We are a people enveloped by disruption and confusion. We find ourselves physically isolated from those we work with, and perhaps from those we love. Financial hardship has fallen upon many and is around the corner for others. Some have fallen ill. We all lack clarity on what will happen next.

Still, as I think about those tremendous challenges, I am also grateful for our community. We are a strong, wise, compassionate people, and we have proven time and again that we can persevere, accomplish great things, and exceed the expectations of others. We are the envy of other communities for our collaboration, our spirit, and our willingness to help one another.

So, in this day of pandemic, we are, as always, in this together.

That, of course, means something different for each of us. At the Journal, we are working hard to provide you with the business news you need to make decisions, just as we have for 34 years and through a host of community and economic challenges. Many of our staff are now working remotely. We are relying more today on technology to perform tasks we would normally do shoulder to shoulder in our office. We have solid plans in place to publish our newspaper and provide daily reporting through our digital products. Our staff members are impressing me daily by their passion.

But this message isn’t about us.

I have also been captivated by community organizations that are bringing business and government leaders together to work through problems and support each other during this time. Our schools are thinking not just about how to protect and educate students, but also about welfare. Emergency services have communicated well. Our health care providers have shown calm strength. Innovia, United Way, and others are stepping up to fund new safety nets for our most vulnerable. People are showing kindness at a time when it’s so easy to demonstrate impatience or anger.

Yet my greatest concern right now is for small businesses. Some will not survive this crisis. Most exposed are those whose operations have been curtailed by mandate, including restaurants, bars, beauty salons, and others. 

I realize our ability to help is limited, but I would encourage each of us to be innovative in finding ways to give them our business, whether through take-out meals, gift cards, or other means. Do not take for granted that your beloved vendors and retailers will be there once this virus is beaten down.

Last week, I wondered out loud how many businesses shared my opinion that our community is strong and resourceful and would pull together. So, I asked our account executives to contact some of their clients to ask permission to include their logos on a free advertising spread intended to show our collective resolve. They responded in spades. We ended up with three such spreads and about 200 logos. 

They certainly aren’t all of the companies that feel that way, but it is all we could collect in a short period of time. 

They make me smile. They lift me up. They remind me that we are all in this together. Be well, my friends.