Items

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  2020-11-18

  "Grocery chain apologizes after releasing 'super spread' ad for Thanksgiving"

  For generations that had never experienced a pandemic, the Coronavirus was not the only novel thing to adjust to. New nomenclature became the norm, including "Super spreader". The term was used to describe large groups gathering, especially during the holidays. Any other year, "plan a super spread" would be understood as a spread of food items. But for a population that was being restricted from large gatherings, in 2022, from holidays to Weddings to funerals, the company's attempt at clever advertising came off as tone-deaf and offensive. After backlash, Giant Food Stores formally apologized.
• 
  2022-11-22

  My Annual Newsletter to Friends 2022

  I always send a newsletter at the holidays and share whatever I have been thinking about. I want to keep in touch with friends. My newsletters in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were mostly about the pandemic. I would like now to submit the one for 2022. I already submitted the others.
• 
  2022-04-17

  Still Masking!

  This is a Twitter update by myrabatchelder. This woman is saying how grateful she was for people that avoided large gatherings this year for Easter, yet is being made to share space with unmasked neighbors going to big events.
• 
  2020-12-14

  Holiday Care Packages

  Three years ago, COVID-19 barred many people from traveling back home, and my roommates and I were one of those people. We all came from American Samoa, and while we planned to return home for the summer, thanksgiving, and Christmas, we could not do that. I remember working a part-time job during school to save up just enough to pay for my roundtrip fare, but unfortunately, COVID changed that. Although we could not have the chance to return home for the holidays, our families made it possible to bring the taste of island snacks to St. George with the constant sending of care packages. The photo I uploaded showed one of the many care packages my family sent me from home, which meant a lot to me. My roommates and I were very homesick, but our families came through with the snacks from home. I remember eagerly checking and refreshing the USPS app to track my package. It became my favorite thing to do during the COVID shutdown.
• 
  2022-01-03

  It finally happened

  We’re two months short of the two year anniversary of the Covid outbreak here in the US. My family of four followed the rules, masked up, quarantined and my husband and I were vaccinated as soon as we were able. This holiday season we found ourselves living life as we had before Covid, we got too comfortable. Our children are small and we were still unsure if we wanted to get our six year old vaccinated. We went into public spaces unvaccinated, participated in all the family Christmas festivities and then we got sick. I thought it was a cold at first and then one day it dawned on me that my sense of smell and taste were gone. Then the guilt and shame set in. We got too comfortable, we lost sight of the fact that Covid is not gone. People are still dying. My husband and I are fine, it’s like a cold with the added adventure of not being able to taste anything. I worry for my kids though. I feel guilty that we didn’t get my oldest vaccinated. I hate to watch her fight this with only over the counter medication to help her. I feel for my three year old. I hope they don’t get worse. This was a rude awakening for us all, Covid is not gone.
• 
  11/18/2020

  Avery Judnic Oral History, 2020/11/18

  In this interview with Avery Judnic, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, she will be touching on a variety of topics ranging from her experiences as a high schooler to her college experience. Being a freshman in college, in 2020, means that Avery’s spring of 2020 was spent in high school during the COVID pandemic and her fall semester is being experienced now as a freshman in college. Her class has experience from both high school and college during the pandemic. As she discusses her concerns about the pandemic pre-college and during college, varying trends and ideals are displayed in her experiences. Understanding the life of the class that has been thrown into the thickest of it all will reveal some of the most impactful effects of the pandemic. Avery focuses on her experience in her hometown compared to college life, as well as the concerns of her and her fellow classmates. “It's not about business, it's about teaching, and inspiring young people to do other things in their lives.”
• 2020-11-24

  Life lessons

  Before covid happened I never got to experience the holidays just with my family. It was always cousins and other family but I was never to close to mine. when covid happen I started to bond more with my family and really learned the true value of family because they stick with you through all the hard times that we may need to conquer.
• 
  2020-12-05

  Covid-19 Notifications

  For six months during the pandemic, I worked at Target. During that time, this is how we were notified of positive Covid cases within our store. Due to privacy reasons, this was often all the details we would receive, leaving us wondering if we should be getting tested or taking extra precautions. This was particularly stressful during the holidays, as there would be at least one text regarding a positive case per week. On the week in the screenshot, there were three positive cases in one week. It often left many of us more stressed than we already were with the influx of holiday shoppers, but we had to continue with our work as is nothing was wrong in order to keep the store functioning to the best of its ability. By the end of the year, we were all surprised when we went more than a couple days without a text.
• 2020-12-25

  Holidays in COVID

  Holidays have never been particularly important in my family. Most holidays would end in a fight between me and my mother so the lack of family interaction wasn't really a big deal for me. My mom ended up driving down from California to spend time with my grandmother and me. These holidays ended up being good as my mom and I got along better. It seems as though without the pressure for the holidays to be fully good my mom and I were able to let go and just enjoy being around each other.
• 
  2021-01-17

