“My little family who has been diligently social distancing will continue to do so. But without me. My spot at the dinner table will be empty. My side of the bed, cold. Owen cried because he couldn't get a hug. I couldn't even hug him goodbye. "Why are you wearing your mask?" he had asked me. "I don't want to get you sick." And he shrunk away from me, even from two yards away. It's for the best. It's the best I can do for them while the courts churn out 50 eviction judgements per day and drop 2-10 orders on each of us. It's the best I can do when I've been crammed into an elevator with 5 other people or stuck in a tiny dorm room with a guy coughing so hard he can't get the key into the lock. Anything I say is going to sound performative. I'm so fucking sad. I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and I can barely type because my contacts are swimming in pools of tears. My presence at someone's door is so many kinds of terror, so many layers of complicated." ~ Kristen, Constable

“All this will pass eventually for myself and my fiancé, but who I am really worried about it the children I protect in my job. I investigate criminal child abuse and neglect. Now that children are no longer in school, the reports we receive have drastically declined. I know children are still being neglected and abused, but the teachers who see them every day are no longer able to look out for them. Children, who rely on school for food and care, are slipping through the cracks.” -Pamela, Criminal Child Abuse Investigator

“I just finished nine overnight shifts in the Emergency Department (ED), and I am two and a half months into living in an AirBnB--alone, away from my wife and ten year old daughter so I can protect them from contracting this disease. As an ED doctor whose job it is to manage, problem solve, and be in control when faced with medical crises, it is hard for me to admit that I feel vulnerable and scared when I allow myself to think of the surge we are facing now and the combined COVID-19/Influenza tsunami expected this late fall/winter.   We aren’t even 5 miles into this 26 mile COVID-19 marathon and our overstretched healthcare team members are exhausted, calling in sick due to illness, or so emotionally drained that they need a "mental health" day to be able to face another shift on the front lines. Staffing shortages are being made even worse by furloughs of some of our most experienced staff. Inexperienced new nurses remain and are faced with caring for increasingly ill patients with less mentorship and support. Taken together, we have a recipe for disaster." -Dr. Brad Dreifuss

“I am officially deemed a “mission critical employee”, my son decided I am on a mission similar to a James Bond movie. I’m grateful that he sees the value in the care I provide, despite the long hours away from home. I’ve always known that I am integral part of the medical team, now the world is able to understand the role we play in the diagnosis of patients. COVID-19 testing is currently delayed, laboratories are reaching capacity, yet demand continues to grow exponentially daily. I look forward to the day we bring COVID-19 testing in house and we will have results in about an hour.” ~ Jen, Medical Laboratory Scientist

“My clients come to me in many different states of stability, and I do what I can to remind them that remaining sober is a challenge from both within and outside of their lives. This virus has hit those in recovery in a new way, with challenges and fears that most would have never fathomed when they chose to start their brave journey of sobriety.” - Jerry, Recovery Coach for clients with a dual diagnosis of addition and mental health issues

“When was the last time you saw a child who was homeless?  Never?  Chances are, you have seen at least one during your pre-pandemic routine.  After all, there are hundreds of children experiencing homelessness in Tucson alone.   Not all of those kids that you saw walking along the sidewalk were simply on their way home from school – which is what we would like to think.  After all, it’s unpleasant, even difficult, to think that there are children in our own community who do not have a safe home to go to each night.  With schools and libraries closed, and classes being held online, the few hours a day that they could pretend life was normal have been taken away from them as well.  They are invisible once again; and now they have nowhere to continue their education, either.” -Cindy, Reunion House Manager

“When the pandemic first started and people began stocking up, I was excited about the major increase in sales our store was having. Sales easily doubled and almost tripled in a very short time. Within a few days, as I watched my shelves get completely emptied of paper, rice, beans and water, my excitement turned to anxiety. I have to get those shelves refilled so that people can eat. Supply and transportation issues that are completely out of my control, made that very difficult. I felt like I was letting my customers down.” - Rick, Grocery Manager

“On one side, I'm excited to be on the forefront of this pandemic.  This is what I signed up for, what emergency and critical care nursing is about. This is what I was made for. On another side, I worry that I may be carrying this home to my family.  They don't deserve to suffer for my choice of occupations. This worries me more when I hear we are reaching a crisis point with PPE not being available. What is truly gonna happen when the caregivers can no longer protect themselves? Will we be altruistic & sacrifice ourselves or protect our own?” - Sarah, Nurse

“I have personally experienced an impact on the need for our services through an increase in calls for both our crisis-line. Survivors are not able to do office walk-ins at this time but we do provide, intakes, crisis line support, and opportunities for engagement with an advocate via Zoom. Perhaps the most intensive crisis service we provide is that of our direct hospital response. Advocates at this time are still responding to local hospitals in Tucson to support victims during medical forensic exams. Contingency plans have been put in place by our leadership for an alternate location should it be unsafe or inappropriate for advocates to continue responding to the hospitals.” - Mara, Sexual Assault Crisis Advocate

