COVID-19 Project Story Collection

Residents were asked to “tell a story about how the coronavirus has impacted your life.” Explore 50 responses below, selected at random. Which responses capture your attention? (Some responses were transcribed by youth volunteers.) To learn more about the storyteller and how they interpreted their response, click “Zoom In.”

Death in the family

Today I feel totally heartbroken. My neighbor informed me that his daughter died from the virus. We had just talked about her a few weeks ago after he told me that his daughter had it. The last time that he talked to his daughter, she told him that she was ok and not to come to visit yet. I swear this virus doesn’t discriminate. She died as a result of caring for others with the virus in the hospital that she has worked in for more than 20 years. She followed the 14 day protocol…
Zoom In

Not sure where It comes from

Paula was born and raised in Boynton Beach 63 years ago.on July 6….It is so ironic that her youngest grandchild was a born on this very same day almost 3 years ago. Paula believes that everyone should be tested. My sister and her daughter have been hospitalized for the virus.It is a sad situation because my sister has just be approved to become a kidney transplant recipient.Not sure,if this virus is man-made or where it comes from and how many actually have it.Paula ahs been referred to CDC Faith Based for Electric bill assistance.
Zoom In

Hope

Corona virus has helped me more than hurt me, my body gets to heal I’ve had a lingering shoulder injury so now I get to let that heal. I am sad that I can’t be at school around all my teammates and friends but I hope we get a cure and they don’t cancel the football season nor push it back
Zoom In

#4 Man Has Failed Us

Man has failed us. God’s will must be done. I have never heard of so many dying in our Community as with this mess,the corona virus, it has taken a neighbor of over 40 years and that is unthinkable for me. We have raised children together enjoyed each other’s birthday and special times together. Life has changed greatly by wearing these uncomfortable mask,gloves. I will be celebrating 85 years of living eight(8) days from now with noone to share it with. I enjoy doing and going places. And cooking for those less fortunate to have a meal especially this…
Zoom In

My child has the virus and lives out of state

I just found out that my son who works at a hospital in Pennsylvania has contracted the COVID-19 virus and has been in the hospital for a week. The cane season just ended and I want to go and check on my son. He tells me that he is doing fine and not to come. I am so scared for my son but I am grateful that I can still talk to him.
Zoom In

Strange times

While in this pandemic i have lost my job and been at home every-since. I currently the stimulus check and is in no need. I just hope everyone is staying healthy and safe.
Zoom In

# 27

Mr Percival Rowe is a 80 year old native of Jamaica. He and his wife Vinnette(59) live in a modest apartment in a hotspot in Boynton Beach. Mr Rowe says that the pandemic He doesn’t know if there will ever be a cure to this.Mr Rowe and Mrs Rowe still work for a living.i will take facial coverings by their residence.Any assistance given would be appreciated!
Zoom In

Grandchildren education

My grandchildren are now taking online classes but my daughter is an essential worker she’s a care giver and while she’s working i have my grandchildren the education online is not really hands on so i don’t think it’s really benefiting my grandchildren
Zoom In

I don’t have a code, but I heard about this by word of mouth.

To whom it may concern, being a senior citizen with medical disability, the corona virus has impacted my life in many ways. It has affected my not being able to get out to go to the pharmacy to get my medication, going to the grocery store to purchase my food and most of all affecting my mental ability worries of catching the virus. My prayer is that the government, and county official, and the people that are in position, to help the people will do the right thing and be fair with helping all that needs the help. Thank you…
Zoom In

Stay safe (Story #230)

With the whole pandemic going on right now there’s nothing we can do about it. So i just hope everyone is staying healthy and safe in this strange time in life.
Zoom In

Together Always

My wife, daughter and I spend more time together than ever. Reason being, is that we work together and now with the cancellation of school, my daughter spends the days at work with us. The coronavirus pandemic has not been all bad.
Zoom In

# 38 Mrs Green Says She Is Doing Her

Mrs Clara Green has been widowed for 35 years young. She has a vibrancy that will knock you off your feet! Mrs Green says that she is Doing Her at 76 years young! The Leadership opened the community too soon. And things are getting worse. Just take a look at Boynton beach a designated HOTSPOT!My advice is the Leadership should have allowed things to cool down.It is keeping the death toll on the rise.She has acquired a brand new lexus and she hasn’t driven it far at all, call her for a ride!Mrs Green has been widowed 35 years.
Zoom In

