An Open Letter To All Essential Service Workers

An Open Letter To All Essential Service Workers

During these unprecedented and dangerous times, each one of us owes a debt of gratitude to those nurses, doctors, EMT’s, police and firefighters who are on the front lines every day, laying it all on the line every day, battling the Coronavirus on our behalf. We are all aware of what they do – of the sacrifices they make in fighting to keep us healthy and safe.

But I also want to bring attention to another group of essential public service workers, who rarely receive the accolades or tribute they too richly deserve for their sacrifice and tireless labors.

They are the hundreds of township employees across this state that man the local food pantries, general assistance offices and senior transportation services – feeding thousands of families and providing weekly, curbside, ride service for hundreds of seniors for essential travel.

During normal times, Thornton Township provides food to over 3,000 families and senior citizens every month and now, with businesses closing – some for good – and thousands being laid-off, these numbers have skyrocketed.

Each week, cars line up for blocks as township employees carry out scores of boxes of nutritional food and, when they not handing out food boxes, they are picking up donated food; assembling thousands of boxes for the next distribution; delivering boxes to hundreds of senior shut-ins; providing daily lunches for seniors and more. This is a continuous process of twelve to fifteen-hour days.

During this pandemic, Thornton Township has also maintained its Monday – Friday, senior transportation services – making sure that hundreds of senior residents who can no longer drive – get to scheduled medical services such as dialysis and doctor appointments or trips to the grocery store, pharmacy or other essential destinations.

As they do their job our staff exposes themselves and their families to serious health risks too and that is what makes their commitment to helping their neighbors all the more inspiring.

As Supervisor I have always tried to make Thornton Township a place where everyone has a neighbor they can count on in difficult times. I am proud to say we are that neighbor and I am so very proud of the township staff who make that a reality every day.

Frank M. Zuccarelli,

Thornton Township Supervisor

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