What these Tri-Citians are doing because of the coronavirus will warm your heart
Tri-Citians, guided by their hearts, are stepping up in all kinds of ways to lift people’s spirits during the coronavirus pandemic.
From children posting signs of kindness on mail boxes to seamstresses sewing medical masks, people are finding ways to help others in the community.
If you know of someone doing something kind for others, send the tip to news@tricityherald.com.
Gen. Jim Mattis shops local
Former Secretary of Defense and Spudnuts aficionado Jim Mattis reached out to his fellow Tri-Citians with a message emcouraging support for local businesses.
“We’re going to get through this coronavirus. We’re going to get through it by listening to our public health officials,” he said in a video posted on YouTube, showing him in front of The Spudnut Shop at the Uptown Shopping Center.“Let’s make sure we’re all supporting our businesses.”
“So let’s all pull together but stay apart while we pull together and keep our businesses alive,” he said.
Mattis’ love for the Richland shop became well known in 2017 when the then-Secretary of Defense stopped in during Thanksgiving and took photos with the employees.
The Visit Tri-Cities video is part of the tourism organization’s “Get Your Order On” campaign. The effort is aimed at supporting local businesses that are offering takeout, curbside and delivery service.
They also put together a list of businesses offering services during the closure, including gyms, breweries, wineries coffee shops and restaurants. The list is available at visittri-cities.come/tri-cities-open-for-business.
Doctor appreciation
Doctors’ Day is March 30 and Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland has an easy way for you to show your appreciation for their difficult work.
You can send your doctor a message by filling out the online form with your name, the doctor’s name, the facility and your message. Click on bit.ly/doctorthanks.
Grocery delivery
Benton County Deputy Payten Hart made the extra effort to help a woman who needed some groceries.
The sheriff’s office was called to check on the woman and found she needed some food.
Hart picked up some items at the Red Apple Market with the help of the sheriff foundation’s Community Care Fund and delivered them to the grateful woman, said the agency’s Facebook post.
Community strong campaign
Campbell and Company is challenging the community to help local Tri-Citians by starting a GoFundMe campaign to contribute to a Community Strong program.
Every dollar donated will go to struggling local restaurants and they will in-turn provide free meals to those in need. By Thursday evening, the fund had collected nearly $3,900.
The company has partnered with nonprofit, Communities in Schools of Benton-Franklin, to distribute the proceeds to families in the most need.
“I’m extremely thankful of the work they do to support our community’s underserved and underrepresented,” said Brian Campbell, general manager.
Curl up with a book
Employees of The Bookworm, a new and used book store in Kennewick, are now making doorstep book deliveries.
Call to order a book from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this weekend, March 28-29, and they will deliver for free within 5 miles or for $2 if you live farther away from the store on Columbia Center Boulevard.
They will be wearing masks and gloves when they pack your order, and they will leave your books at the doorstep to be in line with social distancing.
“We have missed serving our customers and want you to be able to have new books to read!” said the store. Phone: 509-735-9016.
Women’s health needs
New U Women’s Clinic and Aesthetics in Kennewick joined forces with The Healing Hands Project, a local nonprofit, to provide access for women to feminine hygiene products that may be difficult to get.
The clinic will supply free menstrual cycle kits that include tampons and pads, Ibuprofen and Salonpas for pain relief.
Contact the clinic at 35 S. Louisiana St., during normal clinic hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 509-491-1944.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 10:54 AM.