MAK-AIRS

Whatever it takes!

by: Jamie Saunders

Is COVID-19 a natural disaster?  If not, it sure feels like a tornado or earthquake hit all 50 states and the world at the same time. But like a good neighbor[MC1] , Information & Referrals Community Resource Specialists are here to help. Just like every Avenger film I’ve seen there is an army of dedicated[MC2] [S3]  essential workers behind the scenes with a team ready to make sure Captain America saves the day.

I am new to Marvel movies, but my 10 year old daughter makes sure I get caught up before going to see one. It’s my understanding that Avenger: Endgame was the highest grossing Marvel film of all time.  I know you’re like where is this MAC –AIRS blog going? If the coronavirus was a film, it would definitely be Endgame.  I & R’s across the country fearlessly stood behind the directives of the CDC, Health Departments, state and local task forces. Nobody has asked for our autograph, the media hasn’t given front line I & R staff recognition nor [MC4] five seconds [MC5] of fame.

Some of us had the option of working from home and others were going into the office every day because they were essential employees. I don’t know about you but the stress associated with this pandemic made our jobs that much more challenging. Information was fluid, changing from one staff meeting to the next one. It’s normal to have 3 or 4 team meetings in one day. Unlike a natural disaster, we could only use half of the policies and procedures already in place. In the midst of a pandemic we have created new policies, new procedures, tweaked the old ones and kept it moving.

I don’t know about you but right now I am on information overload. We all need a high five…retract that “No touching[MC6] [S7] [S8] ”! We all need a pat on the back…scratch that one too. We all need a sign outside our window or cubical that says, “An Information & Referral community Specialist Hero’s work here or lives here. I long for the day when my 10 year old tells my now 7^th month old granddaughter how her grandma went to work every day during the pandemic THAT hit the entire world. COVID-19 isn’t over by any means, but today I want to give honor to those of us behind the scenes. We held it together under tremendous pressure to help those who were afraid.

Avenger: Endgame brought 11 years of storytelling to a close. My favorite quote from the film takes place in this scene. When their time travel device was perfected and their target timelines to retrieve the Infinity Stones confirmed, Cap decides to give his teammates one last motivational talk before carrying out their mission. Steve Rogers reminds the Avengers of why they are risking their lives on the singular chance that they can to bring their loved ones and the loved ones of the strangers they have sworn to protect back into existence, holding them to the promise that they will go to any means necessary to succeed.   

AIRS Community Resource Specialist we do, “Whatever it takes” – Steve Rogers