Because we see you. 

 

Team members are responding to the pandemic.

 

Bowie, MD: Ms. Ann limited her outings to essential trips like grocery shopping and doctor appointments. She is the caregiver for her brother-in-law who is in end-stage heart failure and lives with her. Staying healthy for him is critical. She's been very intentional with checking in on loved ones by phone and text more regularly than ever before. Ms. Ann's social media provides information and brings smiles and she hopes that it helps in a small way. She sent a payment and tip to her hairstylist via Cash App just to let her know that she was thinking of her and appreciates her. Small acts of kindness can change the whole world. On April 12th 2020, Ms. Ann lost her grandaunt, Maude Anderson, who lived for 100 years. She is grateful for her life. Mrs. Anderson was an AMAZING woman. The family has no idea when or how funeral services will be held as funeral homes have a very long waiting list and only 10 family members can attend her service.

 

Because he sees us.

 

Bria, Central African Republic (CAR): from the midst of a conflict zone, Ali worries about the impact of the virus on the CIT team as he sees the rapid increase in cases and deaths around the world. So far, Bria has not been touched by the pandemic. He holds CIT in his prayers and calls us with encouragement, providing us with support and hope. Walters Samah, Vice-President of CIT's Board of Directors, manages a virtual platform to support our francophone colleagues in Central Africa with up-to-date COVID information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because she sees you.

 

Delhi, India: Ms. Kenu Agarwal, KAICIID International Fellow, Interim Secretary of Communities in Transition's Board of Directors and District President Sanskar Bharti lit candles and diyas with her family and community as a symbol of solidarity and with a hope to save Humanity from this pandemic. On an appeal by Prime Minister of India Mr. Narender Modi the entire nation lit diyas, candles and torches on 5 April 2020 at 9pm for 9 minutes as a symbol of unity. The electric lights were switched off at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because I listen to you.

 

Alexandria, VA: Jacki Wilson is wondering if it counts that she brought her elderly in-laws a dozen eggs, a bottle of oyster sauce, and a case of wine? Just waving to them then having to leave. They are both 84 years old. Her mother-in-law had most of her leg amputated at around age 17 when she had a case of bone cancer. She's been on crutches ever since. They normally have dinner with them every Friday night and last week we made food together via Zoom due to social distancing. They have 7 children and 18 grandchildren, many in this area, so they have other people besides Jacki dropping things on their porch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because I see you.

 

Washington, DC: Linda Bishai is not feeling particularly virtuous. She would love to bake and share but is worried it may be too risky for older neighbors, or run errands but everyone seems to be self-sufficient. She decided on making deliveries to her neighborhood Blessings Box (a food pantry for those who need it). She started to include chocolate along with soup, pasta, etc. She sees it as her little contribution to making life a bit more bearable in this time that requires us to be somehow anti-human (against all our evolved instincts). Linda is thinking about donating blood for the American Red Cross. She is otherwise also checking-in with friends and family and trying to make sure everyone is well.

 

Because I see you.

 

Baltimore, MD: As infections rates in Maryland increased, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) hospital began running out of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their doctors and nurses. Nathalie Al-Zyoud responded to JHU's call for volunteers to help make face shields and masks for their frontline workers. They opened up a warehouse and set up tables each 6" appart so volunteers could cut foam and others could glue plastic shields onto them and package them with pouches and facemaks to send to those in need of PPE. Nathalie packed and distributed food at the Maryland Food Bank. She helped Mariah Pratt Bonkowski, founder of Parts of Peace pack hygiene products to be delivered to families in Baltimore. In support of a collegue with an incarcerated family member, Nathalie participated in phone banks organized by SURJ asking for decaceration and requesting that governors grant clemency to inmates, increase health standards in prison and that inmates infected with Covid-19 be taken to the hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because he feels you.

 

New York, NY: Tarek is transporting bodies into the freezer trailers of a hospital in Flushing, New York, and releasing them to the funeral home vehicles.

 

 

To all the frontline workers 

sacrificing for us, thank you!

#humanitystrong

 

 

----

 

CIT response: access CIT's Virtual Problem-Solving (VPS) offering here.