My Story (Story #945)

This is the story about how my family and I have been affected by covid-19. On July 15, 2020 my wife Carmen Rodriguez, and I Roberto Martinez became sick. We were having high fever, muscular pain, loss of appetite and sense of smell. My wife was getting worst, I had to take her to the emergency room. On July 21, 2020. The doctors diagnosed pneumonia in her left lung and lack of oxygen. The doctors started a treatment on her. Since we do not have any type of health insurance we are drowning in debt. I have been using my…
Zoom In

Keeping Faith, Adapting and Balancing

The CORVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the route of my family’s daily activities. In order to keep our family and community safe from the coronavirus, we’ve had to be receptive and adapt. I’m a single working mom with three children (1, 5, and 8) and I’m an MBA graduate student. Initially, the lifestyle changes were very overwhelming and challenging. In the beginning stages of the pandemic, my family experienced a death in the family. There was concern for the funeral arrangements due to the coronavirus. On the day of the funeral, the executive order of ten…
Zoom In

Limited (Story #840)

The only thing changed is not being able to see my Dad side of the family as much as I use to. I live with my mom and my dad lives 1 hour away. I use to go every weekend but now they both are scared for me to travel with the fear of contracting the virus.
Zoom In

Society is down bad

Brought me closer to the fam, I get to work on all my skills a little more, corona really isn’t what I’m thinking about about tho because racial injustice is much more important
Zoom In

Work or Kids?

I’m home with my kids a lot, trying to work and keep them on a schedule that’s close to what they would do at school. It’s really hard to do work and pay attention to the kids and I find myself getting really short and unpleasant, yelling a lot. It’s hard to let go of what I want to accomplish at work but I can’t do both and the priority should be me being present with my kids.
Zoom In

Trying to be still with the virus

The corona virus has impacted my life in many ways:1. I was supposed to have surgery on April 22,2020 to help repair my vision, but it was postponed.2. My daughter now has to do therapy sessions at home with masks on.3. I am also not able to work because due to risk of being infected or infecting my client.4. My family is also affected by the corona virus because everyone is feeling overwhelmed.
Zoom In

Not that bad

Corona has given me time to work on my game and the things I lacked, haven’t really affected me negatively besides not being in school
Zoom In

Challenging

The Corona virus keeping from joining correctional academy I want to join so it’s holding me back and I’m little scared coming out my house everyday knowing my life at risk.
Zoom In

Ruinings

The corona virus had ruined everything literally. I can’t work because my job is closed, I feel like the corona will change the world forever and we need to do some thing quick
Zoom In

community

Coronavirus has taken a toll on my community stores have been closed for over a month now things are looking bad my community has been on the news with a high coronavirus case within a small community I feel as if that we are not quarantine in the right way and we are taking it for a vintage the government need to seize another we are quarantining in my community I think we should all come together as one and discuss how can we get over this coronavirus and the glaze
Zoom In

No Schooling

Now I focus only football, cause i don’t have any classes. If there wasn’t Covid, I’ll prolly be in summer school right.
Zoom In

Bad virus

By impacting my education also playing football doing what I do and love best
Zoom In

Our COVID 19 Journey

The Corona Virus certainly has affected my life in so many ways.As it has every one in the world.Our family life has changed dramatically. I am not able to visit my adult children and their families for family dinner,or celebrate my children’s April birthdays. I like to play with the grandkidor just spend time with them.Now wectalk more on the phone , provide calls.Our family was not able to have a family dinner for Easter.We have also discontinued going to church weekly, we do virtual service or Conference calls.I attend a weekly Bible Study classes each Wednesday morning we…
Zoom In

#5 Laws Of The Community

Must adhere to the laws of this viral pandemic, not only are our Communities in which we live are in crisis but our world is in pandemonium. Due to health issue,I have been in what some call quarantined for 2 years. But this has affected my neighbors from visiting and my physical therapy regimen on a weekly basis. Because,I suffer from a stroke. I hear of elders in the neighborhood and childhood acquaintances dying from this Communities of the world epidemic. Our national leader is so busy trying to become re-elected, he has not recognized the need to become…
Zoom In

Bigger than corona

The corona virus made me miss my college senior graduation which really sucks, but I feel as if there are way bigger problems in the world today .. hopefully we get a cure for all of this but the main problem is injustice
Zoom In