“Some of our clients are panicking about people coming into their homes and wondering whether we have the symptoms of COVID-19. We must constantly reassure clients that we don’t have it and that we are making sure that clients will not be at risk to any diseases or viruses coming into their homes. Some clients get scared of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment); which could be gloves and face masks. These items are essential to my line of work. So, I often must compromise to make the clients feel safe.” -BreAnna, Caregiver

“Our people are in a poverty situation & every minute of every day is spent by them dealing with a survival condition. Many are homeless & are looking for food, a place to stay overnight, where to get medical help for injuries suffered & trying to keep their heads above the waterline. I don't think many of them think about the COVID-19 or even enters many of their minds in the light of being in survival mode. I have been homeless & because of that, I know that their priority is very basic. It is not easy for many of you to consider what a person in poverty or is homeless requires just to survive because their requirements are so basic.” - Ron, Job Coach, Primavera Foundation

“I get called to transport a possible Covid-19 patient so I have to gown up, goggle up, glove up and mask up to protect myself….and if  I’m hydrated enough I will tolerate the rubber suit in a hot helicopter for up to an hour…but how protected can one actually be and to be in a cramped space the size of my hallway closet? Now I’ve transported my possible Covid-19 patient and am anxious to hear if that patient was positive or negative….but the receiving facility will not release that information citing HIPPA. I get to experience this with EVERY possible Covid-19 patient I transport. Have I decontaminated the helicopter safety and thoroughly?” - Sara, Flight Nurse

“I feel that I have been pushed into having conversations with clients that connect them to their mortality. When a child suppresses emotions, pathology is almost guaranteed. Being forced to discuss how COVID-19 spreads and why schools are closed is also anxiety provoking. I don’t like how I feel doing therapy from home. I find it difficult to make connections in the same way I do in my office. I have to sit with this feeling of incompetence.” ~ Steve, Child and Family Psychotherapist

“Everything is so strange and different now. Nothing is going to be the same after this. I try my best to remain calm and positive, and I pray that hopefully things would get better soon. I keep telling myself that I should be grateful to still have a job but at what cost? What happens when I get very sick? I know for a fact that I will not be able to afford the medical bills. I hear that the best way to be safe is to stay indoors but right now I can’t afford that either. “ - Coco Still, Customer Service at a pet store

“My agency made the decision to implement all telephonic Medical Assessments. It’s challenging not seeing someone face-to-face, having to evaluate a person’s functional abilities via telephone where you don’t get a full picture. I worry for the vulnerable population I serve. I wonder what their living conditions are like. Do they have access to food, water and basic necessities? Are they safe and being cared for appropriately? For many, my visit is the only human interaction they’ve had in days or weeks.” - Darren, Medical Eligibility Worker

“I am a former refugee and now a Refugee Community Organizer. After having been forced to flee my home country and survived a civil war, never did I think I would now have to survive a Pandemic. Like many former refugees, the Pandemic has brought up anxiety, fear, and post-traumatic stress. I now recognize that my experience has only made me more resilient & compassionate towards others.” - Nejra, We Are All America

“My daily tasks are pretty typically the same as it is my job to make sure all of the dogs in our care are taken care of physically, mentally, and emotionally. I hate seeing these animals sitting in their kennel all day without anything to do, so I make sure I get them out as many times as possible for walks and working on life skills such as teaching a dog how to walk politely on a leash. I made it my personal mission to make sure that these animals don't lose hope.” -Stephen, Canine Enrichment Specialist, Humane Society of Southern Arizona

“A big part of my job is to be able to hold a patient’s hand, smile at them, make sure their symptoms are under control and overall be there for them in their last moments, be it months, weeks or minutes. The pandemic has made that almost non existent. The majority of my patients are in care homes or large facilities. As the fear rose with the pandemic, facilities started closing down visits to families & then to outside agencies. We are in this line of work because it is who we are. It is a passion & our hearts are being torn. The patients not only lost the ability to see families in person, but they have lost the touch of many of us.” - Kimberlee, Hospice Nurse

“One day when shopping for groceries, I realized the grocery store in question was taking incredible measures to keep staff and customers safe. I realized this is where I need to work. I need to work for a company who takes public health seriously while providing an essential service to our community. The work has been stressful. Emotionally stressful and physically it’s busy. The vast majority of people have been kind, patient, respectful and grateful.I’m very lucky to have a job, but I am not unaware of the risks.” - Chloe, Grocery Service Worker

“Our services need to be here: for the ones that have undergone surgeries and are learning to walk again; for the ones who need to learn how to lift their arms and move their shoulders again; for those who have injured their backs and need to be able to get into their cars and drive, or to pick up a bag of groceries; for those who were injured at work and need to return to their jobs; for the ones with vertigo or balance issues that want to walk from one room to another without falling, and so many more.  We teach them how to prevent these issues, and stay strong, as they go forward on their own.” -Simone, Front Office Manager in a physical therapy office

“It is not easy these days to own and run a home for assisted living. I just buried my youngest son in November, I have no desire to bury anyone else so I take this seriously. I take it seriously for the sake of my family, my residents, my staff my community and for myself. It is exhausting trying to keep things under control, not letting our residents see their family members is heartbreaking, however, my residents and their families are being great and they understand. I am now living here at the home to make sure I am providing the ultimate best and safe care I can for my residents.” - Anthony, Director of an assisted living home.

