Helping each other

A hopeful sign sits atop a bridge railing across from the post office in downtown Woodstock, Vermont, brightening up a rainy afternoon on Sunday.

A simple but needed message hit Woodstock, Vermont, recently. “We got this, Vermont,” read a painted sign sitting in one of the flower pots lining a cement railing downtown - a sign of confidence in one another, to lighten these difficult days.
Unifying messages are much needed and reassuring for many amid the COVID-19 crisis. It’s a comfort to know someone has your back. Donors have given a boost to local food shelves to meet skyrocketing demand, grocery stores keep serving their customers under challenging circumstances, and local residents - many of them facing financial strain - do what they can to support local businesses.
The community ecosystem is indeed strained, but it powers ahead. Diana Brown, secretary of the Woodstock Community Food Shelf, said the organization’s donors stepped in to help earlier in March when the outbreak’s impact was deepening.
“The support, both practically and monetarily, has been quite amazing,” she said.
Grassroots efforts to help those impacted by the crisis have gathered steam around the country, from efforts to financially help laid-off workers, to school parents making sure their communities stay connected while having to remain home.
For local communities, another challenging week lies ahead and big decisions have to be made. As people around Vermont grapple with a host of issues, the state faces a projected $100 million revenue shortfall over the next three months due to the pandemic’s impact. Local governments will be addressing multiple needs as well.
Though many issues still remain, plenty of strength does, too, among people ready to keep seeing each other through these challenges. Many inspiring stories have shined through the darkness, and more are on the way.

— Gareth Henderson