The last few weeks have been a trying time for communities everywhere. There’s no shortage of uncertainty while each passing day brings a new set of changes and disruptions to our day-to-day lives. In the weeks and months that follow, we will continue to see how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to play a role in our everyday functions, and what kind of lasting impacts it has on our lives moving forward.
Despite every day seems like a flurry of bad news, misinformation and a rumor mill that won’t quit, there is reason to have hope in these uncertain times. Know for one, that this is but a passing moment in our history and eventually, as all things do, this will end. We will gather in crowded malls on a Saturday afternoon once again, and we will sit in packed theaters for the midnight premiere of the next great Hollywood blockbuster. However, it will take each and every one of us working together, for each other and on behalf of our community. In McAllen, we’ve already seen how as a city, we can collectively work together towards a common goal.
As the situation develops, we’ve seen how innovative we as people are. Our local restaurants have had to adjust with strict social distancing measures, and have quickly churned out new business operations to keep servicing customers with the same high-quality hospitality. Businesses have found ways to stay in touch with others to continue to perform essential duties and fulfill commitments to their customers. In a changing landscape where we all have to make room for adjustments, there is comfort in knowing that we can still rely on our businesses to keep some sense of normalcy.
If there is a silver lining to our current situation, it is witnessing the kindness that has been extended to others. The McAllen school district offers grab & go meals for students who might be missing lunches otherwise due to school closures. Various local businesses and hotels have begun selling their extra supplies of food staples to those in need of them. Individuals are doing grocery runs for their more vulnerable and elderly counterparts. Right now, everywhere across McAllen, people are lending a helping hand.
We are pulling through this together because there is no other way. It is only through a collective, conscious effort that we’ll be able to stay safe while keeping our sense of community. There are key ways to ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is slowed and safely managed, and if everyone plays their vital part, it will be. Each day, more people are recovering and cities with early restrictions that were set in place are paying off with a slower rate of increase in cases. In times of adversity, people look to one another for guidance and support and it is important now, more than ever, that the people of McAllen retain their ability to be strong in their determination at overcoming hardship. Remember that this is only a fragment in time and if history shows, we will come out better on the other side.