Serving Our Community During COVID-19
Emily B, the President of the Susan E. Wagner High School chapter, shares thoughts on the health crisis and how trying to be proactive makes her feel.
It is no question that the outbreak of COVID-19 has heavily impacted all generations. The elderly in nursing homes are all experiencing complete isolation unable to have any visitors for comfort. The younger generation can no longer walk into school to learn and enjoy the activities they had been looking forward to all year. For me, this includes visiting nursing homes with my chapter.
My heart hurts to know that I can no longer visit our local nursing homes because we have created many memorable friendships with the seniors. I miss sharing conversation and laughter during these special moments that allowed me to disconnect from the media and the outside world. The shared company was so new and refreshing. I truly loved it. But my heart broke into two when reading an article about my most visited home who had seniors with cases of COVID-19. I continue to pray and think of them, as it is not an easy situation for anybody.
I have been going to this nursing home since I was in the 8th grade, which is why it is close to my heart. I wish that I could visit them and give them all big hugs to just remind them that we are here and that everything will get better. None of these amazing people deserve to be put in more pain. They all deserve love, care, and companionship. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to not see your family and friends. Now that we're restricted from visiting, I'm sure this has become a scary reality for them and they need reassurance. They need to be reassured that they are not going through this alone and that we are here. That is why I am joining the 'My Dear Friend' project with my chapter.
With the ‘My Dear Friend’ project our chapter creates videos, safely in our own homes, and then I will put them together to send to the senior homes. Doing something is better than nothing. If doing this can put a smile on their face and give them comfort, it will be worth every second spent. I am so grateful to be a part of what GlamourGals stands for and what it has allowed me to do. Our nation is strongest when we work together. We can defeat COVID-19 and as we strive to get there, we have the opportunity to do good so that we can help lighten the difficulties people are facing.
