Donna sits down with some of the helpers of COVID-19. “Look for the helpers” it’s the timeless quote from the late Fred Rogers. His mother reminded him to find these people in times of tragedy and crisis. Today we want to introduce you to three helpers who are working around the clock to help our children; especially children who are most at risk and vulnerable. Marla Knoll is a pediatric clinical social worker at UCLA and Natalie Hill is the president and executive director of the HoldYou Foundation, an organization on the front lines and really feeling the impact of COVID-19. Many families with children who are sick with compromised immune systems are already struggling with only one parent or caretaker able to work to keep the household afloat, while the other tends to the child’s medical needs. Now with the shelter in place orders as a result of COVID-19, many households have two out of work parents with no income and are stressed and anxious about their financial dire straits. Natalie and her foundation work with these families to secure funding so families can pay their bills and put food on the table. Marla Knoll is a pediatric clinical social worker who is on the front lines with families who have children with cancer. She shares the struggles the shelter in place orders present to families who need to take their kids to medical appointments and go grocery shopping with the added anxiety and fear that they might bring a contagion home with them. Marla reveals how her compassion and empathy as a social worker are more important now than ever. Nancy Stiles is the Executive Director of STARS. A nonprofit organization in Pasadena that works to empower, embolden and equip young people to help them create a life of service, purpose and meaning. Before COVID-19 their main focus was on after school programming in grades K -12 with one on one mentoring and summer enrichment programs for low-income families. Now over 85% of the families in Nancy’s area have lost their jobs or are facing reduced hours. STARS has been gathering donations and distributing them through an afterschool program sites with full grocery distribution. With this pandemic affecting almost every aspect of people’s lives, now more than ever we need our helpers. This is an excellent opportunity to teach our kids that you don’t have to help hundreds of people to be a helper. Helping just one person can build compassion, humility and empathy in our kids.

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