Thank You

To everyone that is still currently working during this outbreak.

I am one of you, and I appreciate you.

I have never been in a situation like this in my entire life. Working as a manager of a shop that still has to be open is hard. Customers can be a nightmare at the best of times, but some people still do not understand the rule of staying inside so that we can protect and provide food for everybody else.

To all of the cashiers that are still working: Thank you for all that you do. You have to put yourselves in harms way, with minimal protection, just so that someone can come out and get a bottle of beer and a packet of cigarettes because they refuse to stay inside. Why would they only give you gloves and a mask, which they have specified will not stop you from getting the virus, but you may wear it if it makes you feel safer. You have to deal with the increased amount of shoplifters that you are not allowed to have any contact with just in case they get aggressive, but you know that they are stealing food away from other people who desperately need it. You have to deal with customers that come out with their entire family even after being told that it needs to be one person per household, and then having to deal with them when they get angry after you ask one of them to wait outside.

To all of the NHS healthcare staff that still have to work: Thank you for keeping people safe. Having a background in healthcare I can say now that you are not getting paid enough for what you do. I have seen pictures of healthcare workers that have been working such long shifts with the face masks and plastic protective eye gear and gloves and everything else that they have ended up with cuts and lines along their faces where it has been digging in. I am so sorry that you had to move away from your family to protect them as well as yourself and are not going to be able to see them for a little while.

To all of the delivery drivers that are still at work: Thank you for all of the effort you are putting in to keep this nation fed. Without you, the shops would not have the stock to be able to support the customers with their needs. Without you, we would not have the stock coming in, for it to go out of date in a week or two weeks time, for us to them be able to donate it to the people that are supporting the homeless while they are put up in hotels and shelters so that they are not out on the streets endangering themselves or anyone else.

To all of the parents that now have children off school: I commend you. I know how hard it must be to possibly be working, possibly be furloughed, or not working, and having children that want to be outside playing in the sunshine with their friends but are actually only allowed to be in their own house with their parents and siblings, or in their gardens playing. I know how hard it must be to try and home school your child whist they are not in school, and you are so brave to keep trying. I'm sure I would have given up.

I know how difficult this is. Some people partners, including my own, have had their businesses shut down as non-essential, so are not bringing in as much money to the household as before. This means that some of us have to work a lot of overtime just to be able to make ends meet. We have no idea how long this will be going on for, but I assure you, we will make it through this. Together.

I would be very grateful if you think you could help me support my family during this time. Any tips would be much appreciated.