🔒When counting on each other counts

Who are you counting on to help you, your family, work colleagues, and your community make it through this pandemic?

The president relies on federal agencies and experts under his direction, and he counts on them to provide informed advice and recommendations from which he may make his decisions. Congress provides funding and oversight, and our state leaders receive guidance from the federal government to help them serve everyone within their borders.

During this pandemic our state leaders are counting on that guidance, any resources they can secure, as well as perspectives from other governors. We count on our governor and other state leaders to provide the network of information and resources that allows local government, organizations and communities to do what they do best.

Our front-line first responders and healthcare providers count on that guidance and resources so they can safely do their lifesaving work.

Our communities respond in amazing ways in times of crisis. Local governments often count on and work hand-in-hand with local agencies, places of worship, businesses, school districts, chambers of commerce, community foundations, nonprofits and others to provide direct support to the most vulnerable.

Unfortunately, more of our neighbors are now among the most vulnerable, sometimes for the first time in their lives, due to the widespread economic impact of this pandemic.

At a local level, we’re all counting on each other. We need to recognize the value of what we’re asking each other to do so we can keep the danger low, reduce the risk, and give science a chance to catch up and contain the virus.

Yes, some of the requests seem unnatural in our culture. No hugs or handshakes. Wear a mask in public, and keep a social distance from each other.

Work to create a safer work environment for your business, and equip our schools and neighborhoods with the technology they may never have envisioned they would need for distance learning.

But we’re all counting on each other, as a community with a common interest, to preserve life, and our way of life.

I’m counting on my foundation and the nonprofits we work with to interact with us differently for the foreseeable future so we can safely support the ongoing, innovative efforts helping those in need.

My family counts on me to be safe when I interact, on a limited basis, in the community. They do the same, and I’m counting on them to do so — for us, and for you.

Our current community needs are great. Health and safety, food and financial security, continuing important education for our youth, mental health and more. The community foundations in our state are connected to the local needs, and most have a COVID-19 fund to support nonprofits with exceptional ongoing efforts.

Your local nonprofits have been hit hard financially, just as other businesses have suffered in this crisis. Their long-standing fundraising events have been cancelled, and business sponsorships for future events and projects are in jeopardy.

Can they count on you or your business giving them a gift now or in the near future?

Consider the funds you would have sent in for their walk-a-thon, road race, gala, or golf tournament? If you could, it would mean more to them now than you would ever know. You can help them weather the storm so they can help more people who are now counting on them.

So once again I ask, “Who are you counting on to help you, your family, work colleagues, and your community make it through this pandemic?”

The answer is that we’re all counting on each other.

David J. Obedzinski is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, which serves the towns of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.