Gender: Male

Dealing with the Inability to help our Students

Roots and Wings has an after school reading and reading comprehension program in four Title One schools in Delray Beach. We pay for certified teachers in the school, hand-picked by the principals in those schools, to work with these struggling 2nd 3rd grade students in small groups of 10 or less to help them bolster their confidence and improve their reading skills. Many of them need help with phonics. Since school is not in session, we do not have a chance to visit the classrooms and offer encouragement to these children. In many instances, we are the extra person besides their teacher who can give them a high-five for their accomplishments.We are missing that human connection, and we know our students are as well.

LOOKING FOR LIGHT

Hi my name is Darryl Sanders Jr. I am a freelance videographer/photography. I was firstly affected by the closing of venues due to the Corona Virus Outbreak which caused clients to cancel their events therefore forcing me to lose deposits from previously booked event. It has also effected my bookings because no one can have social gatherings for months ahead so i have no source of income to pay my bills at this time. Its also been hard finding groceries and proper sanitation products to keep my environment clean. Also my kids schooling has been effected been effected and i dont feel i could teach them at home as well as they would learn in a class setting. We are just looking forward to all of this getting behind of and going back to our daily lives without fear of leaving our home and contracting a deadly illness.

#dontfreakout

I was already working from home but now my whole family is with me!

We have to take this serious.

Well to be honest I thought it was a joke and didnt take it to serious. But as the time has gone by it has become a very serious. I myself have be impacted by have to now teach at home, as well as have my second job pretty much cutting hours reducing income into my home.

100 Days of Solitude

I wonder how much unlimited data on my phone plan really means. Ever since the beginning of this self-isolation era, I’m sure people have turned to their phones and their home wi-fi to ride this wave of corona virus-related news. I know everyone must be watching their Netflix, having Zoom conferences, virtual classes and virtual happy hours, and calling their people to ask them what they’re doing for the umpteenth time that day. As for me, I didn’t realize until now how crucial my phone has become to staying connected and keeping sane in a moment where staying home is the most responsible thing we can do. I wonder how many people are the same way and if the internet overlords can keep this going for us. Can you imagine if those networks fell? Do we whip out our typewriters and feather quills? Do we start to create to our Hulu comedy specials during dinner time? Worse, how long before people living by themselves start feeling the anxiety caused by confinement? I say we use ham radios again or even cans on very large lengths of strings moving forward. Solutions are endless, I’m sure.It’s a deep rabbit hole to follow when we think about how we became so dependent on the internet. It’s truly a blessing and a curse. While there are so many things going on right now, it’s important to stay optimistic and responsive to our community. So, thank you to all the technicians out there doing what they do and thank you to the invisible cable in the sky for carrying our memes, love letters, funny cat videos, and the smiles our loved people across the way for us.

Starving

I live on a limited income. I ran out of food yesterday after going five days of eating only one meal. I have no money or food stamps. I have no car. The bus is my only transportation. I am considered high risk due to underlying health problems. I have no mask or gloves. I am terrified of going out unprotected. Many of the food pantries have closed or I cannot get to them or there are specific instructions on accessing them which I cannot meet. Example: This link came with a notice of a food pantry that will be open today. You have to have a car, you pull up in line, you cannot get out of your car, when your turn arrives you either open your passenger side window or automatically open your trunk, the food will be handed to you or placed in your trunk, then you drive off. Like I said before, I have no car. I have no family or friends who can help me…

Unemployment shortfalls…

At Macy’s i work on commission… And everyday i must cover my $9.00 an hour draw.. 7 hrs ×9 equals $63 a day that Macys is paying us right now.. I’m one of the lucky ones… That’s $315 minus taxes, fico, and s.s.(at 25 %) equals $227.25 a week… I cannot pay rent food, auto loan, insurance, gas (taking care of mom in Boynton) ,dentist loan, electric, capital 1(when times are tough) and going out( to support our local economy.. Take out etc..)… Made $32,000 in taxable income 1918.. Devided by 50 weeks is $640 per week… Minus taxes etc. Equals $480 after taxes..so there’s a shortfall of $252.75 or approximately $1008 amonth.. Will unemployment insurance cover any of this?

Bryant Park W.P.B.

