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.”

New Normal

The corona virus has caused me to work from home utilizing technology to work and interact with people. Although it’s been nice to be able to work from home, I realize that I am not prepared for a crisis of this magnitude and I am a single person. I went from eating out to buying groceries and eating from home. Being from Florida, you are accustomed to preparing for hurricanes but this takes it to another level. Living in western palm beach county, I am concerned that our communities are not prepared for a health crisis…
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Hardship

Hi, I’m Juanita Hernandez I couldn’t pay my bill this month because I’ve had a hard time since my two sons moved out. They used to help me out but I also became disabled and I cannot work. I have fibsios of the lungs, I’m always in chronic pain. Also, I have a case pending with social security but they haven’t approved me yet. It’s been hard on me and my family. I have a seven year old son, his father died three years ago of cancer and he used to help me out. My older kid’s father also passed…
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Before

Everyday I wake up before I go to work, I have to put on a mask and a pair of gloves. I now carry around hands sanitizer everywhere I go. I keep my distance around other people. This is different than before the virus arrived. I didn’t have to worry about things like this. It is scary.
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#22 SHE IS PETRIFIED

Mrs Lovenia Bea McCray has been living and caring for her Father, Elmore,96. as if he and she are husband and wife. There are times she says that he needs chastising. His panic attacks are severe until she walks in the door from out doing chores…five minutes later he is on the phone laughing and joking to the best of his abilities. Mrs Bea was scheduled to take a trip to Jonesboro,Ga to celebrate the High School graduation of her granddaughter the end of June from Elite Scholars Academy. Her granddaughter,Tamara,attends the #1 ranked High School in Clayton County. Tamara…
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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.
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The IT World in Present Day

Being an individual who has been in the IT industry for a number of years, it is awarding to see how technology is being used to keep the community and businesses going. It is also overwhelming for those in the IT field because their knowledge is the key to keep everything running.
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#61 Stay Home

Ms. Rowe feels as though the Government can do a little more. Doesn’t know where this comes from. Its’ real out here! People are trying to stay home , The streets are deserted,She is a health Care worker. and sees the devastation of this disease.Her advice STAY HOME!
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Family time (Story #765)

Corona has really impacted my life, my mother is out of work the only good thing I get out of it is the time spent with my family
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5

Corona has made an impact on my life and my community , the corona virus is stopping us from having our jobs, getting our money and we’re being stuck inside The corona is hurting us we have loved ones who has pass from the virus
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N/A (Story #416)

The Corona virus crisis make everyone scare of each other, now most people are unemployed with no income and unable to huge my friend and family. I pray that everything most gone so we can go to our normal life
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Bummer

I had plans to move to Michigan to live with my boyfriend but he had to move home and now we are living with family. It’s not fun.
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# 33 Kayleen Is a Neighbor and Maria’s Caregiver with no cost attached

Mrs Maria is a 77 year young widow for nearly 2 years. She is only fluent in Spanish. So, therefore,Kayleen tel# has been given to you for a better understanding. Maria has been affliliated with the CCC for ten years. Her daughter,Yolanda, works full-time. Kayleen is a neighbor and Maria’s caregiver with no cost attached.Mrs Maria slipped and fractured her hip in February.Mrs Maria is doing well with her physical therapist that comes to her home. She is walikng unassisted at times. CDC will bring her healthy meals beginning July 6.Mrs Maria will need assistance with her Electric and Water.
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Living between homes while taking care of family.

I live in a single family home. I had to move my mother in with me due to her lease being up during the covi-19. We have been unable to find a new place for because of the coco-19 which has caused our area to be closed to a number of months. Our Realitor was closed as well as any office businesses for apt complexes. Because I had to move in my mother, I am now living between two homes due to the lack of space in my single family, already over crowded home. My husband stays with his mother…
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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.
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Unexpected

It Has Caused Me Not To Be Able To Work && Not Get Paid
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#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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Let it stop

I can’t believe how long this has been going on. I’m ok I go where I need to. The only thing I really concerned with, is when the open up the beaches again. I just hope that number doesn’t go any higher.
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Oh man this is BADDDDDD!

Coronavirus has truly been a demonic nightmare, not only to the community but for the nation. I have friends who has recently had his father pass away from this man made die-zeez Disease it has made every skeptical, why should we concern about the air we breath when you can’t get NATURAL air anywhere else. The world is trippen. But god isn’t, may he bless you and have mercy.
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# Dinner Time

Coronavirus has made a huge impact on my family, we are spending more time together, eating dinner together etc.
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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.
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2

Covid-19 affected my life by causing me to have a virtual graduation and have my football season end on the wrong foot. Because of this pandemic, I was not working out with my workout partner in the gym. It also scared me of my grand-parents life since they are in the age range.
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COVID – 19

Due to the COVID-19 my last day of work was March 13th, it’s been tough because my bills haven’t stopped. But thankfully I’ve made it through, and I’ve been able to survive.
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How Coronavirus Impacted My Life

