This has been the longest nine weeks of my life. Nine weeks ago, we lived in a very different world. It does not seem like such a long time, but nine weeks ago we were entering our first week of distance learning in the schools. Nine weeks ago, our economy was just going into a shutdown, and now millions are out of work and the economy seems held together by bailing wire and Duct tape. Nine weeks ago, we were just beginning to perceive the threat of COVID-19, and now we have lost more than 85,000 fellow Americans. So much has happened over these two months that have fundamentally changed us. We realize that the world we live in is remarkably fragile, and that things can change on a dime. People around us can get sick very quickly and very unpredictably. And we know that fear can have an incredible grip on our lives, but that we can get through tough times if we support each other. This has been a remarkable story for each of us individually, but it also has been an incredible story for us as a community.

It is my belief that the next 12-18 months are going to be very difficult. More people will die, more people will become unemployed, people will lose their savings and their homes and many relationships will be strained to the point of failure. Many businesses and nonprofit organizations will struggle, and some will not make it. I am hopeful, though, that our community will come through this difficult time and survive, because I know that we are resilient. I know that, because I have seen it firsthand over the past nine weeks.

My friends in public health often talk about building individual and community resilience. What that means to me is that we develop the ability to rebound from adversity, because we have developed certain skills, behaviors and relationships. In these times, I have seen an astonishing amount of this resilience, and in this article today, I would like to just give you a glimpse as to what I have seen.

I have seen organizations like the Salvation Army, the Soup Kitchen, Corpus Christi, SHARE, Tolles Street and End 68 Hours of Hunger work to ensure that our people stay fed in these difficult times. They have worked tirelessly to provide nourishment and sustenance to an increasing number of people and have done so with decreasing resources.

I have seen organizations like Gateways, the Plus Company, Meals on Wheels and Opportunity Networks work to make sure that those in our community with disabilities, the elderly and some of our most vulnerable stay supported and connected in this very difficult world we are learning to navigate.

I have seen organizations like Harbor Homes, Front Door Agency, Marguerites Place, Family Promise and Bridges work to keep people housed and secure with a roof above their heads during trying and very difficult times.

I have seen organizations like Keystone Hall, Home Health and Hospice, the Dental Connection and our hospitals work to make sure that people’s health is attended to in a world where social distancing is the norm, but physical touch is a requirement.

At the same time, I have seen a remarkable and tremendous outpouring of community and business support that has made it possible for us at United Way to do some truly remarkable work. As of this week we, have distributed more than 50,000 breakfasts and lunches, with partners including the School District, the Transit Department, the Soup Kitchen, the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA. Our army of volunteers also has enabled us to shop for dozens of families, bringing them their groceries to their homes, and thus allowing them to remain safely sequestered. The community came out in droves for a massive food drive, which collected and distributed more than 5,500 nonperishable items to over a dozen local pantries. This required more than 50 volunteers, more than 20 store partners and even the support of a local moving company, McLaughlin Mayflower, to help with logistics. In nine weeks, we have engaged more than 250 local volunteers who already have logged over 4,000 hours in service to the community.

We have had 17 different restaurants step forward and participate in DINE UNITED, providing support for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, and we have had many people order takeout from those same restaurants to make sure they are here in our community when all of this is over. This is one of the most remarkable win-win partnerships I’ve seen, and we are so grateful.

We have had a tremendous outpouring of financial support that has allowed us to make more than 40 emergency grants to local nonprofits, as well as purchasing and distributing dozens of infrared thermometers, thousands of rolls of toilet paper, 110 gallons of hand sanitizer and much more. And this week, we took up the latest call, acquiring and distributing face masks to the public at the malls as we begin to re-open retail stores. In the first three days of this two-week effort, our 80 volunteers already have handed out more than 4,000 masks to people visiting the malls. This effort is directly preventing the spread of COVID-19, and therefore keeping our community safe. It would be untrue to say that there is no need for additional resources, so if you would like to help support all of these efforts, any financial contributions to the COVID-19 Relief Fund can be made at www.tinyurul.com/uwgncovid19.

My biggest fear of all is that over the next few months we will lose our enthusiasm to help and support each other, that we will become less vigilant, that we will turn our anger and frustration outward. We need to remember that, together, we are stronger and that if we continue to be kind, we will make it through.

As I said, this nine-week story has been remarkable and unique. This will be the story I tell my grandchildren, and I will do so with incredible pride in my amazing community, Nashua, New Hampshire. This will be the story about what it means to say that GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE LIVE UNITED.

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Mike Apfelberg is president of United Way of Greater Nashua.

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