# 13 Her Frony Needs A Make-Over It is dangerous to walk over!

Mrs Dowdell just celebrated her 86 birthday on May 19th. She was elated to have a parade of phone calls from her Church in honor of her birthday! Mrs Carmetta lives alone and has for over 20 years. Long ago,she buried her husband and son.She has a niece who lives in Virginia that she can go live with at any time but shy away. Her niece earnestly adores her Aunt. Mrs Dowdell contributed to her receiving a Law Degree. Every August,she travels to Canada to visit her two sisters (78 yrs & 77 yrs), brother(85 yrs) and Grandson. But…
Zoom In

#31 It’s Very sad

She has been at home for appx 2 mos. .Her 61 yr old daughter supplies all her earthly needs.She has custody of her 17 yr old granddaughter,who is a teen Mom (18 mos old) and her 16 yr old grandson, Their Mother died when they were young children. She has buried a husband and now is 74 yrs of age. Her thoughts on the Corona Virus are that It is very sad.
Zoom In

Prayers

This virus has been nothing but trouble. It seems like i can’t get nothing right in life at the moment. But i’ll keep on praying and have faith it’s going to get better
Zoom In

The end of the world (Story #415)

I’m a diabetic person I’m very scared but in the mane of Jesus this virus will go far away from me and my family. Now I seating every day no work no money , this virus arrives like Bigger storm No time to do nothing and save anything my biggest problem i got bill to pay .
Zoom In

10 (Story #64)

The coronavirus have infected my life a lot I am very depressed I do the crossing guard for the school and I’m not getting paid and only the teachers getting paid they say we going to go by April 15th but that’s no guarantee because I’m I got a very good feeling it’s only a month left for school to May 30th so they probably not going to even go back I don’t know how I’m going to pay my next bill I don’t know what the next time you coming from because most of the crossing guards get pensions…
Zoom In

#27 This is the last Place I Thought The Virus Would Spread

Because it is recommended that she stay in place due to high risk symptoms. She says that her illnesse has limited her movement for years. Isolation has been her issue. However, she would take a trip to the closet Nursing facility to visit her Mother. Now, she speaks to her Mother by phone only. I suggested that she call the facility to inquire if the virus has spread there. She has had a list of her church members succumb to the virus. She named them one by one. This is the last place, I thought the virus would spread!
Zoom In

Worst. Spring. Break. Ever.

Friday, March 13, 2020. The rumors are flying. Ironically, it’s the students who tell me that school is cancelled. It hit the Twitter feed and spread like wildfire. Seriously, the students told me a good five minutes before the announcement came over the loudspeaker. I’ve been on lockdown at home since March 13, 2020, when we were told by our administration to grab what we needed to work from home and leave campus. I haven’t been back. The transition to online learning has been fairly smooth for me, as our school was part…
Zoom In

Quarantine Chronicles: More Isolated & Domesticated Than Ever

I’ve been practicing social distancing and working from home for 3 weeks, and it’s been a tricky transition. My husband still leaves the house to work every weekday, so I’ve become responsible for our young daughter’s distance learning. I’m struggling to find a rhythm for working from home, giving my daughter and husband the attention they need, and doing more cooking and cleaning than I usually do. I’ve never been this domestic! And I haven’t yet figured out a way to carve out time and space to take care of myself personally. It’s a strange place to be…feeling both more…
Zoom In

COVID-19 in the City by the Sea

May,20202020 had begun so happily as all New Year’s do! A two week visit with our daughter and one year old granddaughter had been a joy! February birthday celebrations , Valentine love and of course intense Black History remembrances! Whispers of a deadly virus in China had caught my attention from the MSNBC news coverage since mid January. But that was somewhere else for someone else to be concerned with. In passing, I asked my daughter to be careful going through the airports from Md. on February 2 with my granddaughter because of a new virus outbreak amongst travelers.As…
Zoom In

#68

Ms A, is a 91 yr old lady that has some issues sy=tll from the death of her boyfriend of many years.She misses him dearly. She says ,the thought of our nations being caught up in these perilous times is ashame.She rides around the confines of her complex only.She recieves meals from FSF,
Zoom In

