As the United States deals with COVID-19, some people work or go to school at home. Other people, though, are essential workers. They have to go to work because they take care of important services. These essential workers provide healthcare, keep food stocked in grocery stores, deliver mail, pick up trash, make sure we have electricity and water, repair roads, and so much more. People are grateful for all these services. How do they say, “thank you”?
Military jets flew over big cities in the United States to salute first responders. People in their own communities have shown appreciation in other ways. In some cities, buildings and landmarks are lit with blue light to thank health-care workers for all that they do. Residents in Miami decorated hearts and put them on a tree to say thank you to first responders and health care workers. In some cities, such as New York City, thousands of people clapped, cheered, and made noise at the same time each evening to thank essential workers.
Individuals are thanking essential workers too! Many people cook or donate meals for workers on the front lines. Some people put signs in their yards or hang them their windows. All of these are ways to express gratitude.
You are never too young to say, “thank you.” Eleven-year-old Emerson Weber is a fifth grader in South Dakota She wrote beautifully decorated letters to postal workers to thank them for delivering mail. Postal workers started writing back. They even gave Emerson stamps so she could write more thank you letters!
What Do You Think? What have people in your community done to thank essential workers? What else would you like to do to say, “thank you?”
Photo Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images