I live in downtown Lake Worth Beach… I’M SINGLE..SENIOR CITIZEN..AND GENERALLY A VERY POSITIVE PERSON…TAKE CARE OF MY MOM IN BOYNTON WHO’S 92.. LOVE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND LOVE MY LAKE WORTHS BEACHSIDE COMMUNITY… MONEY’S STRESSFUL RIGHT NOW FOR MOST PEOPLE..AS IS THE FEAR OF CONTAMINATION… WE ARE NEAR THE BEACH (JUST A BRIDGE) BUT AREN’T ALOUD TO GO THERE.. I’M A SINGLE SENIOR LIVING ON NOW VERY DIMINISHED RESOURCES OF MONEY..WITH LOANS TAXES ELECTRIC ETC. IN A ONE BEDROOM RENTAL OF ONLY 450 SQ.FT. …I’VE SEEN EVERY MOVIE I OWN .. READ ALOT..FB ALOT.. COOK, CLEAN,FOOD SHOP, WALK OUR EMPTY TOWN..WHICH IS ALL SHUT DOWN EXCEPT FOR TAKE OUT FOOD WHICH I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD..AND HUMAN CONTACTS ARE RARE EXCEPT FOR SOME WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN SOCIAL DISTANCING… SO BASICALLY I ,FRIENDS , AND LOVED ONES BASICALLY ARE GETTING VERY BORED, EMOTIONLESS, SCARED, WORRIED AND GETTING NUMB… HOWEVER NOW THEY’VE ALSO SHUT DOWN A QUAINT AND LOVELY PARK ON THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY… BECAUSE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING… AND IT ANGERS ME THAT THIS ONCE VIBRANT AND QUIRKY TOWN IS NOT ALLOWING THE USE OF THE PARK BECAUSE SOME DON’T FOLLOW THE RULES… IN OTHER WORDS WE’RE ALL SUFFERING LONELINESS AND DEPRESSION FOR THE FEW BREAKING THE RULES… SUGGESTION: HOW LITTLE WILL IT COST TO HAVE VOLUNTEERED POLICING TO MAKE SURE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES ARE FOLLOWED WITH BACK UP OF CALLING POLICE IF THE NEED ARISES? OR BETTER YET HAVE ONE OFFICER IN A PATROL CAR AT OR NEARBY THE PARK JUST TILL SUNDOWN… OR EVEN BETTER LET THE RESTAURANTS STAY OPEN WITH A 10 FT LIMIT BETWEEN CUSTOMERS AND STAFF STRICTLY ENFORCED BY OUR WONDERFUL AND CARING L.W.B. POLICE DEPT.. RULEBREAKERS.. GET SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY…NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS… TOMORROW THEY WILL KNOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR ACTIONS.. ESPECIALLY IF EVERYONE HAD TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY… SOME NOT PAYING THEIR BILLS… WHAT SAY YOU? WHY ARE THE RULE FOLLOWERS ALWAYS GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK? WHICH CREATES MORE ANGER… AND LONELINESS…DEPRESSION… I’VE SEEN IT ALL OVER EVEN IN OUR CITY HALL.. IT’S THE FEELING OF POWERLESSNESS.. NOT THE AGENDA THAT MAKES US WANT TO FIGHT , REBEL, AND USE LAUGUAGE TO DEBASE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING… IT’S DEPRESSION , LONELINESS, FEAR AND NOT BEING LOVED AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHOW AND RECIPROCATE THAT LOVE BACK TO OUR LITTLE DOWNTOWN IN Lake Worth Beach… What say you… Please share… It might be tour last time to share….

Rods Story

The corona virus has impacted my work life. My hours have been cut and my work days have been shortened, I have no money to pay bills.

EJSEJ20 – Trying to stay positive!

This virus and the hysteria that came with it has came and shock up my entire world. This virus has made me stop and look around at all the things that are extremely important and all the things that aren’t. In other words it has given me a better perspective of what I may have been taking for granted. A good thing that it did was remind everyone of how important relationships are and having a sense of community is vital during times like this. Between work and family I am just trying to stay updated and prepared for whatevers next. It has slowed down life for me and but our operations on hold as an organization. This is still relatively new as we are only in our 2nd full week of quarantine and don’t have a end in sight.