Pat Chernow, her husband Jim Laham, and their decorated mail box
Alisa Moore
Pat Chernow, a former nurse, thought it would be nice to acknowledge those on the front lines dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, so she put a big sign on her mailbox thanking first responders and healthcare workers. Soon the sign grew to recognize all the others who are continuing their hard work ensuring our safety: grocery workers, food service, trash collectors, delivery workers, and postal workers. Her mailman was so excited, he took a picture of the sign to show his colleagues.
Other members of the PebbleCreek (PC) Democratic Club also have been doing altruistic activities. In April, the club donated more than 750 pounds of food, including hundreds of pounds of rice, pinto beans, and lemons, as well as raising $400 in direct support for the Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank. Since clothing and household goods are not being accepted at the food bank until they can open more fully and sort items, those donations are being collected in club members’ homes. Others are making masks and helping out neighbors as needed.
Former club president Bart Alford and his wife Irene Manalili have taken this pause in their regularly busy schedule to shift from using the PC Fitness Center and pickleball courts to using their living room for fitness video workouts, to power walk, and for bike rides.
Marie McWhyte and Dwight Moore found their annual processes flipped upside down. Marie said, “The month of April this year made us snap to attention and rethink the manner in which we do everything. Dwight and I usually pack up our PebbleCreek household by tax-day and begin our trek back north to Washington state where we reestablish ourselves with our northern friends and family members for the summer. This year, I was especially looking forward to resuming my babysitting duties of my grandson who just turned two. We quickly changed our plans, found renters for our Wash. house and a summer rental here, moved a few houses down the street, and then spent the rest of the month hunkered down trying to accustom ourselves with this new reality without getting on each other’s nerves. I realized early on that I would need a different type of exercise routine since the gym is closed. I began walking and have met my goal of completing four miles each morning and another four each evening. Wearing myself out twice a day has been wonderful, both physically and mentally!”
As Arizona starts to open up a bit, club members and our legislative district will be working on phone banking voters and supporting local, regional, and state-wide candidates and we look forward to resuming our active meeting, social, and volunteer calendars! Stay safe, everyone.