CHAMBER NEWS
AUTHOR’S NOTE: (This was written on April 3, 2020)
THE CORONAVIRUS HAS us all by the edge of our seats. It has taken over our lives, our livelihoods, our economy, our global psyche. Quite frankly, it has consumed us, and altered every aspect of our life. I for one, am looking forward to getting back to where we were, but this time, with a renewed sense of gratitude, and renewed sense of brotherhood, and a renewed sense of charity. I say that, because through all of it, Americans, Arizonans, and my fellow Yumans have been inspirationally charitable.
Hoarding stopped and sharing began. We have had local manufacturers, right here in Yuma, stop regular production to make Personal Protection Equipment for our heroic doctors and nurses. We saw Chris Wheeler of Prison
Hill Brewery whip up a big batch of hand sanitizer and donate it to the City of Yuma. We heard of metal crafters, and designers create devices for use at Yuma Regional Medical Center. We watched local businesses line up and buy lunch for truckers and auto repair shops fixing cars for free so nurses and medical professionals can get to work. We know several local restaurants bought food, made meals, and delivered them to YRMC. We know of countless Yumans who have donated – or pledged – their stimulus checks to our favorite nonprofits like Amberly’s Place and the Yuma Community Food Bank. Indeed, when things were at their worst, we were at our best.
I’m incredibly proud of my team, as well. Sheryl Hehe, Tania Pavlak, and Diana Wise worked very hard to create the restaurant list, sponsored by MGM Design, still being used today, that indicates who is doing pickup and delivery from our local restaurants. www.yumachamber.org/ eatlocal . My team put together a ‘Business Condition’ survey that gave us real time information on who needed what help, and how we can deliver it. We sponsored the ‘Open4Biz feature of business listings on the KYMA and KSWT websites. We produced a highly successful “Virtual Lunch & Learn” with partners Patrick Goetz, Randy Nelson, Page Misenhimer and Paul Melcher to help de-mystify the ins-and-outs of the CARES Act, and the ArizonaFirst package put together by Governor Ducey. I am incredibly proud to be part of the team that put together the Greater Yuma Economic Resource Portal (www.gyerp.org) so that all of us, businesses and employees alike could get first hand, actionable and accurate information about all the support and federal benefits that are out there.
By now we should be on the back side of this crisis, and normal is just around the corner. Stay Healthy, Stay Safe, Stay Connected, and Shop Locally. Thank you all, for your support of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.