See Beautiful Grant Applicant St. Anne's Center/Lantern House

The feature below is brought to you by St. Anne's Center/Lantern House, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.
 
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A story in numbers

I am not a numbers person, which is why I really appreciate the way the See Beautiful Foundation highlights personal blogs and stories from the great organizations they support. During past awards I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to talk less about the number of homeless we serve and more about who they really are – where they are from, what challenges they have faced, and so often, their strength.

But, as we submitted our application this round, I found myself unable to think of anything but the numbers. The heartbreaking numbers.

As of January 21, 2021, the CDC reported 24,323,846 total cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. A number that is nearly the population of all of Australia. 404,689 – That is the number of those who have died from COVID-19 in the United States thus far. During World War II, America lost approximately 290,000 men in combat.

In Utah alone, 328,308 people have been infected with COVID-19. That is like the entire city of Pittsburg, Cincinnati, or St. Louis becoming infected. As of today, 1,548 people have died from COVID-19 in the state of Utah.

The numbers really are shocking. Even more shocking, although not surprising, is the number of infections and deaths among marginalized populations like the homeless. Homeless, and those from a low socio-economic background continue to lack access to quality food and healthcare. This leaves them at a higher risk for developing co-morbidities (e.g., diabetes and heart disease), and more likely to suffer extreme COVID-19 symptoms if infected. Without a shelter like Lantern House, the homeless and those struggling to make ends meet would not have a place to turn during this crisis.

This leads me to the number I have been thinking most about lately – 30. On a given day there are about 30 staff at our shelter. 30 staff working to support 300+ homeless and hungry clients, some suffering from COVID-19, some doing their best to not to get infected. Only 30 staff! As a grant writer, I work from home far removed from the day-to-day hardships Lantern House staff are experiencing. But I do know them, and I have seen them in action. 30 people – an awe-inspiring number, keeping the shelter open 24/7, 365 days a year. They do a job each day I am not emotionally strong enough to do in the best of times, let alone a global pandemic.

Each day they log long hours in complete protective gear. Despite the risks of working near clients who are positive for COVID-19, they show great empathy and care for every person that walks through the doors. They were not trained in medicine, and yet they continue to rise to the occasion by supporting the testing, tracing, and quarantine measures currently in place. So, while I feel shock and sorrow by the climbing number of COVID cases and deaths, I feel hope by the immense impact such a small group of individuals can create. I do not get a chance to write about them in our normal grant requests, but who they are and what they do is essential to all of us. They are the unsung heroes of the pandemic in our community.

Submitted by Hannah Bowcut

Grant Writer, St. Anne's Center/Lantern House