As we prepared for this letter, we are acutely aware that this month marks one full year since the first person in Nassau County was diagnosed with Covid-19 and we faced an historic pandemic. As we naively prepared for this misunderstood virus, little did we know that it would become a year-long health and economic crisis that has consumed our lives. In reflecting over this past year – the thousands of lives lost, the millions who suffered through illness and economic hardship, the toll it has taken on our individual and collective psyches, and the many sacrifices each of us made to ensure the health and safety of our neighbors and those whom we care about – the thing that seems most remarkable is the resilience of the human spirt and our compassion toward one another.   

This is most evident in our own community in which our local Baptist hospital, health care and emergency workers served on the front line to care for those who contracted the virus; the county Public Health Department and Emergency Management team that led the local coordination efforts to address this public health crisis; the Chamber of Commerce, City and County governments and Tourist Development Council that stepped up to ensure that safety net organizations such as Barnabas were supported in order to provide relief for those who lost their jobs or were most vulnerable; and the thousands of essential workers who kept our businesses and public services running.  

Among those who served on the front line to ensure that our neighbors in crisis had their basic needs met, including food, health care and housing, were our own staff and volunteers who went above and beyond. Even more remarkable was the hundreds of individuals, businesses, churches and organizations that stepped up to provide financial and volunteer support to ensure that Barnabas could respond to this crisis.  And our volunteer Board of Directors provided valuable leadership, support and guidance during this challenging and unpredictable time.  

It has been said that a hero is an ordinary person who achieves extraordinary things – and all of these individuals and organizations are heroes to be celebrated. As we turn our sights to a more hopeful year ahead, we thank each and every one for making a difference in the lives of thousands of our neighbors over this past year.