“The amount of fear, concern, anxieties, and overall devastation that I see on a daily basis cannot be described in words. Standing by while my clients peer through a window at an assisted living, just to get a glimpse. I am trying to be strong, while watching my families cry. I cannot hug them, nor can I stand too close. My clients have to settle for an "air hug”. I never thought I would have to attend a virtual funeral and be left to my own devices for comfort and solace. I have seen a lot in my 20 years of case management but nothing has prepared me for this.” - LaTonya, CEO/Founder, Monarch Placement and Consulting Services

“It's been about a month now, this is the new normal. I kind of found my happy place again, although it’s just a bit different. To hear this is helping families gives us a purpose. Parents mention it’s hard to feed a typical lunch or breakfast to her family because of the limits on items in the stores. Many tell us it’s the highlight of their kids day. My school is averaging about 180 breakfast and lunches daily. The breakfast and lunches served throughout our district is close to 29,500 weekly.” - Colleen, The Lunch Lady for one of Tucson’s 11 school districts

“You may look at these inmates and see a criminal, but as a nurse, it is my job to look at them and see a human being. Despite whatever mistakes they have made, they are all someone’s son or daughter. Most are also someone’s mom or dad. They have families out there who are scared because they haven’t been able to see their loved ones in over a month, with no promise of when they will be able to again. Regardless of our backgrounds, we are all affected.” - Danielle, RN in a correctional facility

“We are a school whose identity is based on independent experiential learning, hands-on learning materials, a carefully prepared environment, highly trained & dedicated professional teachers & a collaborative community of students. Within a week the teachers were delivering lessons in a new kind of environment. This has been hard for teachers, students & their families. Parents are experiencing their own challenges working at home, working without the child care we usually provide, or losing their own job security. Parents are also finding themselves in the role of classroom instructors. Most of our students love school; it has been hard for them to be away from their friends. They have also felt the disappointment of missing class trips, special end of year projects, the school play/musical performances, & end of year promotion ceremonies.” - Nirvair, Director, Khalsa Montessori School

“I have seen the stress and weight of the work on the faces my colleagues, overcome by the will and determination to keep moving forward, serving our County and its residents. Through all this work, I am continually humbled by the folks in our community who are stepping up in ways that will not be recognized because of the nature of public health; because as people in our work say, you know public health is working best when you don't hear about it.” - Brian, Program Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, Pima County Health Department

“The mask that protects me from this virus is as suffocating as my fear of the virus. I feel isolated even as I am out in the world and doing my normal routine. Those of us who are “essential workers” are weary and afraid. Our emotional labor has increased greatly because people are so tense and scared. We have to act like everything is normal, offering calmness and confidence even as we monitor every single cough and ache for signs of COVID-19.” -Alica, Guest Service Provider in a radiology office

“It felt like a sucker punch when I heard schools were going to close, thinking about how much learning, growth and community students would be missing out on. The big questions that came into my mind were: How can I provide access to learning to students who do not have technology in their homes? What are the most fundamental concepts I should be focusing on with such limited student contact time?, How will I maintain a sense of community with my class? The answers are, it has been and continues to be a challenge.” -Laurie, 1st Grade Teacher

“Working as an oncology nurse is emotionally demanding even under usual circumstances, however this pandemic has been particularly tough on cancer survivors. Treatments such as chemo, surgery or radiation are important and necessary, but it is often the supportive care that really helps individuals thrive after their cancer diagnosis. The peer support groups, the rides to/from medical appointments, the big hugs from infusion nurses. The family member who helps by hand-holding or note-taking during doctor visits, the friend who makes you laugh and hangs out during chemo. The massages, reiki, acupuncture, or zero balancing therapies. All improve quality of life for my patients, all seemingly vanished overnight.  As a mother I feel acutely the loss of childcare safety net, which was tenuous and full of holes before the pandemic and now is almost nonexistent. Working is now more dangerous. I have a pre-existing medical condition that makes it riskier for me should I contract the virus. My younger child, my baby, is medically fragile and needs open heart surgery in the next few months.  Like any virus, COVID could be devastating to him; he has before landed in the ICU with a common cold.” - Kathryn