul Police, your days of silencing me are over with. It's over with. To all the police in Minnesota and around the world. Your days of hurting our people are over with." - Toshira Garroway (@toshira_nicole ), Justin Teigen's fiance and mother to his child. Justin was found dead in a recycling center after an encounter with the St. Paul Police (SPPD) eleven years ago. His family is demanding the MN Attorney General Keith Ellison (@repkeithellison) opens an investigation into his death. Photos from Justice for Justin, August 19, 2020 -
2020-09-02March on Washington
“Even though it looks dark, I want to tell you to be encouraged. . . . Stand up. We was built for this.” - Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, Get Your Knee Off Our Necks March -
02/16/2021Lila Jue Oral History, 2021/02/16
I recorded a mini oral history with my mother in law about silver linings during the pandemic. The photograph is a family Zoom, as this is a positive of the pandemic year to her. -
2020-08-03Navigating A Pandemic And A Social Justice Movement In The Workplace
Contributor Manon DeFelice interviews Melanie Collins, Vice President and Global Head of People at Dropbox about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, companies making a stand and following through, employee mental health, and what it means to be an ally. The article looks at the Black Lives Matter movement and what a company like Dropbox is doing as an ally to change many social issues facing communities of color today. -
2020-11-25COVID Leaves Thousands Unable to Feed Families
COVID has caused many to lose their jobs, impacting their financial stability. Many have to decide what they are able to pay for each week, one of those difficult decisions being if they can afford groceries or not. Food banks have been a life saver for thousands of families across the nation, providing them with food and relief knowing that they and their children don't have to go hungry. I have found my way in those long lines a few times, never thinking in my life before 2020 that I would need this kind of assistance. But, here we are, in my family some of us lost our jobs or were out of work for a long time. We are going to be facing the financial repercussions of COVID for a very long time. But, food banks like these have helped my family and many others alike worry about one less thing during these trying times. -
2020-03-18The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Helps Employees Everywhere
On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This act provided additional flexibility for state unemployment insurance agencies and funding to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. This act requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons that relate to Covid-19. To receive these unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state you work. Employees everywhere are put on sick leave everyday due to coronavirus. This act gives them more support and sanity to help them in their day to day lives whether it is to help support family or pay expenses. -
2020-05-13Mme Benoit fête ses 92 ans au CUSM - Mrs. Benoit celebrates her 92nd birthday at the MUHC
Pierrette Benoit celebrated her 92nd birthday while in hospital recovering from COVID-19. The staff on C8 at the Royal Victoria Hospital of the MUHC ensured her day was special by presenting her with a cake and singing her Happy Birthday. Gestures like these are just an example of how MUHC staff go above and beyond for their patients. -
2020-07Mental Health in Canada: Covid-19 and Beyond
Mental health is health, this report shows the pandemic is both magnifying and contributing to Canada's mental health crisis. COVID-19 took a toll on the populations mental health, and we are expecting long term mental health effects to burden Canadians. The CAMH demands the government and policy makers step up and make mental health a priority by investing in long-term, system wide response. -
2020-11-19Qikiqtani Inuit Association announces $1.8M for mental wellness during the pandemic
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association says that it will distribute $1.8 million in federal funding to support the work of the Ilisaqsivik Society, the YWCA Agvik, the Uqutaq Society, the Tukisigiarvik Society, Qikiqtani hamlet recreation departments and the previously announced Qikiqtani Family Support Initiative. (Image courtesy of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association) -
2020Wellness Support Line
The demands of the pandemic are having a serious impact on the emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing of healthcare workers across the country. The Canadian Medical Association wishes to support frontline workers by providing them with access to a Wellness Support Line to ensure they have high-quality and tailored mental health services for all their needs. -
2020-12-11Post-pandemic Reckoning
This article talks about the financial worries Canadians are facing as the pandemic and government supports lift. -
2020-12-12Newfoundland Small Business Assistance
This release from the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is an example of the kind of business support programs governments introduced in the pandemic. -
2020-12-10Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Government of Canada site that gives the details of all the support programs they are offering. -
2020-04-28Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care blog post - Understanding covid anxiety
Blog post by Ronit Joel – Psychologist, for Jewish Care, about understanding and managing covid anxiety -
2020-05-24Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care blog post - Volunteering: Providing Meaningful support during covid
Blog post for Jewish Care by Laura Marchese, who discusses how to stay connected and volunteering and contributing during the pandemic -
