Let’s give it up for the unsung heroes behind the scenes during this Covid-19 crisis.
The Heath Board of Health wanted to distribute information about the need for people coming to Heath from out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days. We also wanted to find the most effective means to reach all our taxpayers. Reverse-911 doesn’t go to everyone so even though we distribute weekly updates through that system, it doesn’t reach many people. We put up flyers, and post items to our town website. Still we needed to reach as many of our taxpayers as possible.
Our list turned out to have over 700 names and addresses on it. So we enlisted the help of the Staples staff to do the mailing for us. We e-mailed them the Excel list of names and addresses, the letter and other inserts. And Delia at the Staples print shop made it happen. She was incredibly efficient, helpful, skillful and accommodating. She even said she was eager to have the work as she had little going on!
We sent the materials to Staples on Tuesday. At first, Staples said the mailing couldn’t go out till the following Monday and that we’d have to get the envelopes from them and take them to the Post Office. When I asked if Saturday would be possible as it was a somewhat time-sensitive public health message, the manager Joe said he’d get the whole staff to stuff envelopes, stamp them, close envelopes and that he himself would take the envelopes to the Post Office on his way home. Delia called yesterday to say the envelopes went in the mail Friday! Amazing.
We’re all in this together in more ways than we ever realize.
Betsy Kovacs chairs the Heath Board of Health.