On July 4, 2020, our country celebrates its 244th birthday. We celebrate it midway through what has been called “the worst year ever.”
It is true that, so far, we’ve seen a lot of bad news in 2020. A pandemic has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands and affected the livelihoods of millions more. Some folks may turn on their TV or go online and think the country is falling apart. Yes, it’s been a tough six months. But our country’s fundamental goodness is still shining through if you know where to look.
I’ve seen firsthand how countless companies shifted their operations and donated money to help our country deal with COVID-19. Kontoor Brands, whose global headquarters is in my district, donated 60,000 gowns for patients and medical professionals.
Lowe’s donated $25 million to fight the virus, including $10 million directly to medical professionals on the front lines to purchase essential items, including respirators and protective equipment.
Food Lion has donated $3.1 million for medical research related to COVID-19 at the University of North Carolina. They’re also providing meals to local communities.
I’ve seen local textile companies retool and handle the logistics for hundreds of other companies to get the personal protective equipment they need to the places that need it.
Corsicana Mattress Company proactively began making masks and hospital-size bedding so there wouldn’t be a shortage of personal protective equipment. Now, Corsicana factories are turning out 75,000 masks per week.
ServPro, which provides professional restoration services, modified ambulances so that infected individuals can be safely transported to hospitals without infecting frontline nurses. So far, these vehicles have transported hundreds of patients with more to come.
In times of need, our communities always step up. A wonderful example is the Out of the Garden Project in Greensboro, North Carolina. They provide healthy meals to needy families in and around my district. Every day, they “connect people through partnerships that feed families, create community, and build healthier outcomes.” Since the beginning of the pandemic, they’ve provided over 1 million meals to local families.
Then, there are the unsung, everyday heroes. There are essential workers in manufacturing that have safely stayed on the job, servicing the vital needs that keep our country up and running. There are truck drivers, tradesmen, convenience store workers, airport workers, restaurant employees, farmers, energy employees, public utility workers, and many others who by the very act of going to work during the pandemic are putting their health on the line.
I don’t know about you, but when I think about the grit and strength of our fellow countrymen, I don’t feel beaten down by the year 2020. I feel optimistic. President Ronald Reagan once said that “there isn’t any problem we can’t solve if government will give us the facts, tell us what needs to be done, then get out of the way and let us have at it.” That remains true today. We are still a great country, and we should be proud of it each and every day.
Rep. Ted Budd, a Republican, represents North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee.
