Let’s help the hard-working SC heroes who make sure people with disabilities are safe

On medical gear

We are all aware of the critical need for masks, gowns and other protective equipment for our medical personnel during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the government has been slow to act, now is the time to call upon citizens to do what is necessary to protect our health care providers as they treat those infected by COVID-19.

There are dozens — perhaps even hundreds — of small tailor and alteration shops in South Carolina that possess the expertise, equipment and personnel to produce some of these protective items. Now is the time for Gov. Henry McMaster or someone else in a position of authority to call upon these small businesses to produce the masks and gowns we need to address our current shortage.

I believe that citizens across our state would enthusiastically support this effort to provide our first responders and health care workers with the protection they need.

Runette Louthian, Columbia

On support staff

All of us have a plan on how to keep ourselves and the people we love safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But what about the people who cannot make such plans?

What about the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are living in group homes across our state? They are vulnerable, and they need support.

A few years ago Nikki Haley, our former governor and ambassador to the United Nations, visited one of our group homes in Columbia. She came away so impressed by the selfless commitment of the staff members who provide caring support for the group home members.

A direct support professional is an essential employee who does not have the option of safely working from home. They are paid little more than a minimum wage, yet they work around the clock in group homes to ensure the safety of people with disabilities (many of whom struggle to comprehend the changes taking place around them).

Community Options manages this 24-hour care regardless of the global circumstances, and we want to recognize the heroism of our direct support professionals. Over the next 10 weeks all gifts to Community Options will go toward increasing the pay of a direct support professional on the front lines.

To donate, go here.

Please help us help them to help others.

Robert Stack, Columbia

Stack is the CEO of Community Options.

On COVID-19

COVID-19 is a wake-up call for humanity to do a bit of self-reflection and self-examination. As the economy falters, people lose their jobs and shortages become more and more common, here is the question all of us should be asking: Have we been well-served by our past actions?

All of the things that we once assumed were so important and so worthy of occupying our time seem irrelevant now that we face the possibility of dying during a pandemic.

We now realize that the true essentials in life are food, materials to keep us healthy, interpersonal connections, adequate resources for medical professionals and a government that is responsive.

We now realize that living extravagant lifestyles, racing to keep pace with others and alienating those around us while pursuing mindless activities have not served us well. Right now, holding on to life is the most important thing as we face the invisible menace threatening all of us around the world

As we begin spending trillions of dollars to keep our country afloat and our people alive, shouldn’t we realize that what we’ve done in the past isn’t serving us well now — and that we must work to create a better world?

Cassandra Fralix, Lexington

On Pelosi, Schumer

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should be run out of Washington on a rusty rail for showing such total disregard for the people who are suffering because of the deadly coronavirus.

Recently the U.S. House was ready to vote on a bill to help those affected by this pandemic — but what did Pelosi and Schumer do? They interfered in the process and slowed down the bill’s passage until billions of dollars in unnecessary expenditures were added into the final version.

I believe that the self-serving Pelosi and her partner-in-crime Schumer are both rotten to the core.

Gregory Topliff, Warrenville

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 4:40 PM.