Responding to
COVID-19

"When you are going through hell, keep on going.
Never, never, never give up."
Winston Churchill

What does it mean to "stay the course?"

A quick search of the internet reveals all sorts of thoughts, ideas and writings and they all seem to have one element in common: to finish something in spite of the difficulties. And that pretty well sums up where we are these days.

When news of the pandemic first broke, I was surprised at how quickly people in Santa Fe responded. Those first few days after the Governor announced the first positive test results in the state, driving into work felt a bit like a holiday morning - there was almost no traffic on the roads. That held true for several weeks as people, it seemed, were responding to the request to stay home and limit the size of groups. As time progressed, however, while news of the severity of the crisis continued to grow and the images and stories from other cities and countries flooded in, many people seemed to become complacent. And that's exactly the wrong thing to become. It's one thing to become comfortable with the ways in which we've needed to adapt to our new reality - it's another to let our guard down and think the danger has passed. It hasn't.

The protocols to keep each other safe have kept the number of COVID-19 cases in Santa Fe remarkably low. As of this writing, there have been no deaths in the city. So, our sacrifices seem to be positively affecting our outcomes.

As a community, we're learning things Kitchen Angels volunteers have known all along - wash your hands often and wash them completely. Don't touch your face. Sneeze (or cough) into the crook of your arm. And we're all learning about hand sanitizers. We're wearing face masks as much to protect ourselves as to protect others. These days, wearing a face mask is seen by many as a "badge of honor." It means we're taking the "social contract" that comes with being part of a community to heart.

And that's why it's so important that we continue to do everything we've been doing.
With all the challenges we're facing, I'm reminded of something I learned a long time ago - what happens to us plays far less a role in our happiness and success than our responses. But what does that mean during a pandemic?

To me it means being adaptable. Change is truly the only constant in life. Consequently, flexibility and adaptability are among the most important traits we can develop. COVID-19 has certainly brought that message home. It also means that we can get through challenges and come out even stronger when we don't take things personally or waste time wondering  why me?  

Each of us needs to stay focused and keep our attention on the long-term to help us stay steady in the face of real or potential obstacles. COVID-19 will be with us for a long time, according to the experts. We have to be patient. We can't expect results immediately. We need to accept what we can't change. The one thing we can always control is our own response and attitude. Staying positive, especially when we encounter obstacles and setbacks, helps.

Finally, and I believe most importantly, we have to be tenacious. As the quote from Winston Churchill reminds us, it all comes down to just three words: Never give up.

It has been a humbling time at Kitchen Angels, especially as our sewing brigade continues to present us with the lovingly crafted cloth masks that are critical to keeping our operations going and our clients fed. One memorable gift came from a woman to whom we provided meals last summer as she recovered from surgery. She brought over a package of masks she had made to keep us safe. "A small token of my appreciation for helping me when I was most in need," she told me.

Social distancing, wearing face masks, and limiting our direct physical contact with others will do more than simply protect ourselves - it will help protect our clients and our loved ones, and will help keep our entire community safe. Kitchen Angels volunteers never give up.

In gratitude,
‌
Thank you for your vigilance. We want you to stay safe, healthy and informed.
You may recall that I mentioned several clients in my last update who were being tested for COVID-19. Both clients received negative test results. We are grateful for the good news and even more pleased that our delivery volunteers followed all social distancing protocols to the letter, keeping them safe, no matter the outcome.

We recently learned that the wife of one of our delivery volunteers has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting her results. Our volunteer has stepped away from his duties and is remaining at home with his wife. We hope to hear good news this coming week.

Some volunteers have been worried they may inadvertently carry the virus into their homes through their clothes, their hair or even the newspaper. Here's an article that answers questions about how the virus can and cannot be spread.