  Old and New: Holidays in Round Rock Texas

  These documents tell the story of my COVID-19 Holidays. It is important to me because it shows what changes I experienced in my holiday plans and offers a unique perspective. Description of images: 4th of July Concert at the Dell Diamond Baseball Park in Round Rock TX. Note the 4-person "Pods" on the grass indicated by the blankets. The blankets were brought by people who had purchased a Pod. Google Santa Tracker Dec. 24th, 2020.
• 
  2021-01-13

  The Covid-19 Holiday Season

  The holiday season during the Covid-19 pandemic brought many changes to the family routine. In total, my wife and I usually have four different houses to go to because we have both have divorced parents. This does, of course, make the season incredibly hectic. This year, however, every house seemed much more amenable to change. About half of our typical gatherings were cancelled to protect the elderly in the family, as well as those with pre-existing conditions. Of the family events that did occur, we had only ten people or less at each event (in a typical year, each house usually brings at least twenty guests and some bring several more). Even at the gatherings that did occur, things were still atypical, with most wearing masks and everyone following social distancing. In addition, many in my family have had COVID and were quarantined during the holidays. Nonetheless, we spent a lot of time on the phone and wishing each other a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas. Another thing I enjoy doing with my wife each year is attending a Nine Lessons and Carols service at various churches in the area. Because of the pandemic, however, we chose to forgo this Christmas tradition and watch a service online. While the pandemic has brought many changes and challenges to our lives, we are fortunate to be able to connect with our family from a distance. Technology has certainly mitigated many issues that the pandemic has brought, and without that, social distancing and cancelling holiday plans would have been much more difficult for people to concede doing. However, hopefully, the cancelled family plans this year will provide us with the opportunity to celebrate with our families next year. The pandemic has hopefully reminded everyone that while the holiday season can be stressful (like visiting four different houses on one day), it truly is a wonderful time of year.
• 
  2021-01-11

  My Pandemic Holidays

  Holidays were really hard for a lot of people. While I don't feel like mine were effected too much, I think my story is still worth sharing!
• 
  2020-09-08

  Jewish Melbourne

  Rosh Hashana 2020 Style - Achieving Inner Peace, Spirituality & Connection: Discussing Rosh Hashanah in a Covid world, the redefining of Rosh Hashanah 2020 Style! As part of our focus on Spiritual Health, the JCCV welcomed back two professionals who shared their insights on how to make the most of celebrating Rosh Hashanah this year, and offer ideas to achieve meaningful experiences for you and those closest to you.
• 
  2020-12-07

  Dr. Henry extends gathering restrictions over the holidays

  Tweet: "British Columbia has banned family gatherings of any kind over Christmas right to January 8! Wow, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year indeed. Will be the worst suicide numbers ever. Why aren’t we allowed to get Covid tests to show we don’t have Covid to visit family?"
• 
  2020-12-08

  Canada Post workers describe crowded working conditions at Saskatoon plant

  Article on working conditions for Canada Post workers
• 
  2020-09-18

  Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Care writing from staff about celebrating the HHD in lockdown

  This is a blog post by Cassandra Barrett, the Program Manager, Healthy Communities, about getting through the High Holy Days while separated from family.
• 
  2020-11-20

  As Thanksgiving Comes, Nonprofits Brace for More Food Insecurity

  As Thanksgiving approaches, food nonprofits across the United States preparing to distribute more food this year because of increased food insecurity caused by COVID-19.
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  2020-11-08

  Mom and Aunt's new plan for Christmas shopping in the era of COVID19

  This is a text my aunt sent to my cousins and me after she and my mom devised a new way to do Christmas shopping during the era of COVID19. They decided to forgo their usual Christmas shopping tradition because of the pandemic. Usually, the entire family spends a whole day going shopping together at various stores like Barnes and Noble or Kohls. My family makes a real day of it! However, this year my mother and aunt chose to do their Christmas shopping from home. To maintain as traditional a shopping experience as possible, they decided to ask my cousins, sister, and I to put together a list of items available on Amazon from which they would choose our gifts. This way, no one would have to leave their homes, and what we got for Christmas could still be a bit of a surprise!
• 
  2020-10-31

  Costume Designing During a Pandemic

  My friend, Erin, had never really tried to make a costume before; however, during quarantine she found herself with a lot of time on her hands. This is just the first costume that she has made, constructed out of fabric. She has also made a Red Riding Hood costume, a casual dress, and is working on her first jacket. I chose to add this picture because of the uniqueness of the hobby. Not many twenty-year-olds that I know are making costumes from hand. And the only reason that she started to make it was because of the free time she found herself with. This was her new Covid-hobby, her new way to cope and distract herself from what was happening in the world. While she doesn't have anywhere to wear it out, I am glad to be able to document it in this picture.
• 
  2020-06-05

  I can't believe it's riot season already

  This meme is a comparison of U.S. Fall holiday jokes. Normally, we joke that in the fall the stores start changing out their holiday items the day after a holiday. For example; the day after thanksgiving stores will be stocked and ready for Christmas. This meme is joking that we have not even recovered from Covid-19 and another disaster has already begun.
• 
  2020-05-30

  Happy Mother's Day Sign

  A painted sheet reading "Happy Mother's Day Mom I Miss You! Love, Nathan" hangs from a fence in the Bywater neighborhood.