6 minute read
Feature Called to Act
TO ACT
The coronavirus shutdown has had a lot of people living different lives than they did before. Throughout the closures, we’ve been collecting the stories of people who have stepped in and stepped up, doing new things in the name of the greater good during this crisis. Here are some of these locals’ stories.
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The frontline health care workers of St. Charles
More than 20 nurses who work at St. Charles Bend—and are part of the Oregon Nurses Association—gathered on the lawn by the hospital last week for this shot. Source photographer Megan Baker said both the social distancing requirement and facemasks made for a challenging shoot, but the nurses’ strong gazes and determined postures say it all.
Renee Ruiz, a labor representative for Bend and Prineville nurses, organized the photo. David Hilderbrand was in the shot: he’s the ONA Chair for SCB, and in an April Source story, offered an insider’s perspective into what it’s like to work on the intubation team with COVID-19-positive patients during the pandemic.
The photo features nurses that work everywhere from the St. Charles Family Birthing Center team to those in the Emergency Department and Operating Room. - Photos by Megan Baker
Janet Llerandi Gonzalez
Janet Llerandi Gonzalez is the founder of Mecca Bend, an online directory assistance program for the Latinx Community of Central Oregon, aimed at helping advance Latinx people and integrating them into the wider Central Oregon community. Undocumented individuals have been left out of federal economic recovery assistance programs—but not only that, any residents or U.S. citizens who live with undocumented individuals have also been disqualified from receiving federal aid. Seeing the need for financial support, Llerandi and Mecca Bend, with the support of Embrace Bend, organized the Central Oregon COVID-19 Mutual Aid Relief Fund, offering cash benefits to those left out of support programs.
“The backbone of Central Oregon’s economy is the undocumented workers that continue to be pushed to the margins by discrimination and further exploitation,” Llerandi told the Source. “The so-called ‘undocumented’ immigrants have paid over $13 billion annually since 2015 to this nation’s economy through an individual taxpayer’s identification number. As the daughter of immigrant parents, I took this responsibility upon myself to advocate for my community, and be a strong voice for changing the systems of oppression.” Find out more at meccabend.com. - Photo by Megan Baker
Ashley and Patrick Neptune
Ashley Neptune and her son, Patrick, have spent weeks delivering food to the local unhoused population, collecting cans in order to pay for the food—but also accepting donations. - Photo by Caitlin Eddolls
Michelle Camburn
Michelle Camburn is a crisis worker in “regular” times, so during the pandemic, she’s offered free, 30-minute emotional support phone sessions from her home for those in need. - Photo by Caitlin Eddolls
During our print shutdown, the Source published two online stories about these three powerhouses, who emerged from their regular lives to lead an enthusiastic group of thousands of DIY mask makers in Central Oregon and beyond. Laura Wang, Timothy Gorbold and Elisa Rebecca Melton teamed up after finding one another on the Pandemic Partners Bend Facebook group, working together to create the Central Oregon Emergency Mask Makers Facebook group, which included over 3,500 members by May. The group brought together people with will and skills with people who could get things done; from making masks, group members went on to make gowns, caps and even 3D printed shields, with the support of local orthodontists, including Dr. Brian Rosenzwieg and Dr. Blair Struble. After the Emergency Mask Makers group made over 31,000 masks and 831 face shields, ensuring that St. Charles Health System workers had ample back-up personal protective equipment, Wang, Gorbold and Melton declared “mission accomplished,” turning the effort over to the many local pros who are now supplying masks to anyone and everyone who wants them. - Photos by Megan Baker Continued on p. 11
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Loretta Cummings and Jean Jones
During WWII, Loretta Cummings was the classic “Rosie the Riveter” character, working as a ship welder. During the recent crisis, Cummings and her daughter, Jean Jones, stepped in to help, teaming up to make masks as part of the Central Oregon Emergency Mask Makers Facebook group. - Photos by Caitlin Eddolls
Morgan Schmidt
Founder of Pandemic Partners Bend
Suffice to say that the Pandemic Partners Bend Facebook group is the place to go to get help or give it in Central Oregon. While many organizations and businesses have stepped up to offer resources during the COVID-19 shutdown, Pandemic Partners Bend, with nearly 12,000 members since it was started just two months ago, has been among the most active. Started by Morgan Schmidt, a pastor at First Presbyterian Church, people can go on the site to offer everything from people food to dog food to help training youngsters with sick family members to cook. Pictured at left are Carrie and Isaac Sidak, members of Pandemic Partners Bend who made masks to help out.- Photo, right, by Aaron Sadik & above,
courtesy First Presbyterian Church of Bend
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