We’ve been really privileged and fortunate during this crazy pandemic period. Our fridge, freezer, and pantry have been full of both fresh, frozen, and homemade frozen foods (like my wontons). We aren’t out of any critical necessities, and if we get close to being out of anything, we’re able to get them with ease. It’s been sad to hear about people who are not able to get the food and essentials they need, either because they no longer have jobs and income, or because they are old, frail, or disabled, without the ability to go out and get what they need, or with no one who can help them.

The New York Times has a lot of faults in terms of its reporting and elitist slants and lenses when it digs into certain topics, but one thing I think they’ve done a pretty good job of is highlighting all the communities during this period who are oftentimes overlooked. The reporting they’ve done on at-risk communities has been quite well rounded, like those in foster care and abusive households, and even non-human communities at risk: the elephants and rhinos across countries in Africa whose lives are truly endangered because of the increase in poachers.

I’ve checked in with my own mentee during this period a few times. She has enough food and supplies, but she’s at risk given she suffers from depression and lives at home. She has anxiety issues being by herself for prolonged periods. There’s little I can do to help her given she just wants to be around other people, but at least we can check in via text and social media like everyone else is. These situations are just blunt and harsh reminders of the inequalities that we oftentimes are shielded from on a day to day basis. Some of us are luckier than others… a lot luckier.