Seeing the Silver Lining in a Storm

Good Deeds Abound in a Local Neighborhood

Story by Hannah Hanlon

In early 2020, most people had probably never heard of the word “coronavirus.” Now it’s a part of our daily vernacular with hashtag slogans such as #stayathome and #socialdistancing being used millions of times.

People locally and globally quickly learned how to adapt to new norms that they may never have thought they’d have to adjust to: wearing N95 masks to go out for essential items, for instance. That is, if an N95 mask is available and not sold out.

Some local residents have noticed this need and felt the call to action.

Since the shelter-in-place orders, individuals and communities have been finding ways to support each other. Such an exemplary spirit is found in The Hunt Club neighborhood where individuals are doing what they can, whether it be by organizing teacher parades, making handcrafted cards and scrapbooks to thank essential workers, or encouraging neighbors to put teddy bears in their windows to uplift the spirits of children.

Some have been spearheading charitable organizations to make masks for frontline workers, while others are contributing what they can by individual efforts—even getting their children involved to help.

Christy Bush, a cabinet maker for a local aerospace company, has enjoyed seeing the acts of positivity and goodwill spread throughout the community and so have her kids.

“One of our kids did some mosaic chalk art on the sidewalk with some inspirational quotes,” says Bush, as she bakes homemade bread and jars pickles. “And the kids are also helping me to make masks.”

Bush’s family lives in Mississippi, on the border of Louisiana, where cases have rapidly increased. And she’s very concerned for good reason—she has three generations of family living there, one of whom is 95 years old.

“My side of the family is very small,” says Bush. “There’s very few of us left. And this has been giving me nightmares.”

She started making masks initially for her family and friends, and then she continued to make masks to give to healthcare workers, neighbors, and co-workers.

“So far, I have made over 200 masks,” says Bush. “At least I feel like I’m giving something…doing something.”

From left to right: Megan Williams, Tera Jones, and Brandice Hughes

Bush believes that the only way people department, hospitals, doctors, food time to gain back some things that were can combat this is if they work together as businesses,” says Jones. “It’s incredible.” becoming lost. a team. “We can’t be selfish. We can’t think It would be easy to be overwhelmed One of the things that was lost was only of our own individual needs.” and terrified by the storm of negativity clean air—it now seems clearer with

It could be said that this is a real object surrounding us but with every storm, there increasingly blue skies. Marine water is lesson in why communities invested in are always the silver linings to look for. becoming cleaner. The carbon footprint is mutual aid are needed in addition to “We’re always going to see the being reduced. The air feels a little cooler. dependence on top-down government. If negatives, no matter where you go, but Christy Bush says her husband, people were in the habit of behaving in the I try to search out the positives,” says Michael, was able to be even more best interests of others, many wouldn’t be Christy Bush. “We’re spending more time productive when working from home, and finding themselves between a rock and a together as family. This is the time for she has talked with other people who have hard place. families to connect.” remarked about the same thing.

Tera Jones, founder of Crafting for a It has been a time for going back to the “Companies are growing, but keeping Cause—Low Country, an people home is keeping organization which makes people safe,” Bush says. and donates masks to frontline workers, believes “We’re always going to see the “This is another side of opportunity.” this wholeheartedly. “It seems like it should negatives, no matter where you go, This is also an opportunity to take a be our civic duty to do this and not ask people to pay for but I try to search out the positives. ” unified effort of thinking about others on a more them,” says Jones. “People global scale. are out there risking their “We need to think about own health, and we shouldn’t be charging basics. Cooking more at home. Canning the other people around us,” says Bush. them for that.” goods, jarring pickles, baking bread. Going This is certainly a moment in history

Jones started the charitable back to the way it was with our parents that many have never experienced, and organization in early January 2020 in and our grandparents. Some of us may be most will never forget in their lifetimes. response to the fires that were happening more dependent than ever on technology— When reflecting on such watershed in Australia, which compelled people to especially if your day job now has you moments, the generations after will ask: make bags to help the animals. She was working remotely from home—but try to “Where were you at during this time?” inspired when she saw this community of take some time to learn from the land. Put Perhaps the more important question people around the world coming together. up a jar of jam or make a pot of soup. Or to ask is: “What did you do during this

“I saw that in our area and thought you know—maybe learn how to make a time?” n “Let’s keep this going—there’s always protective mask for vulnerable ones and going to be a need for something.” Jones and her organization of volunteers have made around 7,000 masks so far, as well as stuffed animals for essential workers. These are skills that we can learn and teach kids. This is the time to do it. This is how we can get stronger as individuals, LEARN MORE about Crafting for a Cause-Low Country and Meals for Medical on their facebook pages. children. “We’ve donated to the sheriff’s as families, as communities. This is the

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7/4: July 4th Kick Off Party 11:00 am - 3:00 pm • 155 Traders Way, Pooler, GA Humane Society for Greater Savannah and AT&T hosts 4th of July Kick off Celebration with food trucks, photobooths, bean bag tosses, live music, raffles and adorable dogs for adoption!

7/17: Fresh Express 2020 Begins at 9:30 am Curtis V. Cooper, 106 E. Broad St, Savannah, GA West Broad Street YMCA, 1110 May St, Savannah, GA YMCA of Coastal Georgia hosts a free produce distribution event where families will be served one bag of fresh produce in a drivethru distribution until produce is gone.

7/24-7/26: Savannah Tattoo Expo Fri.-Sun: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Savannah Convention Center Tattoo Frontier hosts Savannah Tattoo Expo Surf, Sun and INK! Tattoo artists from around the world will be displaying their art along with offering piercings and tattoos.

7/29: Christmas in July 10:00 am - 2:00 pm • Children’s Museum of Pooler Bring the kids to Christmas in July at Children’s Museum of Pooler for a visit from Santa, Christmas scavenger hunt, snow sensory bins, Christmas sweater decorating, building igloos made of marshmallows and the chance to launch snowballs into the air.

7/31-8/2: Monster Truck Summer Nationals 2020 Fri & Sat: 6:00 am - 11:00 pm • Sun: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Oglethorpe Speedway Park • 200 Jesup Rd, Pooler, GA 31322 Come watch the most famous monster trucks compete in the wheelie contest, donut contest, long jump, drag racing and free style! There will be monster truck rides available throughout the show and VIP sections are offered! Rain or shine.

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30 31 8/1: Children’s Clothing Exchange 10:00 am – noon • West Chatham YMCA in Pooler Bring children’s clothes, books, toys, etc. for donation and then shop the donations. No donation is required to shop the donations.

8/21: Fresh Express 2020 Begins at 9:30 am Curtis V. Cooper, 106 E. Broad St, Savannah, GA West Broad Street YMCA, 1110 May St, Savannah, GA YMCA of Coastal Georgia hosts a free produce distribution event where families will be served one bag of fresh produce in a drivethru distribution until produce is gone.

Find more events and happenings at PoolerMagazine.com. To submit your events to the calendar, email Addie@JDelSURMarketing.com.

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