Corona vs Humans

The Coronavirus Have Impacted My Life While I Was In College. Coronavirus Has Stopped My From Going To College For The Following Spring Semester. It Also Stopped Me From Running Track My First Year Of College. After They Sent Us Home It Was Hard To Find A Job. I Couldn’t Pay For My Phone Bill. I Couldn’t Workout With Friends Without Being Protected Because You Never Know Who Has It. Coronavirus Separated Me From My Friends And Family. It Has Cancelled All Vacation Plans I Wanted To Go To And Still Want To Go.
Zoom In

Bored in da house

It is very challenging, it seems like we’re in the same the same day everyday. My social life has decrease.
Zoom In

Cherishing Life of Yesterday While Living The New Norm

My oldest living relative is my Great Aunt Eleanor who is 104. She has seen so much in her life. Her mom had a sister in the early 1900’s who died from the Spanish Flu and her father and sister also had this. The doctor told her mom that she could only save one and that the baby would die. Thankfully the baby (my grandmother) survived. Eleanor still lives independently and is normally very capable, however recently she fell and broke her wrist and ribs. After coming out of rehab she needed help at…
Zoom In

Living for my sister

post covid my sister was incarcerated and left her 4 kids out in the world im a braider so business got slow and unfortunately I caught covid19 still while tryin to maintain n care for my nieces and nephews things got really hard but couldn’t loose hope and through prayer and family help we made it threw.
Zoom In

Times call for buying a Gun

Through the year, I’ve been thinking about my home, safety, unrest, what I would do if someone broke in at night. I hadn’t shot or owned a gun in over 20 years but went to a concealed carry course the other day and am looking for a gun to put in a safe place in the house only I can access in case the worst happens.
Zoom In

The disaster of coronavirus

It has canceled my graduation, grad bash, prom. Instead of going to school, we have to do virtual school. I can’t go outside as usual, I can’t go anywhere unless I’m wearing a mask, and staying 6 feet apart from people. Every object or anything I touch I need to wash my hands
Zoom In

Grieving Alone

My father passed away on March 31 of heart failure. He was alone in the hospital room when he should have been surrounded by family. By the time the hospital called my mom to tell her he was not going to make it, it was too late. She arrived at the hospital 10 minutes after he passed. We should have all gathered at our parents’ home and held each other and grieved. Instead, we stood 6 ft. away from our mother on her porch while she sat there and cried.
Zoom In

# 39 SHE IS A GRADUATE OF FCC IN COSMETOLOGY

Ms. Kayleen Marti lives in Boynton Beach. She is 37 years old. Kayleen has a 2 year old son. He is very active.Ms Marti takes care of her older her neighbors.Kayleen is a graduate of FCC in cosmetology. She hasn’t taken the licensed yet.Ms Marti says she doesn’t have adequate childcare.She earns extra money by cleaning others homes on Monday and Friday. Ms Marti is very conscientious of the pandemic and she pratice social distancing.Kayleen Marti needs assistance with her ELECTRIC and WATER.
Zoom In

The Coronavirus Journey

Being tested POSITIVE for the coronavirus is a grueling journey.The protocol for this outcome was isolation in my room for at least two full weeks. After that, I would have to be tested until I received two consecutive NEGATIVE results before I could return to the workplace. My room is upstairs and no one was allowed to entire without a mask and gloves on. The sources of nutrition were left at the bottom of the stairs for me, and once I was finishd eating, the dishes were put back on the stairs for removal. I felt like a leper. Slowly,…
Zoom In

Home-schooled

Do school from home for students is a bit different for some kids because they are used to being at school physically. Teachers contact their students through google meet or google zoom on the computers that they have at home or the school computers that their school has given them. The students get their assignments every week from every-single class. Some classes give a little bit of work and others give a lot of work. The students still have deadlines to turn in their assignments. Most classes have attendance, but they use different types of attendance, like interesting questions for…
Zoom In

#56 I Have fished every Saturday

This has had a terrible impact on my employment,Seniors that I have worked with closely, fishing and comraderie.My employment has been hampered in such times and maybe that’s a calling for my retirementI dedicated my employment to enhance the life of our local Senior Citizens physically,socially and mentally.Fishing is the most enjoyable hobby I have. And I am not able to fish. I have fished every Saturday for years. I.myself. have lost relatives to this horrible virus.
Zoom In

Refresh the page to see another random set of stories or view stories by date.