April 22, 2020

Rep. Kennedy Op-ed: Coronavirus: Ways to Help

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Coronavirus: Ways to Help

By Rep. Kathy Kennedy

In my last column I talked about sacrifice, acts of kindness and working together to fight the Coronavirus.

Last week, Governor Lamont put out the call urging volunteers from the general public to participate in Connecticut’s COVID-19 response efforts.

The state is asking people to consider taking on a volunteer role in their communities to help respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The state is launching a campaign seeking volunteers from the general public who are needed for other services at many different types of providers, such as food banks, deliveries to the elderly, shelters, and more.

Volunteers from the general public will be matched with a community provider in need. Here are the basics:
Volunteers must be 18 or older, and should not volunteer if at risk or compromised. Those who are immunocompromised, over 60, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or live with or care for someone in any of those categories should avoid being in public, including for volunteer efforts. Please stay safe, stay home.
Volunteers do not need to be health care workers. In addition to calling on physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals who may be retired, the state needs community members to help out at food banks, food deliveries to the elderly, and at shelters in a number of ways.
For those who do have a background in health care, the state’s medical community has specific needs at this time. Hospitals have advised the state that they have a high need for critical care nurses and repository therapists.
Every effort is being made to keep volunteers safe. The state and all of the organizations involved are working hard to make sure that everyone helping out can do so as safely as possible. If any volunteers have concerns, they are strongly urged to ask about the safety protocols of the organization they are volunteering.
Volunteers will be sent where they are most needed and feel most comfortable. The volunteer process is centralized so that the state and participating organizations have a clear picture of everyone who can help, and everything that is needed. That way, volunteers can be matched with an opportunity that is most in need of that person’s skill-set.

Those interested in volunteering should click here for information on how to register.

Also, I am asking that you please join a new grassroots partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven which will distribute the Level 1, FDA approved masks to hospitals, first responders and other frontline emergency workers to combat the Covid-19 virus.

So far, approximately 500,000 of the masks have been distributed throughout Connecticut to protect our emergency workers against this terrible virus. Visit the website to learn more: https://jewishnewhaven.org/masksforheroes

Please pay close attention and exercise additional caution if you have any of the Coronavirus symptoms. Please Stay Home, Stay Safe and help us work together to Save Lives.

As always, please contact me should you have any questions about the coronavirus or concerns on any other issues relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at (800) 842-1423. I do frequently update my State Facebook page and my state website with the latest COVID-19 information.