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.”
Is this the New Normal?
As a working parent of a grade school age child and caregiver of an elderly mother I have experienced a increased amount of mental, emotional, and financial stress during the COVID-19 situation. I’m trying to find new ways to establish a routine that feels normal and make sure that everyone’s needs are met. Carving out a time to attend to work responsibilities at home while having a child at home and engaging him in meaningful activities is a challenge. Also, making sure that my mother is kept medically safe by limiting visitors and stress triggers is a task. I don’t…
COVID-19 Changes
I have a pre-existing health condition that effects my lungs, so I had to move back to my hometown to adjust my ability to control my exposure. In doing so, I had to continue paying for an apartment I could not use, and I had to leave my job because it was no longer safe for me to work and I was not given a remote work option. I also had to repurchase items such as clothing and textbooks because I did not think that I would be away from my apartment for months when I originally left.
Don’t Take the Little thing for granted.
The days are just not the same. You think you have time to do it all but when something like this hits, you wonder what have I been doing with my time. The Corona Virus has impacted me in ways that are simple but yet so meaningful at this time. The little things that I take for granted like going to the grocery store or dropping by to get a bite to eat is now obsolete. Social distancing from my family and friends have been the worst. I can’t even see my mom like I want right now for the…
#NEEDHELP
The way COVID-19 has impacted me is by not having needs or goods to feed my family.
We need a solution
The corona virus has put me out of work and now Im home with my bad kids. But this is a really scary time for the world and we need to act and find a solution quick
#8
I never thought that I would have to be in protective gear like gloves,facial covering to run to the grocery to pick-up a few items and to come home an cautiously take off all the clothing you wore to the grocery store and disinfect your car, home and more importantly your body after arriving back from the grocery or any place else. This is like a nightmare that could have been avoided by all leaders agreeing to freeze the movement of its people in a timely manner.
Corona virus please dont take more from me
Im not able to be available to the people I serve in the community . Not being able to visit my father because hes elderly is disappointing and saddening. My first grandchild will be born soon and theres a great possibility that I wont be able to be there. My youngest son graduated from boot camp in the US Army and I couldn’t attend. This virus keeps taking the highlights of my life away from me.
The Least of These From the Fields to Detention Centers
So many of us are utterly consumed with fear and our personal prospects for escaping the contagion of the Corona virus. As we stoke our own anxieties, while we shelter in place, there is precious little else to occupy our thoughts except when this will all be over, and when can we return to some sense of normalcy. It’s human nature I suppose, but these musings will make the leap from self absorption to people in our society who are strangers in more ways than one to us. They live and work among us. Many are integral to our survival;…
Ruinings
The corona virus had ruined everything literally. I cant work because my job is closed, I feel like the corona will change the world forever and we need to do some thing quick
Oh well
Im happy this virus happened lol Im sorry about the fatalities but I didnt want to be at school and I dont really hang around with my teammates, t the virus is the last thing were worried about now as we can see
My friends story
She is moving slow, and I don’t get it. She tells people her business and she doesn’t come outside anymore and there is no air and her house. I am telling her if she is sick she needs fresh air even if she doesn’t wanna spread the virus.
#12
It is so much arguing in our Government,just too much bickering for our Country to come to any definite decision much sooner as to how to get the American people SAFE, It has taken weeks and weeks to get us where we need to be,,,As a result many have died with the Government carelessly handling our LIVES. I,myself have been,so to speak quarantined for years due to 4 strokes. But,I get along fine. My daughter brings be whatever I need and handles my bills,
The new norm
Its required me work remotely full-time. Im truly understanding the importance of being technologically knowledgeable and adaptable. Being able to change with the time is important.
