Guest column: Keep caring for one another during stay-at-home extension
We are living in unprecedented times. The deadly coronavirus has taken its toll on lives, businesses and the daily routines of many. People who have face-to-face public contact are adjusting to a new normal of wearing face coverings and keeping a safe social distance. Those who are not working are perhaps pulled into different roles to help affected family members.
We are proud of how Moses Lake residents are stepping up and caring for one another. We appreciate how you are looking out for your family, friends and neighbors. Reducing the number of people who are out in public helps lessen the spread of the virus. Showing relatives the technology that is available to them via video conferencing and online shopping options are just a few ways to do so.
Thank you for your hard work as you face new challenges. Health care workers on the front lines are making great sacrifices to keep us healthy. Many people are unemployed or living on less as businesses make tough decisions. Families are juggling home schooling duties with work as Washington’s schools have closed for the rest of the school year. It is not an easy time by any means.
We cannot give up the fight. While it is difficult we must continue to social distance and stay home except when it is absolutely necessary to obtain emergency health care and buy groceries, gas and prescriptions. The lives of the most vulnerable depend on your choices today.
Keep encouraging and supporting one another during the coming days and weeks ahead. One local example is seen in the efforts of 13-year-old Ryan Hays, a Frontier Middle School eighth-grader. Ryan’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy”-themed artwork graces the windows of McDougall Insurance in downtown Moses Lake and can be seen on the city’s Facebook page. Her chalk drawings were recently featured in the Columbia Basin Herald newspaper.
Ryan is an inspiration to us all during a time when we need it the most. Thank you to Ryan and the countless others who are inspiring others and sacrificing for our city, state and country.
We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. Your efforts are valued and appreciated.
From the beginning of this outbreak, the City of Moses Lake has taken every precaution to keep our essential services going and has put practices into place to stay healthy. While our buildings are closed, our employees are utilizing shifts to stay healthy so services can still be provided. We are having virtual public meetings, which have been very effective, and we welcome participation! Finally, we are making difficult decisions like closing playgrounds and the skate park because we have observed that social distancing is not occurring. We simply have to do the best that we can in these remaining weeks!
As a city, we are also working with our partners at Grant County to allocate funds out to help those most in need, our homeless populations. Our city hopes to be providing programs through a contractor in the near future. For those with access to supplies, our first responders have to use disinfectant after every transport and supplies are running low. We would love some help in this area.
Thank you to the Country Fabrics store in Moses Lake for providing the city with 50 masks for our returning employees. This is yet another example of how the community is pulling together during a time of crisis.
And as we work to come out of this, the city will be embarking on a visioning process to spark reinvestment in our community in a time of change. We ask that you stay tuned with us to help us create our path to move forward.
To all: Stay home! Stay safe!
David Curnel is the mayor of Moses Lake. Allison Williams is the Moses Lake city manager.
