Bill Leslie: Crisis brings out the best in our neighbors
Thank you for the tremendous response to my story Friday on people doing good deeds in this time of crisis. You showered me with shout-outs. You told me about people exuding calm, compassion and courage while facing the coronavirus emergency.
One of my favorite stories came from Bethany Reeves, the grateful mother of a nearly 4-year old child born with half a heart. Despite a life-saving heart transplant Naomi Reeves remains “severely immune suppressed” and is highly vulnerable to infections. Bethany explained her predicament:
“By the time I had the funds to venture out and buy disinfectant wipes, anti-bacterial spray, and hand sanitizer, there was nothing left on shelves.”
Reeves posted a message about her problem on social media. The response was incredible.
“A dozen families have donated all kinds of cleaning materials in the last two days. Tiny travel bottles of hand sanitizer to economy-sized canisters of cleaning wipes. The majority of donors are people I don't even know. I offer, but no one will accept payment for their gifts,” Bethany wrote.
Empty store shelves left Reeves feeling helpless, but by telling her story and asking for help, she received a powerful response.
“My selfless, compassionate community has given me hope that love still wins,” she wrote.
Bethany says her daughter, Naomi, also gives her hope every day with her spunk and spirit.
“She is as sassy as the day is long!”
Allie Ligay wanted to give a shout-out to Brigitte Specht.
Allie pointed me to Facebook and Brigitte’s Operation-Save-A-Senior promising help to Holly Springs seniors with compromised immune systems.
“I will pick up your meds and your groceries and deliver to your door for the next few weeks until we learn more about this virus,” writes Specht who goes by Brigitte Isles on Facebook.
Laura Barnett’s shout-out goes to Maggie Kane and the staff and volunteers at A Place at the Table in Raleigh. This pay-what-you-can café provides “good food to a vulnerable population.”
Barnett says the Hargett Street restaurant has done “an amazing job” during the crisis.
“They are just as concerned as all of us about the outbreak and are taking precautions, but haven’t slowed down the love one bit. In tough times we see what people are really made of and these folks are the real deal.”
Kimberly Eccles gives a shout-out to Ryland Hunter for raising $6,000 in less than three hours to buy grocery gifts cards for Underwood Elementary students who depend on the meals-at-school program.
Jim Graham thanks CVS workers for offering a formula for making hand sanitizer at home.
Kim Grimm salutes workers at Trader Joe’s in Cary for restocking shelves and patiently answering questions about products in the store.
Senior Director Patti Godin at Safe Haven for Cats gives a shout-out to her volunteers:
“Not one day during this past week have any of our volunteers expressed concern for anyone but our cats and kittens. Every day, they come to clean, counsel adopters, change out litter boxes, and act as amazing ambassadors for our organization.”
Liz George of Durham is overwhelmed with the generosity of her neighbors in Durham:
“I’ve even seen neighbors offering to share toilet paper supplies on neighborhood forums! And many are offering to help one another in any way. In the midst of all this dark, there are many, many examples of our wonderful human spirit.”
Gary Hackenburg offers a shout-out to veteran radio personality Johnny Draper of Halifax County:
“His attitude reminds me that we've been through some bad times in this nation before and we thrived! He was mayor of Weldon, NC, for nearly 40 years, so he's seen it all.”
Principal Eric Betheil of Terrell Lane Middle School in Louisburg gave a shout-out to his teachers for engaging in important conversations.
“The conversations were never ones of panic, but ideas of how we can meet the needs of our students, whether it is through online learning or through other means for those that don't have internet access.”
Tammy Holt may have summed up the situation best by writing:
“In this time when some are letting panic lead them, it's good to see so many others putting out offers to help.”
I will continue to collect heartwarming stories of goodwill emerging from the coronavirus crisis. bleslie@wral.com is my email address. I look forward to hearing from you.
