Together

Together. That’s been the final word in most of Gov. Phil Scott’s public addresses to Vermonters about the COVID-19 outbreak. And it describes how many Vermonters and their fellow Americans are getting through this challenging time. Grassroots efforts have sprung up to: create more N95 masks for hospitals; provide school meal drop-offs for low-income students who are now distance-learning; deliver important supplies to people unable to shop - among many other examples. 

And yet, reminders are everywhere about the overall situation and dire circumstances within it, including supply issues at hospitals, job layoffs, and business closures. As of Friday night, the number of U.S. coronavirus cases was approaching 100,000. U.S. lawmakers passed and President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion relief package - the largest relief legislation in American history. It funds business loans and direct payments to citizens and also expands unemployment insurance. Meanwhile, hospitals, governments, communities and numerous organizations continue to battle the pandemic, everywhere. 

Amid the fear and uncertainty, however, one thing remains certain: The natural tendency we have to help one another has not been overtaken. Help also comes in various forms. These days, even a simple interaction, maybe now more than ever, can go a long way. It helps confirm that, despite all these sudden changes, much we’re familiar with is still there. Just the other day, I stood outside the door of the local pharmacy waiting to pick up a prescription for a relative. Another fellow was doing the same. Standing six-feet distant, he asked, “How are you doing with all this?” And a very brief conversation ensued. But it was beautifully normal, just two humans relating and expressing a bit of concern for each other, in the middle of a vast world. 

That world keeps rolling, and we’ll keep seeing our leaders respond to COVID-19. This week, New England saw the nation’s latest wave of stay-at-home orders, with orders in Vermont and New Hampshire taking effect. While many are dealing with hardship amid these changes, and help is needed on many levels, we can still look to one another for proof of how we’ll weather this storm: Together.

—- Gareth Henderson