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FROM ONE HOT ZONE TO ANOTHER We are living in uncertain times. In recent weeks, Rotarians are connecting with family members, club members and our global partners to see how everyone is coping with the COVID-19 virus. We scrutinize our local health department data to see how our own community is doing by charting our virus case-load compared with others in our county – and we follow with fear and trepidation, the progress and devastation caused by this dread disease as it marches around the world. Northeast Illinois has several “hot zone” areas where cases and deaths are proliferating. As we absorbed this alarming news, many of us thought of family members in US hot zones such as New York City, Washington State or elsewhere, friends in Italy, or in some instances, mothers and fathers living in foreign lands also devastated by this disease. Our club members reach out to each other to provide friendship and support. But what about the countries where we have friends, former exchange students and Rotarian friends dealing with the virus with more limited resources? In Pimental, a small community in the Dominican Republic, Rotary provided the gift of literacy over ten years ago – enabling the village children to not only be better prepared to enter school, but to get computer jobs in a nearby larger provincial town – from Rotary grants. Duarte province, in the middle of the country, is one of the country’s highest fatality areas – in a country with poor water access and a kiss as a standard greeting. A local Alderman urged local residents to stay in their homes starting March 25th . “We will work tirelessly for a better Pimental for everyone.” How are your global and local partners doing? |
