As we hunker down in our homes to ride out this deadly pandemic, a lot of well-deserved thanks and love is being spread out around the world to healthcare workers as they risk their lives every day to treat and save the victims of COVID-19. They are true heroes.
But they are not the only heroes in our midst right now. There are other essential workers who are quietly going about their mission to keep our most vulnerable populations safe and healthy. These are the social workers, case managers, food pantry managers, soup kitchen cooks, homeless shelter managers, crisis hotline workers and everyone who works for a basic needs nonprofit social service organization.
These organizations are deemed essential because they serve people who are struggling to survive, to make ends meet, to stay healthy and fed, to stay warm and dry. People who are already experiencing the worst times of their lives, even before the pandemic hit. The COVID-19 virus is the least of their worries.
The helpers who work for these organizations show up for work every day and hope that they can assist their clients while staying safe. There are limited amounts of PPE (personal protective equipment) available because social service organizations are at a lower priority than healthcare organizations on both donation and supplier lists. Facilities are crowded and social distancing is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to maintain. There is little sheltering in place as clients come and go. Helpers counsel clients to practice CDC’s sanitary recommendations but when you don’t have a bed to sleep in at night, washing hands is unlikely.
As more of our neighbors lose their jobs, miss rent payments, get sick or lose SNAP benefits, the need for these basic needs services will continue to grow. Many social service nonprofits rely on both volunteers and donations to serve their clients, whether it is food, shelter, safety, healthcare, or a combination of all. And those wonderful resources have largely dried up or even completely went away for many organizations as people stay home and take care of their own families.
I get it. These are uncertain times and no one knows how or when this pandemic will end. But think about how you would feel if you or a family member suddenly and unexpectedly needed a food pantry or a homeless shelter or a free clinic. This is happening to millions of families around the world right now and thousands of social service nonprofits are trying to help. As Mr. Rogers famously said, “Look for the helpers in every scary situation.” These helpers need your support. Don’t forget them.