The New Regular
The coronavirus has extremely impacted my life. From the beginning, it changed how I, and the entire world, interact with one another in public and at home, but as things got more serious and the threat grew so did our lives. I had to move off campus, and was suddenly taking classes online, this made it so much harder to stay tuned into the lectures and participate. I lost my job temporarily for 2 months. I worked as a receptionist at my family’s salon, and with it closing my dad was also out of a job for those 2 months…
Social Distancing, Telecommuting and learning new virtual platforms/skills
I have been practicing social distancing and telecommuting for about 6 weeks now. I have learned new skills and tried virtual programs I had never used before to continue work with my colleagues and participate in virtual meetings via Zoom, Microscoft Teams, and Amazon Chime. I have not gone to visit my parents that are elderly in Orlando to not put them in risk. I do miss them, but we have been able to keep in touch via calls and Zoom/Facetime. These are uncertain times… it’s hard to plan large meetings and events not knowing what things will be like…
A little help
I just need a little bit of food
Break
I like the break the virus has created. Yet I do miss football but Im glad we got this break so i can just vibe
Handling adversity as a start up non-profit
Covid-19 has been a tough on All Nets Inc, we were just beginning to gain traction with our tutoring and mentoring program, and a week into our pilot Palm Beach County Schools began school closures. This immediately put our basketball clinic and celebration with Healthier Glades risk and set us up for a much more strife when it was officially cancelled. Months of planning and preparation were reduced to nothing. We are trying to stay positive, and find ways to still complete our mission, and still looking at ways in which we can build a tutoring and mentoring program that…
Stress
Its impacted my life alot. I work from home now. I fear for my childrens and my health everyday. I fear our residents and employees will be affected in a negative way. A lot of stress
# Renee’s Quarantine Chronicles
It has really impacted my life because not only am I a full-time high school teacher, I’m a mom of 2. Since being home all day and working full time, I have also become my son’s 8th grade teacher, my 3-year old’s preschool teacher, the cafeteria lady, the guidance counselor, and the janitor. These are all things I do regularly, but it wasn’t ALL day 24/7. It has made me worry about myself or anyone in my family catching the Corona Virus and how devastated I would be if that happened. However, On a positive note, it has allowed…
Surviving corona
Coronavirus has impacted my life in so many ways. Like having to work from home & only working 20 hrs a week.
College life
Im in college and the corona virus has sent me back home closing campus. I lost my job on campus and now has to depend on my parents. Also the college students dont qualify for the stimulus checks for some reason.
Growth
It has allowed me to better myself physically mentally and spiritually.
Family Survival during Rona-19
I came to GA from FL to find and purchase a home on 3/4. I am living with my daughter, son in law, granddaughters & visually impaired great great grandson. I am in awe at the team we have become. We game plan on our needs of mask, disinfections, toilet tissue, food, walks, essential errands and entertainment.
#god is good
I be having these body problems cuz all this weed I be smokin. Since the corona virus came they let my a** off so.. you know what that means. I got so high (he went on for an hour straight then he told me he has a disability he has seizures and then he started talking about god )
High school
How this corona virus impacted my life it impacted my life cause it stoped the education that I needed I would never feel to see how it feel to walk on a high school graduation stage I would never even feel successful about high school because the virus took Track & field away from me
I WAS A DRUM MAJOR
The virus has alot of fear in it, You just do not know who has it and who doesn’t have it. I have never been exposed to fear on this level. The only thing I feared was the 25 yd dash as a runner in high school. Other than that,I ran the 50 and 100 yd dash with ease. The leaders have done all they can to help prevent the spread of this frightening virus, But it is the people who do not care that are not following the rules set forth by our local,state lawmakers. I was a drum…
#21 Hope Keeps Us Moving’
This pandemic has made me grateful for the technology in our lives Today! The ability to text ,face time and message at a more matured age has certainly been a blessing. This may encourage more Seniors to become more technical at least with their phones.. I have been able to stay in communication with my 99 yr old Mother in an assisted living facility in Colorado. We.all understand, that there is no entering nursing/assisted living facilities at this time. He would like to one day show gratitude to those essential workers in grocery stores,banks ,restaurants and nursing homes who…
Community (Story #666)
Coronavirus has put a outbreak on the whole entire world coronavirus is called mini restaurants shops companies stores to shut down or even close at a certain amount of time life has been heavy quarantining quarantine has been the right way to go out and proceed to stay away from catching a virus I truly believe that many people are not quarantined in the right way theyre not listening if theres not a virus he spread it as a community we should all come together if I find a solution to knock down a coronavirus cases
Covid-19 (Story #939)
Fidelina FloresHi, Im Fidelina Flores I was forced to stop working on March 18th due to the covid-19 outbreak. I have three kids, an 11 month old an 8 year old and an 18 year old. I used to work at a restaurant called Las Flores. After a couple of months of staying home I was able to go back to work, but only for one day. My employment income decreased drastically leaving me and my family in a very hard financial situation. My husband also got his work hours reduced. He is working just three days a week because…
#Corona kills jobs
The coronavirus has greatly affected me in my job. I work in a fast food restaurant Mcdonalds and the side effect of corona is customers are no longer coming to purchase food. So therefore my hours were cut short.5 to 2 days and I still get sent home because of few customers
A New Beginning from The Seemingly End
My mom works in the medical/health field. She goes to private residences everyday and she was over on Palm Beach and she went to see a patient. There are different protocols for people with and without corona diagnosis. She was made aware that neither the patient of her husband had tested positive for it and that they only had pneumonia. She felt fine at first and didn’t think anything of it but the next morning we got a call informing us we were to remain in quarantine for 3 weeks and get tested twice as both the patient and her…
God Truly Provides
I lost my job, my kids and I are home during the day but my husband is an essential worker. We have not been without.
