A salute to volunteers

To the Editor:

During National Volunteer Month, CREST salutes the wonderful volunteers who help make our services possible. CREST volunteers offer vital help to our aging population. The benefits have proven to be greater for the volunteer as the right match can help them find new friends and connect with their community.

Because of the COVID-19 virus, CREST is currently providing transportation services only for medically necessary appointments.

CREST also has set up a telephone assurance calling project in which volunteers are calling seniors a couple of times per week to make sure they are OK and to see how things are going. This is a way to remove the barrier of social isolation and helps keep people connected.

CREST volunteers have stepped forward to make a difference in the lives of the seniors we serve. It’s an opportunity for the volunteers to enliven their well-being and make a connection in their community to make it a better place. For all that CREST volunteers do for others in Martin County, we say a most heartfelt thank you.

If you would like more information on volunteering for CREST, you can call the CREST office at (507) 235-3833.

Rob Stauter

Fairmont

We’re in it together

To the Editor:

It is April 28 as I am writing this, which means we are in week No. 5 of self-quarantine due to this ominous pandemic of COVID-19.

I am thinking about how the cases are not only where I’m from — Minnesota — but from places I have not ever gotten to experience, such as New York, which currently has the most cases, or even Massachusetts, which has a little more than half of what New York has.

But wait, I have to like something during this, and I do. The thing I love the most is when we are in the car driving around towns and seeing houses that have colorful hearts on the window. Seeing this makes me think of one thing, and that one thing is support. As we are supposed to stay home as much as possible, we have time to finish school work, watch TV or even write letters like this.

But there are still workers out there risking getting the COVID-19 virus just trying to help all of us get better or stay safe or just going and getting groceries at a store. So every time you go somewhere and see a worker of any sort, remember what they’re doing for your benefit. So let’s all take 30 seconds to say, “Thank you” or ¨We appreciate your hard work.¨ I feel like it’s not said as much as it should be. So with that being said, thank you to everyone, and remember we’re all in this together.

Liberty McDonald

Elmore