As the coronavirus continues to disrupt the lives of individuals around the world, public service workers in particular are being called to step in and take care of the needs of their communities.

A recent New York Times report shows that these service workers run the gamut from nurse to firefighter to janitor, but what each shares with the other is a commitment to using their training to make a difference.

Chief Joe Sanford, from Kirkland, WA, forfeited his 20 year wedding anniversary and slept in a hotel for more than a week to attend to the state’s first coronavirus related death at a nursing home earlier this month, attesting that “[a]ll of our folks are stepping up and doing a great job. I’m just proud as heck of all of them.”

Shahnaz Benner, a nurse living in Nebraska, wondered “am I ready for this?” before reminding herself that “[t]his is my time to make sure I apply everything that I’ve been teaching to protect myself, my family and everybody within the community.”

John Hybridge, the owner of a Seattle-based janitorial firm, has seen his cleaning checklist expand exponentially over the past several weeks and his staff of 15 rise to the occasion; and school nurse Joan Sanders from Mill Creek, WA, discovered in day-long conversations with the families of exposed students that what was perhaps most important was “just letting them tell their story…and offering support.”

Read more about the necessary work being done and sacrifices being made by public service workers Joe, Shahnaz, John, and Joan here.