Corona (Story #655)
Coronavirus has any impact in my community a lot shops stores restaurants has been closed things are starting to open it slowly but they still going back a lot a bit cases work
# Dinner Time
Coronavirus has made a huge impact on my family, we are spending more time together, eating dinner together etc.
#40 I gave her flowers while she was living:
She is adhering to the ordinances of the land. However, She has osteoporosis and she is a former business owner, She has always been recognized as the first African-American florist in Boynton Beach. She has lost a friend of 52 yers to the Covid19, she has fond memories of her , She plans to name a garden in her memory. She also named others who have died from this PANDEMIC and attend her church.She is a
#47
This is terrible at my age (81 yrs old). Our national leader spent a month talking about it was a democratic hoax. We miss our meals because that was only time we went out. We got food today at the Mall. from FSF
Regular
My life hasnt changed at all really. Other than not being at school, I still do the same thing i would if there wasnt a virus, maybe it is because im not very social
#39 What are we going to do?
He and his wife have lost 3 family members to this pandemic (one in Guyana & 2 In New York).They are asking themselves What are we going to do about getting food? I suggested that they contact Helping Hands in Boynton Beach for USDA pick-up.Their adult children are bringing in the grocery and yaking care of all responsibilities of the household.The Husband cut his hand and on top of that has encountered a Heart triple by-pass surgery. So,He must adhere to the Covid19 regulations.
Impact of COVID-19
Because of the corona virus my wife can not go to work. we feel very stress because we don’t know who has the virus and who doesn’t have it. I am trying to stay away from group of people as much as i can. I am even scare to go to the grocery store. We can not to to church. The kids are at home and the want to eat every minutes, so the food doesn’t last.
Mother prayers
Hello my name is Rita brown Smith the virus impacted my mother funeral with no family could come see her laid so beautiful to rest as she fought for her life 97 years on this earth lord knows I miss my mother
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.
Taking this in stride
Well, like everyone else, it hasn’t been easy, however, I feel that I’m blessed. My husband and I are both able to work from home and my family is healthy. What more can I ask for? We have all the essentials, I love being in my home. Life is good.
Self
My immediate family has been impacted financially across the board. As of yet, we have not suffered any sickness from the pandemic. I really miss seeing and hugging family members. We video chat frequently but its nowhere near the same. My hours were greatly affected at my job. And because of the uncertainty of when I would work next, I had to scurry around to come up with another solution to try and stay afloat money wise . That, along with being a full time mother of a 7 year old with autism who I now have to…
Kid-anecdotes
I have been working from home due to the work schedule change with the pandemic. I have a friend who is a single mom, with 3 small children. Mom has not been able to get her wifi service connected and her 3 elementary school children were unable to participate in the virtual classroom setting or get their school work done on time. Mom also had the opportunity to work during those 2 days. I offered to help her for 2 days while she fixed her issue with comcast. In those 2 days I learned so much from…
Single Mother Struggle during COVID19
I have been out of work and unable to pay my bills on time as I also have a hard time feeding myself and my 6 year old son who is also in school remotely.
Wow
The virus impacted my life with me going to college early to experience college football but instead we was sent home for nothing
Good and Bad
Covid-19 made a significant impact on my life by having all the stores rise the price on good. I am unemployed and since there are high demands on hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox disinfecting wipes, Lysol disinfectant spray, and masks, I am unable to provide as much safety for my family. Customers/consumers are not allowed to go into stores or get served if we do not have a mask on, which sucks because I sometimes forget to bring my mask with me every time I need to go out for groceries or accessories. Its also negative because I…
Pandemic (Story #214)
With the whole pandemic going on i been in the house trying to stay safe. Ive been watching the news and see everything thats going on in my community and its crazy to see something like this.
#9 SHE DOESN’T sOCIALIZE
Juanita Marshall grew up in Delray Beach and moved to Boynton Beach appx. 5 years ago. She appears to have missed her belated Mother enormously. She has two sons that live with her . One son,Chris has been diagnosed with a mental health diagnosis. He oldest son, Todd ,has gotten a full-time with WM after he worked faithfully for years at a temp agency. This has helped lessen the families financial burdens. It was years ago, that we assisted this family with furnishings,towels and bed sheets after they were infested with bedbugs. The bedbugs started as, Chris,the younger son,…
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