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A year filled with gratitude

Especially during this stressful year, we faced plenty of challenges. However, as we look back, it’s important to reflect on all of the reasons to be grateful. Highlights of the year on why we should be thankful for our community:

Resilient family members

Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. High school and college students, especially Seniors, have missed prom, played shortened sports seasons, had to contend with alternative and often challenging learning environments and face an uncertain 2021. But despite this they are persisting through with maturity and strength. These students for certain will be able to say to future employers that they are adaptable and can endure and survive what change may bring. 

Resilient and innovative businesses

Not all small businesses were equally impacted. Those that do not rely on customer foot traffic or are able to pivot away from in-person services, like stores that can sell goods online, have fared better than service-oriented businesses like restaurants, salons and unique smaller retail shops. Many small business owners poured their life savings into their business to get them off the ground originally and had to dip into this savings to keep their business afloat this year. Not only do these businesses provide local tax revenue and jobs, but these are places that people gather, they define the character of our community.

But these businesses have also embraced new customer delivery systems or new products/services. Most businesses have commented on how important community support has been and how important it will be going forward.

For the good of the

community

The YMCA and Marshall School Districted provided alternative daycare to essential workers and alternative learning options. This along with the pandemic forcing families to make economic choices, have created additional revenue challenges. Still, leadership has been exemplified and we are grateful for the stability they have provided in the community.

The federal government, for its part, has provided over $500 billion in small business loans via the Paycheck Protection Program. Better yet, many of our local banks, helped facilitate these loans to our many businesses with one-on-one communication.

The federal government also partnered with biomedical researchers, universities and pharmaceutical companies that will have combined to produce not one, not two, but three working vaccines less than a year after COVID was initially discovered.

Locally, both Lyon County and the City of Marshall provided grants to businesses in need through the CARES act fund.

Frontline and new

frontline workers

Our frontline workers who continue to provide medical care, including ambulance and health care nurses and doctors have been facing COVID daily. In addition, fire and police protection continues to make Marshall an exceptionally safe community despite the risk of infection.

Let us also not forget the new frontline workers-the people who work in supermarkets, in hardware stores, and in other businesses that couldn’t close. The people who work in support of the first responders-food service workers, hospital custodians and maintenance employees, nursing homes and senior living facilities, who weren’t used to putting their lives on the line the way they were asked to this year. Teachers, who needed to pivot and in a matter of days and weeks make career-changing alterations that typically take years to learn in normal times.

Virtual and safe

celebrations

We often hear the term socially distanced, but a noted expert on the pandemic likes to say “physically distanced” rather than “socially distanced” because we can in fact still be social even if having to stay six feet apart. From the well thought out and wonderfully executed Marshall High School senior graduation, to the distanced Fourth of July Fireworks to the current Prairie Home Hospice Light up the Night event, we have been able to celebrate and do so safely. Technology has allowed most of us to celebrate family and friends through Zoom or other technology platforms and possibly connected us more and not less in 2020. Technology which may in the past have been taken granted until it became a lifeline for connection with friends, family, coworkers, and we adapted to using it in countless new ways-celebrating life events, holding meetings, attending classes, and more.

The chance to enjoy

the outdoors

Due to COVID constraints, usage of city parks was at an all-time high and Camden State Park saw a greater than 50% increase in number of visitors this past year. Exploring the outdoors has meant more opportunities to slow down, be appreciative of our surroundings.

We will get through this and be even better

There are always things to complain about if that is your choice. The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily changed the way we work and live, go to school, and spend time together.

In spite of this there is much for which to be grateful. Take time and give thanks.

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