November 2020
Gratitude is an Action, Not a Feeling
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, a day dedicated to being grateful. Even though it’s 2020, we can still count our blessings…and we really should. Taking time to recount our blessings is therapeutic and good for our mental health. Don’t listen to the gloomy Gus’ that tells us there is nothing to be thankful for this year. Even in loss, we can find things for which we can be thankful if we try.

The Thanksgiving holiday likely conjures up memories of family and feasts and football. There is nothing wrong with having those warm, fuzzy feelings. Hopefully, we spend some time feeling thankful for the things our lives include.

But thankfulness should not just be a feeling. I liken it to receiving a gift but not sending a thank-you card. You may like and appreciate the gift but unless you take the time to appreciate the person that sacrificed on your behalf, you have not really demonstrated gratefulness. Expressing gratitude to those that have chosen to bless us in some way should be our goal.

Perhaps I am splitting hairs when I make a distinction between thankfulness and gratitude. The word thankful is defined as being “pleased and relieved.” That sounds pretty good. But again, those are just feelings and feelings fade. To be grateful is to “show appreciation of kindness.” There is the difference. Being thankful is a feeling whereas being grateful is an action.

Gratitude requires us to stay aware of the role of others in our lives. This is different from the momentary nature of the act of a mere ‘thank you’ or feeling thankful one day of the year. Through gratitude, we get to make a sense of our lives and learn to credit our loved ones with the appreciation they deserve.

The key is keeping gratitude at the forefront of our lives. It’s not just thinking about how thankful we are to have all that we have. It’s about living out that gratitude through the simple things we do every day. Gratitude is actually the manifestation of love towards those who mean the most to you and to those that have sacrificed on our behalf.

As we head into this year’s best holiday, many are experiencing all sorts of loss stemming from COVID-19. Perhaps we are missing our family and friends. Let us focus our gratitude on those that we can as we reflect on our memories. Nonetheless, if possible, let’s initiate blessings on others and make sharing our heartfelt gratitude our mission.
November 30, 2020 COVID-19 Report
Comparing case counts from Friday, November 27 to today, November 30: 
  • The United States of America case count increased from 12,927,917 to 13,441,503 (+ 3.97 percent).
  • Today, the State of Kansas case count increased 2.89 percent, from 153,021 to 157,446. 
  • In Sedgwick County, case counts increased from 22,843 to 23,822 (+ 4.29 percent). 
 
The SCHD Mobile Outreach Team will provide no-cost COVID-19 testing for symptomatic residents, contacts of COVID-19 positive people, or people in certain high-risk professions on the dates listed below.  
  • Tuesday, December 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at YMCA Farha Sport Center, 3405 S. Meridian Ave, Wichita
  • Thursday, December 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at University United Methodist Church, 2220 N. Yale, Wichita
  • Friday, December 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pathways Church, 18800 W. Kellogg Drive, Goddard
 
Visit www.sedgwickcounty.org for additional information about COVID-19 including testing information, funding resources, and data. 
Take a New Look at COVID-19 Data
Sedgwick County residents can explore local COVID-19 data through a new website with weekly information. Find it by clicking “Exploring COVID-19 Data” on the County’s homepage, www.sedgwickcounty.org.

The StoryMap includes graphs and explanations of the COVID-19 metrics and other data, including new COVID-19 cases by week, case and testing rates by ZIP code, and exposure and cluster information. The Other Statistics section includes case rate by age and month, and aggregate school data.
County Seeking Community Interest of COVID-19 Vaccine
Residents in south-central Kansas, including Sedgwick County, are asked to complete an anonymous survey to estimate how many people will get a COVID-19 vaccine. Take the five to ten-minute online survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCKCOVID19

Survey responses will help the Sedgwick County Health Department plan for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and information.

The Health Department partnered with KU School of Medicine – Wichita to create the survey. Regional and county-specific results will be analyzed by the KU School of Medicine – Wichita. Visit the Sedgwick County COVID-19 Vaccine Information page for more information as it becomes available. 
Team Justice Seeking Community Feedback
The Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board (Team Justice) is seeking feedback from the community regarding juvenile programs/services that are needed to help youth be successful. The deadline to take the survey is December 22, 2020.
New Initiative Launches to Retain Local Workforce
If you or someone you know has been laid off, there are resources for finding a job and training opportunities in the Wichita region at GetTrainedGetPaid.com. You can find local job openings, training programs, career assistance and discover how to get money for school. Sedgwick County collaborated with local partners on this campaign to keep and support our community’s affected workforce. Visit GetTrainedGetPaid.com today.
Bulky Waste Coupons Expire Soon
Residents who received a Bulky Waste coupon have until December 15 to use it.

Contact Commissioner Jim Howell: 
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203