As we continue to face the hardships and the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, we鈥檝e seen some trends emerge and things happen that have actually been positive.
One of them has been appreciation for those who are at the forefront of this crisis.
The last few weeks have not been easy on a lot of people: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and other health workers who have to deal with this horrible situation.
We鈥檝e seen nurses who have come out of retirement so that hospitals are adequately staffed for when the surge of patients happens. (And make no mistake about it, many hospitals are going to see a surge).
People are generally pretty appreciative of the efforts of those who work in healthcare at all times. Sure you get those who take to social media to complain about the care and the treatment they receive, but most of those people aren鈥檛 to be taken seriously anyways.
Those who have a clue, and have common sense, appreciate the efforts of doctors, nurses and those who are on the front lines. They鈥檙e even more supportive at times like this.
Still, it never hurts to say thanks to those who are committed to our treatment and care at this most challenging of times.
You also see people thanking those who are involved with such essential services as policing and firefighting. They can never receive enough thanks.
But we鈥檙e seeing a new group receiving much-deserved kudos from the public: grocery store employees.
Sure, you鈥檒l thank the grocery store employee who shows you where a certain product is in the aisle. And you鈥檒l thank the cashier who rings in your total and bags your groceries. (Usually right before the cashier thanks you for shopping at their business).
But in this time, it seems as though many customers have decided to be a little more gracious with those who work in these stores, who have been thrust into a difficult situation that they never thought possible.
While they get some abuse from customers, it鈥檚 pretty pathetic that some have been rude to employees because an item hasn鈥檛 been in stock, or because a cashier has enforced a one item per customer limit. Don鈥檛 get upset at someone doing their job or the right thing.
If you want to be upset at someone, be upset at the hoarders. (We shouldn鈥檛 have to thank those who take just one item of something that鈥檚 in short supply).
It seems like many local businesses have done what they can to go above and beyond. You can鈥檛 fault businesses for shutting down during these tough times. If a business doesn鈥檛 have online shopping options, or if a restaurant isn鈥檛 equipped for delivery, then don鈥檛 be upset at them for being closed.
We also can鈥檛 fault those working from home because they鈥檙e worried about an immunodeficiency.
But many others are adapting and adjusting so they can have at least some of their operations remain open, and allow them to have some work for their employees.
Restaurants are emphasizing pickup and delivery. Retail businesses are offering free delivery in the community. Car dealerships are offering free pickup and delivery for oil changes and maintenance.
Grocery stores are opting for free delivery as well, or they鈥檙e opening early multiple times each week for seniors and at-risk shoppers.
The Estevan Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs are among those offering to deliver items for free for those who can鈥檛 get out, such as seniors and those who are self-isolating.
Over the past couple of weeks, we鈥檝e heard these stories of those who have gone 鈥渁bove and beyond.鈥� And in the coming weeks, as the situation gets worse and as more and more services are discontinued, we鈥檒l hear more stories of those who are going the extra mile.
They aren鈥檛 doing it for accolades or praise. They鈥檙e doing it because they believe it鈥檚 part of their job, because they genuinely care about others, and they want to do their share to get us through this tough time.
Still, it never hurts to say thanks, regardless of what people are doing during these times.