2020Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care blog post - Remote Learning
Blog post for Jewish Care by Cassandra Barrett – Program Manager, Healthy Communities, writing about how to support students during online learning -
2020-09-07Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care blog post- Putting Children First
Blog post for Jewish Care by Marilyn Kraner, Manager - Individual & Family Services, discussing child protection during the pandemic -
2020-09-15Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care blog post - 'what can be done if you're unemployed during coronavirus'
An article by Simon Jedwab, Program Manager - Employment Centre, providing advice and support for people who are unemployed during the pandemic -
2020Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care Coronavirus updates
Jewish Care runs an aged care home, and so during the Covid-19 crisis they provided regular updates to their community. This was particularly the case when residents and staff tested positive. -
2020-10-06Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care virtual 'news and views' session with residents
"Not even COVID-19 restrictions can stop our volunteers from brightening the days of our Elders at Gary Smorgon House! Long-time volunteer Errol Rink has adapted his weekly ‘news and views session’ on Zoom, complete with trivia quizzes and lots of jokes. “The reaction from the smiling and laughing elders makes it all worthwhile,” says Errol. Elder Celsia Goldberg is especially thankful for the volunteers “constantly giving their time, showing love, respect and compassion” and for coming up with entertaining arts and crafts, Yiddish sing-a-longs, music and guest speakers for them to enjoy. “They have made the restriction period so much more bearable, even enjoyable, and for that I am so grateful.” We are so lucky to have such a strong network of kind and selfless volunteers helping across all aspects of our work." -
2020-10-12Jewish Melbourne: Chevra Hatzolah training in CPR in a Covid world
"Learn how to provide CPR safely in a COVID world. Join Hatzolah and Ambulance Victoria at 8pm on Thursday 15th October 2020 for a LIVE CPR demonstration as part of AV’s Shocktober. Make a difference when “every second counts”. To join: hatzolah.org.au/shocktober or join us on Facebook" -
2020-10-18Jewish Melbourne: WIZO webinar
With the lockdown, programming needed to move online. WIZO Matan presented 'How to be an Upstander', a webinar. -
2020-11-15Jewish Melbourne: Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day in 2020 was on 15 November, and due to lockdown and restrictions on gatherings, special activities were organised through the website. -
2020-08-17Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care provides educational assistance for students
"Jewish Care is here to assist and support the education of our children in any way we can during the COVID-19 crisis by providing remote academic assistance for students or assistance for families. We have a team of committed volunteers who have a range of skills they are offering, including: - Primary and secondary subject tutorial - Listening to children’s readers via a remote visual platform - Musical instrument practice - Assistance for parents in supporting their child’s learning Financial assistance for families may also be available. To find out how we may be able to help you during this difficult time, please contact the Jewish Care COVID-19 Helpline on 8517 5555, which is operating Monday–Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm. Jewish Care is here for you. You are not alone." -
2020Jewish Melbourne: Special Bulletin on Family & Domestic Violence
The Jewish Community Covid-19 Taskforce provided a special bulletin on family and domestic violence, providing advice, helplines, ways of getting support, and the like, during lockdown. -
2020-09-08Jewish Melbourne: NCJWA (Vic) Golden Age club activities
"Thank you, Kehilat Nitzan, for your friendship and support of our Golden Age Clubs. The Tikkun Olam Community of Kehilat Nitzan provides on an ongoing basis gift bags to the public house residents. Recently, in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, the members received from Kehilat Nitzan a special goodie bag which included a Sudoku book, hand cream, sweets and a honey cake, made by the Kehilat Nitzan volunteers. “Our Golden Age Club members and their families deeply appreciate the care and support they receive from the Kehilat Nitzan community. This is really touching” said Nellie Khoroshina, Golden Age Clubs Coordinator. Our Golden Age Clubs are going strong, providing much-needed emotional support and social connection to Holocaust survivors and war veterans. The members are gathered weekly via audio/video conferences in groups of fives. “These virtual meetings keep the participants informed and connected during COVID times” added Nellie." -
2020-10-03Jessica Fisher Oral History, 2020/10/03
Graduate student at ASU, Angelica S Ramos interviews mother of a new born baby. In this interview she discussed the struggles with prenatal care and her experience with birth during COVID. Fisher also discusses family support as a new mother amidst the pandemic and how her interactions with her family has changed. She mentions her worries with being high risk for contraction and how she copes with her worries. She also talks about her work as a teacher and how much that environment has changed for her and her students. In this interview, Fisher also talks about her close relationship with her grandmother who lived in assisted living and how their relationship has been forced to change. Lastly, she talks about her hopes for the future. -
2020-07-21Pets in the Pandemic