The Coronavirus has impacted my life in multiple ways. My daily activities as modified. I have to take precaution everywhere and with everyone. My work life and family life has changed. They way we shop has changed. I no longer eat out or visit places with large crowds. My business has even taken a impact. My daughter is a high school senior and her senior year has been ruined, no Grad Night, Prom and possibly graduation may not take place. The lines at the stores are long and many of them are out of supplies and its difficult to obtain…
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#FIGHTAGAINSTCORONA

They way corona virus has impacted my life is by making it hard to purchase things to put in my household for my brothers and sisters to eat.
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4 (Story #131)

The corona virus has put an impact on everyone’s life losing loved ones , losing jobs and money The corona virus made it bad for me, my job cut my hours short less money more problems
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Pros and Cons

Corona has had a positive and negative impact on my life. Negatively because of the loss of income, positively because it allowed me to reach out to my love ones more often and show my concerns
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Corona Epidemic

The Corona virus has impacted my life by not being able to work; I have no income which is causing anxiety and depression.
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Covid-19 (Story #943)

I Carmela Herrera, have gone through a hard situation. I am 65 years old I live by myself I was in the process of moving out because I cant afford to pay the rent where I live. Unfortunately I was infected with the virus back in June. I was very sick and was hospitalized for almost 3 weeks. I was connected to the oxygen the whole time. After 3 weeks I was released. I couldn’t work, I had to stay home for another 3 weeks before I was to start working. I am behind in my bills, and need some…
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9542001803

They are a lot of people with out job, food they need help please
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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…
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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.
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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.
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Covid-19 (Story #939)

Fidelina FloresHi, I’m 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…
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A Sad Situation But God is In Control

I can’t work. I was furloughed off of both jobs. I basically have don’t any income. I have no applied for unemployment because people have said it was too hectic and a waste. I don’t like standing in food lines. It’s been an entire change. Cant go to work, you can’t see your grandkids. I miss my friends! Everyone is tense but I’m learning to cope and live with things I thought I needed like hair and nails. There are people doing worse. I’m doing my best to help out my neighbors. Someone at my church had the virus and…
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Be aware

The way Corona virus is has affected my life is the last past month been very difficult because there’s nothing really open and you can’t really do anything.We pretty much are barricading indoors and I haven’t had anyone close to me affected with it but there are people out there who are and we need to take a situation like this very serious. We should actually listen to what they are telling us about washing your hands, stay indoors and wear a mask when you’re going out.
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007

Coronavirus continues to impact my life due to the schools being closed down, as well as the colleges. I am an Academic Tutor as well as an Afterschool Counselor, when the schools closed down the pay stopped due to not clocking in as I would before the pandemic. It’s hard to get help with online courses for me because I have multiple questions that I feel need face to face answers, but I still try to do it to my best ability because this is what I have to work with for now. It sucks because you never realize how…
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#forcefulcoronavirus

Not only has the coronavirus forced people to stay in their homes but it also led to many people losing work and not being able to pay their bills. I hope that everyone gets the money that they were promised by trump. I also hope that people find more ways to work from home because the more cases the harder it becomes to cure.
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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.
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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…
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IT’S NOT EASY #2

It has isolated me. Serious breathing problems,asthma,COPD,congestive heart failure and a nerve condition with hands diagnosed as CRPS. If I was deemed positive for the virus,I probably would not live and thst brings tears to my eyes. I am use to going out 3-4 times a week to the grocery store to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables due to a special diet that has been recommended. The grocery stores are now considered to be the wrong places to go! I have recommended her to FSF which will deliver fresh fruit and veggies to her door as well…
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Ruined

Corona really sucked and it’s keeping my family out of work and me away from football I feel like my life is ruined.
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Unidentified

I work in assisted living facility as a dining services manager. I had flu like symptoms but was forced to stay home for two weeks without pay because of the threat of coronavirus. I am still grappling the effects of not working for two weeks.
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Blessing in disguise

Corona virus almost helped me more than hurt me, I get to heal my body but it really hurt everyone else. I am a student athlete so I needed the rest and it give me time to work on things that I lack, hopefully we catch a break with all of this
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What love Is?

The coronavirus has made me appreciate how valuable life is. Never before this generation experience a global pandemic of this magnitude. We can’t take for granted the seriousness of is situation we are in. To see health workers risk their lives to save others is truly a real expression of love. It must affect them emotionally, pysocologically as well as the fear,concern and anxiety it causes their family. The story of the Doctor facing a custody battle to keep her child in her life is heartbreaking. Yet she is willing to still put forth the effort to help others.
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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;…
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Lockdown

It is very tiresome to have to stay isolated. It’s also scary to think I may catch the virus.
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Self Reflection

During this pandemic situation this has impacted my life because now I look at life a little different now I don’t take things for granted and it has given me a whole new prospective on . I has increased my prayer life and i spend more time reading God’s word and talking to my family and loving on them more. Trying to tell people that I love them. Just taking time to reflect on life and self gratification.
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