It's time to say thank you to the many who are the most vulnerable and exposed.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

I was thinking that during this moment when we're all dealing with our individual fears relating to this public health crisis, it's time to express gratitude to those who must carry on every day just to help maintain our basic existence.

All public service people are vulnerable now. My thoughts go out to all those who serve.

Just thinking of a few.....

* Doctors, nurses, therapists, lab techs, healthcare facility cleaning/delivery/maintenance folks, office receptionists and in-home care providers.
* Police and commercial/government facility security personnel including TSA.
* Firefighters, EMS and medivac people.
* Teachers and administrators in our schools, colleges and universities.
* Volunteers in hospitals, schools and nursing homes.
* Workers in public health maintenance facilities such as rehab and dialysis centers and even fitness gyms.
* Public transportation employees on buses, trains, cabs and aircraft, including cleaning and maintenance personnel.
* Public delivery services: USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. Our mail delivery guys will still be touching surfaces in millions of homes each day.
* Public service and maintenance workers: Cleaning, HVAC and other repair/installation people.
* Retail store clerks, managers and those who stock and maintain our retail spaces.
* Restaurant and fast food workers, especially waiters and order/pickup window personnel.
* People who work in homeless shelters, recovery and treatment centers.
* Clergy and employees of churches, mosques and synagogues.

Never hurts to just say "thank you for your service" to any of those folks.

All of these people have increased risks to exposure to infection compared to those of us who have the choice to stay home.

Let's also remember that organizations depending on voluntary contributions may become financially strapped and might have to close down if we all don't pony up a bit more to help due to reduced attendance. For example, I thought of the thousands of AA and NA meetings and volunteer organizations around the nation that must pay monthly rent.

KY..........

[calimary]

1. This should get a thousand recs.

Thanks for posting this, KY_EnviroGuy!

They literally put their lives on the line.

[Duppers]

3. Indeed! nt

[Duppers]

2. K & R & R

Thank you. Some folks need to be reminded.

[KT2000]

4. Yes!

So many who cannot work from home but have to remain on the job. I worry for them.

[Sherman A1]

5. K&R

[Fla Dem]

6. Yes, we will be up the creek if a large percentage of our service industry workers become ill.

I am especially concerned for medical practitioners and other healthcare workers in extended care facilities, hospitals, clinics etc.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

7. They surely must be going through phenomenal stress....

not just worrying about their own potential exposure but mostly about carrying it and passing it on to patients and/or their own family members and friends.

Just within my direct family, I'm very concerned about my daughter the 5th grade teacher and my son who is still taking classes in college.

So, reflecting just on the worry here in my little group, I just cannot imagine what they're going through.....