from the publisher
We Are All In This Together, Ready To Help One Another . . . No Matter What The Challenge May Be © Can Stock Photo/Nikki24
By Deborah Jones
M
y, how things have changed since our last issue was out! Our March issue was distributed and my team and I were busy working away on the April edition, when bang . . . the coronavirus hit our country, businesses shut down and everyone had to stay home. And rightly so! Over our 22 year history we have overcome many different challenges . . . 9-11 was tough, but we have never faced anything like the COVID-19 pandemic. I am sure it is the same for your business/organization and family as well. As I write this article, I am uncertain when non-essential businesses and organizations in our area will be up and running again. When they are, you will receive this issue in your mailbox — that I do know. And I am also confident the small businesses of our region will be strongly supported even more now by consumers. From our home offices we were doing our part to help the economy in the shutdown period the best way we knew how — profiling small businesses on our website and social media pages. Whereas there were too many hard days (and pretty scary ones at that!) during this crisis, there still were plenty of good news stories. Businesses throughout Essex County were giving back to those who were working to keep us all safe by donating food and pitching in to help seniors buy groceries. Local manufacturers also accepted the challenge to produce hand sanitizers, masks, face shields, and more for the medical profession. To start, I wish to thank all those in the local healthcare industry, along with the police and fire departments, who risk their own personal health to protect ours. From a business standpoint, thank you to the bank/credit union employees and accountants who assisted in financial matters and to the essential workers who ensure we have access to supplies such as groceries, pet food, security and more. Thanks as well to all the politicians doing their best to make sure our employees are paid and for us here, thank you to Canada Post for delivering the cheques in the mail and our magazine.
For the first time our issue will not have our “Dates To Remember” column for obvious reasons, so now in my space I want to mention a special week. How ironic is it that the World Health Organization declared 2020 the year of the nurse and midwife? (refer to: ONA.org) May 11 to 17 was the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) “Nursing Week”. Celebrated during the week of Florence Nightingale’s birthday it is a time to recognize the dedication and achievement of nurses — Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) — and their contribution to the health and well-being of Ontarians. Over 68,000 front-line RNs, RPNs, NPs and health-care professionals, and more than 18,000 nursing student affiliates, work in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics. As a result of the current pandemic, we have all learned how important nurses are in our world.With that said, we need to honour them always, not just in times of crisis. The same goes for many other life necessities like making sure our food banks are stocked, the elderly are looked after and we have enough blood donations on hand for any disaster situations. “Every minute of every day someone in Canada needs blood,” states Marisa Gatfield, Territory Manager, Donor Relations, Canadian Blood Services, 3909 Grand Marais Road East, Windsor, inside the Red Cross building. She adds,“That someone may be a loved one, friend, co-worker, or perhaps even yourself.” In Windsor and Essex County over 2,500 new donors are needed annually. New donors are welcome and encouraged to schedule an appointment to donate blood. If you would like to donate go to: MyAccount.blood.ca/en/eligibility-quiz to answer a few questions first. B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL / M A Y 2 0 2 0
As Gatfield explains, “Blood donations are needed for chemotherapy treatments, trauma victims, cardiac surgeries, and organ transplants — procedures that all routinely take place every day.” Since blood products have a limited shelf life, the demand is constant. New guidelines are in place dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and according to Gatfield, “since our call for support on March 16, we have seen a notable increase in blood donations that has helped maintain the blood inventory in the short term, and we thank donors for their generosity. But this effort is a marathon, not a sprint.” She continues, “We urge donors to book appointments over the next few weeks to help maintain an adequate level of blood and blood products for patients in Canada.” All eligible donors can book an appointment online at: Blood.ca. Please also keep in mind that blood drives are a beautiful way to support, remember, and honour someone very special. They are an opportunity to pay it forward and help others in need. As for monetary donations, there are many local charities in need of your help, since certain fundraising events were not able to take place. Get in touch with your favourite charity to see if you can help. Next, I have one final request. If you are able to make a financial donation to the COVID-19 Global Appeal please log on to: RedCross.ca or you can mail a cheque to the Canadian Red Cross, 3909 Grand Marais Road East, Windsor, N8W 1W9. Donations will be used to enable Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, across the world, to support COVID-19 preparedness, response and recovery efforts. Activities could include risk communication and community engagement, service provision and National Society preparedness. Individuals wishing to become a Red Cross volunteer (they are always looking for new volunteers to assist those in their time of need) can email: vrs@redcross.ca. In closing, never forget, we will get through this. See health updates on: WECHU.org. Stay healthy, everyone!
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