During the pandemic that is occurring now, taking care of and helping oneself and others is very important more than ever before. Whether through social distance and self quarantine or creating something to help the community, students have found many ways to help out in the community in their own unique ways.

 Abbey Clifford, sophomore, has used her skills of sewing to help her to create masks. She has made a lot already and is continuing to make as many as she can with the help of her family in the hopes of donating more soon. “I make the masks for my family, my friends, and hopefully I will make enough that I can donate to service workers and other people who have to be out at work,” Clifford said. 

Isabelle Snyder, junior, has been helping other students in need by helping to get them necessities.  “As soon as quarantine started I dropped off tubs of Go With The Flow products that are now available for free at all school lunch pickup locations,” Snyder said.

Groups of State High students are also helping in ways that they can while still complying with social distancing. “No Place For Hate is working to develop social media campaigns relevant to the time we’re in right now, including mindfulness strategies and content about stopping racism against Asian Americans,” Snyder said.

“The most beneficial thing about helping people in my community is making a difference and helping to make sure people are safe,” Clifford said.

Rachel Lembeck, senior, works  at Juniper Village as a dining server  to deliver lunch and dinner to the residents. She also works in Connections to take the residents for walks and play games with them to help get that important interaction. “I do this in between meals and come in early to work because we no longer have group activities as we are trying to keep [at] social distance staying in the nursing home,” Lembeck said. “[We’re] trying to prevent isolation by connecting with [the residents] every day.”

Nursing homes are essential businesses and therefore need employees and workers at all times, but even more now to ensure the health and safety of every resident. They also need employees to help keep the residents active and make sure they are in good health, mentally and physically. This is what Lembeck does in Connections at Juniper Village. 

Allaina Wagner, senior, works at juniper village along with Lembeck. They do the same job as dining servers and work in Connections. “I actually just started this job because of the outbreak because my mom and family friends work there and I knew they were in need of temporary staff,” Wagner said. 

“I also just wanted a way to help out during this quarantine and felt a sense of guilt staying home and doing nothing,” Wagner said. “We cater to the needs of the most vulnerable people and act as a medium for their most basic needs. All the people I work with have some degree of dementia, meaning they’re very confused about what is going on outside and why family can’t visit. Being able to reassure them that everything’s okay and distracting them from their worries is definitely a rewarding element of the work.”