A painted white sign with red lettering is fixed to a tree outside Sandy Rogers' Eastview Road home offering a “thank you” to frontline workers.
Sandy Rogers is grateful he hasn’t had to work through the pandemic, risking potential exposure to COVID-19, and he wants the world to know he’s thankful for all those who have kept society running.
He doesn’t mean just doctors, nurses, police and others traditionally thought of being on the frontline, he explained, but grocery store workers, bank employees, bus drivers and many others.
“I’m just glad I’m retired. I don’t have to deal with this because I don’t have to worry about a paycheque,” he said. “I don’t know if I would have wanted to do it.”
Pandemic challenges are individual, but the circumstances are shared. That, experts agree, has inspired a greater understanding of the hardship of others and the empathy within communities.
“I think that everyone feeling vulnerable has really brought out people’s compassion quite a lot,” said Western University sociology professor Rachel Margolis. “I hope that there are real parts of this gratitude that will be more permanent.
Glenna Banda is the executive director for United Way of Guelph Wellington Dufferin, an organization that relies on the goodwill and gratitude of others to support thousands of those needing a hand in our community.
“From a mental health perspective, I’ve heard it said that COVID was sort of the great equalizer in that it affects us all. Previously, as with other issues, we thought about it as other peoples’ problems,” added Banda. “I feel that there is an increased sense of empathy and desire to give back with individuals.”
Indications of this gratitude can be found all around us. From the painted rock garden in front of Guelph General Hospital and “thank you” bumper stickers on vehicles to the thousands of dollars in donations and thousands of volunteer hours people have given.
And signs like those displayed by Rogers.
“I think it’s really wonderful,” said Margolis. “I think we’ve had to find new ways to show different groups in our community that we appreciate them.”
There’s no question that many charities have struggled during the pandemic, and continue to do so. Donations are down, demand is up and volunteerism is limited, both because many volunteers are retired seniors who are at greater risk of serious effects from COVID-19 so they’re limiting their interactions, and physical distancing requirements mean fewer volunteers can get gather to do their work.
The Ontario Non-Profit Network says 20 per cent of non-profit organizations could be forced to close in 2021 as they face a collective $90 million in financial loses while demand is up 40 per cent.
Many local events switched to an online format, which allowed them to go ahead, with limited fundraising success. However, this forced change has started non-profits down the path to finding their way and developing a strategy moving forward.
For charities and non-profits that haven’t been able to make the technological and infrastructural steps needed to create or enhance their online presence, the pandemic has exposed the need and the gap in resources required to make it happen.
This, Banda notes, is a good thing because it puts a spotlight on issues that need to be addressed and, ideally, inspires change.
“Everyone did as best as they could, but I think that a lot of the reasons why the non-profit sector is struggling is because we haven’t smartly invested in the infrastructure and operations in the first place,” she said, explaining the focus is often on meeting the day-to-day delivery of services.
“We can’t go through something like this again, starting from where we started from. We’ve recognized where there are cracks that need to be filled.”
But it’s not all doom and gloom in Banda’s eyes. Because of the increased societal interest in supporting one another, she has hope for things to come.
“There’s a lot more focus on community and desire to give back. From a community perspective, there is more awareness (of needs),” she said. “I think people are more interested in learning and understanding the needs of their community.
“What’s really challenging is how to connect with those people and having to change how we do (fundraising).”
It can be difficult to make personal connections with established or prospective donors because a vast array of traditional fundraising events have had to be cancelled in the past 10 months. There were no galas, in-person auctions or other functions that allow that one-on-one personal connection that’s often needed, Banda explained.
“There are still a lot of people who are able to give and are wanting to give, but it’s challenging for us to make it happen.”
Though many in the sector were already aware, the pandemic has also shown the public the low-income and high-stress nature of non-profit work on employees at non-profit organizations.
“I definitely do feel hopeful. I think that we have learned a lot,” Banda said. “I think people understanding more and valuing the frontline role of the sector. I would hope that there’s the same sort of value from government and individuals and businesses to the non-profit sector.”
That would be a real bonus of the pandemic if people were keeping more of their money in the community and more of their attention on these local problems, agreed Margolis.
Another reason for optimism is the rise in what Banda calls “grassroots giving” – people ensuring their neighbours, friends and others who may be struggling or unable to venture into stores due to health concerns have groceries and other necessities.
“Which is great because that’s all achieving the same purpose of what we’re here to do,” she said on non-profit service providers.
“That’s one thing that I hope stays after the pandemic, that we’re more aware of who is living around us,” commented Margolis. “I think we’ve seen a lot of good things coming out of family members helping each other and neighbours helping each other. I hope this sticks after people can go back to work and school.”
Of course the pandemic isn’t over and while a vaccine has started to roll out, healthcare officials have suggested it will be months before it’s available to the general public and could be next fall before everyone who wants to be inoculated has been.
In the meantime, Margolis encourages everyone to keep that attitude of gratitude growing.
“I think the most important way that we can show people we appreciate them is by wearing our masks and social distancing,” she said. “That’s really the most important way that we are supporting frontline workers, by keeping people out of hospitals and ambulances.”
Rogers agrees there’s a greater level of gratitude and understanding in the community in light of the pandemic and hopes his sign inspires others to proclaim their appreciation as well.
“We’ve never lived through this before. Nobody has,” he added. “I just want everybody to be calm, cool and just stay relaxed.”
The series:
Monday, Part 1: 'I need the community willing to be vaccinated'
Tuesday, Part 2: The economy learns to adjust
Wednesday, Part 3: Rural issues, rural response
Thursday, Part 4: From stunned compliance to hope
Friday, Part 5: Hopefully a gentler, kinder place
