COVID-19 is a dark time, but there is light in the situation.
COVID-19 has killed 1,506 in Oregon. During this dark time of disease and struggle, people found different ways to find light in the tunnel. A small community in Cottage Grove, Oregon came together to help support those in need during the pandemic.
Many Oregon residents are experiencing unemployment. They have families who don’t have enough money for their basic life needs. Small communities have come together to support each other. Local businesses such as Meals-On-Wheels still continue to feed the community while going through this tough time.
Cottage Grove residents volunteered their time to make masks for the community for free, as masks were in high demand. Lots of talented people came together to sew thousands of masks for the community and they expected no type of compensation. Some people donated materials, some donated money. A lot of the time people don’t see the beauty in random acts of kindness until they are the ones in need. Just having the means to be able to go get milk or go get a checkup matters. I surely feel relieved to have a mask so I can have my basic needs met.
On Halloween, the residents of the Cottage Grove still put on trick-or-treating. Lots of people helped each other out in ways such as staying out of the way while another family passes by, coming down the steep porches to the children who couldn’t get up the steep driveways, and putting candy and hand sanitizer out even though they did not wish to participate in the event. Children enjoyed trick-or-treating.
Kindness is not the only beautiful aspect of quarantine I have discovered. For example, the pandemic has resulted in increased family time. Before quarantine, not every family got quality time with each other. People take walks around the neighborhood with their kids, do arts and crafts and movie nights. Family time is important for people to connect with their spouse or children.
I spent a lot of time camping this summer with my family. It was important because those moments are precious and they may never happen again in the future. Even though families could not come together for the holidays and other events, they could call or video chat. This is great for people in retirement homes who can not see their families during this difficult time. The caretakers and administrators do their best to lift spirits by playing games with the retired folks, but sometimes that’s not enough as the retirees miss their kids and grandkids.
Video chat is also great for socializing with friends, attending school, and appointments. This has helped people try to stay positive during the quarantine. For example, teens may struggle with the thought of, “When can I see my friends again?” Humans need socialization. This is why video chat is a great way for people, especially extroverts, to socialize without risking infection.
The beauty behind people helping each other during a pandemic is that everyone is in this together, and will get through it together. People come together and help out in communities by going shopping for someone, giving food to someone in need, and tutoring someone on Zoom. People come together and it is beautiful to see. As a result of being cooped up in quarantine, depression can affect people. It may be helpful for those experiencing depression to think about all the beautiful aspects of quarantine. For example, to think about how the community came together to support one another and how there was an increase in family time. If people don’t have a family to go to, they should know that the Cottage Grove community supports them and that in itself feels like family. After quarantine, people will remember all the beautiful aspects that helped many get through the COVID-19 pandemic. I wish those who are reading this a safe quarantine.
