2020 Hometown Heroes

Page 168 2020 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 14, 2020 A round our community, we are finding heroes that are working to help diagnose and treat possible cases of corona virus. These are the front line workers of our community and include the doctors and nurses in our local hospital, CNA’s who work in close proximity to patients, those who are caring for our senior populations in assisted living and long term care facilities, the staff at the local health department, our local paramedics, firefighters, and our police officers. While Logan County is going to probably end up being one of the very lucky counties with very few diagnosed cases, and hopefully no deaths, every time one of these workers comes into contact with a patient or would-be patient, it is running through their minds that this is a person who could have the highly contagious disease. Whenever a first responder goes to an accident on the highway, there is a chance that the people in the car could not only be injured but also be infected. Every time a patient comes into the emergency room for whatever reason, there is a chance that the virus could become a factor. For those healthcare workers, and first responders the risk of contracting the virus, and worse yet, the risk of becoming a carrier and spreading the virus has to be heavy on their minds. It has to be a daily stress factor in their lives. For our local businesses, the stress of what is happening to their business during this time of sheltering in place has to also be a big issue. Statistically, some small businesses will not be able to recover from the forced temporary closures of small retailers and reduced capabilities of small family owned restaurants. For area eateries, carry out and delivery is still allowed, and most are depending on that business to keep them going until they can once again open up their dining areas. Community members are being encouraged to continue to support those businesses, but for many of our residents, money has become tighter than ever because they too are not working. In all, this is a recipe for disaster for the local economy. However, there are people in our community who are working to help both our local eateries and our local first responders. And what they are doing is having some remarkable results. In Mount Pulaski, Angie Cyrulik learned about a project called FLAG 2020 that was ongoing in the Decatur area. She considered the project and what it was doing for the Decatur community, and decided that it was a project that could possibly be implemented in Logan County. So she took action, and has been amazed by the local response. FLAG is the “Front Line Appreciation Group.” FLAG 2020 – Lincoln, IL makes a big difference for front line workers and local restaurants COMMUNITY: WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER! CONTINUED u