[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2804-S2805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS IN MARSHFIELD AND PLAINFIELD

  Mr LEAHY. Madam President, the public health and economic crisis that 
has gripped the country since March has been a challenge everywhere, 
and Vermont is no different; yet it should surprise no one that 
Vermonters rise to the moment. As businesses shuttered and Vermonters 
adhered to our State's stay-at-home orders, a group of 20 or so 
Vermonters stepped up to volunteer to bring groceries, medications, or 
other essential items for their neighbors and friends in Marshfield and 
Plainfield.
  The effect was organized by the enrichment coordinator for 
Montpelier's public schools, Drew McNaughton, who stepped up, utilizing 
Front Porch Forum, coordinating a group of volunteers to help bring 
goods to those staying at home. It is ``a natural thing to do,'' Drew 
said, and he could not be more right: It is natural for Vermonters to 
step up to help other Vermonters. It has always been the Vermont way. 
And it is why together we are Vermont strong.
  I ask unanimous consent that an article highlighting this volunteer 
effort, which appeared in the Times Argus in March, be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Times Argus, Mar. 20, 2020]

  Volunteers Offering Deliveries for Those Isolated in Marshfield and 
                               Plainfield

                          (By Eric Blaisdell)

       Marshfield.--More than 20 residents in the area have 
     volunteered to help get people groceries or medication in 
     response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

[[Page S2805]]

       Drew McNaughton is the enrichment coordinator for 
     Montpelier's public schools. Schools across the state have 
     shut down due to the virus that causes COVID-19. So 
     McNaughton has been working from home.
       While at home he's decided to help organize a group of 
     volunteers in the Marshfield and Plainfield areas who can go 
     to stores to pick up items for those who may not be able. 
     ``It seemed like the natural thing to do. It seems like a 
     natural response for a community to take care of the 
     vulnerable populations,'' he said.
       Health officials have said those that are older, have 
     chronic health conditions or have a compromised immune system 
     are most at risk from the virus. People are being told to 
     stay home as much as they can and to stay at least six feet 
     away from others in effort to keep the virus from spreading. 
     Some who have tested positive for the virus or are showing 
     symptoms are being told to stay home and self-isolate for 14 
     days.
       McNaughton has been promoting the effort on Front Porch 
     Forum and so far 22 people have signed up to volunteer. Those 
     who volunteered have agreed to share their contact 
     information with those looking for items to be delivered.
       So far he said there's only been one request for delivery: 
     a resident who needed heart medication. But McNaughton 
     believes that will change the longer this goes on and the 
     stricter the isolation requirements during the pandemic.
       ``There's going to be more people sheltering in place and 
     it's going to be up to the healthy and the young to step up 
     for once. The millennials are going to be facing an actual 
     challenge,'' he said.
       . . .
       He said one of the hard parts about the pandemic is the 
     anxiety people are feeling due to the uncertainty of how long 
     this will go on with no defined end date.
       ``To me, that's the unnerving part,'' he said.
       To help pass the time, he said he's been doing projects 
     around the house and doing things outside. He said he would 
     bet plenty of people will have renovation projects completed 
     by themselves by the time this is all over.
       ``A lot of amateur carpenters are going to emerge,'' he 
     said.

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