Adjusting to a new reality, albeit for a limited amount of time is different for all those who call the Eastern Bay of Plenty home. Understanding how this health crisis is affecting whanau and seniors, youth and immuno-compromised high risk individuals, business owners, farmers and food producers and essential health workers has been the task of our Foundation. Without those conversations and touch points with different sectors within our community, our experience could only relate to what we know and experience in our own 'bubble'.
It has been a humbling excersize, as people have opened up and shared their experiences as front line mediators dealing with domestic violence, volunteers keeping our food banks open and stocked, health care workers who daily keep our seniors clean and cared for, teachers anxious about the fate of children in confinement in households that don't function well at the best of times and those who co-ordinate care for those dealing with a cancer diagnosis. We have spoken to those in rural areas, as well as those in towns, and in care facilities.
The government response to fund areas of need across the country has been swift, we are indeed fortunate to have this essential back-stop, however as the alert levels change and winter takes hold, the long term effects of this pandemic, and the fall-out in terms of job losses, loss of export markets, lack of tourists visiting, along with businesses who have to close, will be far reaching. The contacts made and information gathered during this lock down phase will be extremely vital in order to make good recommendations for grants into areas most affected.
We have already worked with the Tindall & Acorn Foundations in securing some emergency response funding into the areas of highest needs across our region. Certainly in the months ahead, rebuilding the resilience in our community in a 'post covid-19' environment will be challenging for us all. Working together on practical and positive solutions will be the key.
Our Vital Impact Fund will accept donations to assist in reducing the extra stress experienced by those in our region, associated with Covid-19.