HIST30060 It’s been difficult not seeing friends and family, but one stalwart of this year has been Gracie: my beautiful four-legged companion. Gracie’s been a source of much needed support this year, accompanying me on my daily allotted exercise and stopping for regular belly rubs. She’s cut through the pandemonium and provided me with a constant supply of love and laughter. I think pets have outperformed themselves this year, especially when human connection has been sparse due to restrictions. ‘History from below’ might not literally mean below knee-level, but I think considering the experience of pets during the pandemic will be a valuable avenue of historical enquiry. -
2020-07-27Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Bubs program on explaining Covid-19 to children
In July, Caulfield Bubs (a playgroup for Jewish bubs (0-3yrs) at Caulfield Shule) hosted a zoom event with Professor Frank Oberklaid, where he provided advice to parents on "explaining the Covid pandemic to young children". -
2020-07-27Jewish Melbourne: Pekelach call for supplies and support
At the beginning of Melbourne's second lockdown, Pekelach - a Jewish organisation with helps with food insecurity - put out a call for supplies and for people to join their 'CovID-19 Relief Team' in order to provide support for particular needs. -
2020-11-01
Covid-19 in One Word V: Introspective
This word comes from a motivated woman, a photographer, and a traveller. Introspective: characterized by examination of one's own thoughts and feelings Most people, in times of trouble, look outward for support--or blame. But when everyone is kept more than an arm’s length away, the only person close enough to seek answers from is yourself. So when Covid-19 shut the world down, it brought the focus to a more internal source. During this time of uneasiness, the only comfort we could find had to be within ourselves. This means we became self-aware, and some started self-growth. Without others to rely on, we had to strengthen ourselves to be the shoulder we cry on. This means we reevaluated our values and if changes needed to be made, we started on those. It’s not like we didn’t have extra time to kill. With this new perspective, a forced perspective, much change occurred in almost everyone, good or bad, intentional or unintentional. But no matter where it came from, all of this change came from covid. Because when we are isolated, it’s important to acknowledge whether we like our company or not. -
2020-10-28‘I’m here for you’
2020 is a difficult year, especially for someone like me staying alone in foreign lands. What frustrated me was not only the difficulties in life, but also loneliness and lost. I have no roommate in Melbourne. Therefore, after the 5km travel ban was issued, I rarely contact with the outside world. Not only that, many of my friends choose to defer their studies and stayed in their mother country due to the plague so I gradually lost contact with them. In this case, speak to my classmates on the tutorial became almost the only way for me to communicate with the outside world. I am not ready to face this situation, and these sudden changes made me so depressed. Social distancing between men made me feel ignored and isolated, and I even considered about postponing my studies. Until a few days ago, I found some cards (as in the photo) from my apartment’s common zone. On the front page of the card there is ‘I’m here for you’, and residents could leave their contact information on the card to people who want to make new friends. I take one of the cards and left my message. Although I have not contacted that person so far, I can feel the kindness from strangers, and the support there makes me believe that everything will be fine. #HIST30060 -
2020-06-08When Restaurants Become the First Line of Support
During the BLM protests this past summer, many restaurants supported the protestors by providing free food, and acknowledging that the damage to their property was less important than the damage being done to Black people by police. They also performed support tasks such as hosting makeshift medic tents for the protestors. -
2020-10-17Meet Ellie! The Pandemic Pup!
This is my beautiful pup, Ellie! Ellie’s story with my family and I begun on March 19, 2020, when my mother and I picked her up from my dad’s fire station. March 19th was an important date for my family. Not only did this beautiful girl enter our lives then, but it was also the first full day of restaurant closures during the pandemic, my school had announced its intention to continue virtually for the remainder of the semester, my birthday had just passed, and COVID-19 loomed over our daily lives, its shadow growing with each passing day. And then, there was Ellie! Ellie is such a joy in my family’s life! She is beyond sweet, unbelievably adorable, incredibly fun, and an awesome companion. It has been a real joy to watch Ellie grow up during this difficult time for our world. Her life has been like a ray of sunshine in an overcast world. I enjoy going on walks with her and my mother at the park, visiting with her on the couch and floor, watching her jump in the pool during a hot day, and of course playing fetch in the backyard with her favorite orange tennis balls. Watching Ellie grow and mature into such a beautiful dog has been a true gift to my family and me during the COVID-19 pandemic. No matter what's going on in the world, Ellie always makes my day better. -
2020-10-18Care after 5km
A friend of mine had a rough week. She lives down the coast, well out of my 5km play pen (the distance we Melbournians can travel from home). The phone calls are fine, but can be draining and don't replace a supportive hug. Feeling a bit helpless as a friend, I put together an hour of music I thought she'd find comforting. Diversifying the kinds of connections we keep up has been relieving in that way. Low pressure interaction, much like spending time in person when it is relaxed, calm, and conversation will bounce off stimuli in the world, is hard to replicate digitally. I've really stepped up my playlist game these days. She loved it. HIST30060