Coronavirus Coverage - Communities and Helpers

In a normal year, theaters around the state would be preparing for their summer seasons. With gatherings currently forbidden and uncertainty hanging over their heads, many are simply canceling the whole season. Others are postponing or, as NHPR’s Sean Hurley found out, discovering new ways to reach an audience. 

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Caregivers are one group of essential workers who have continued showing up for their jobs daily amid the coronavirus pandemic.

At the Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield, staff work with children with disabilities and children who've been neglected or abused.

This story is part of our series Lifelines: Addressing Trauma in the Age of COVID-19 

Often workers have their own past trauma, or they can experience secondary trauma on the job.

Two months ago, before the coronavirus pandemic transformed the world, I met in Manchester with a man named Mukhtar Idahow. He was born in Somalia, raised in Kenya, and has been advocating for refugees in New Hampshire for about 15 years.

This story is part of our series Lifelines: Addressing Trauma in the Age of COVID-19

As Granite Staters isolate themselves, many individuals, businesses, and organizations are in need of assistance and searching for help during a tumultuous time. We discuss ways that you can help out during the coronavirus pandemic, whether that be by sewing face masks, volunteering, or making a donation. 

Air date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

With schools closed for the rest of the year, many major milestones for high schoolers are suddenly being canceled as well - everything from graduations, to proms, spring sports, and school plays.

Because of this, teens may be feeling overwhelming loss, disappointment, and uncertainty about the future, which can lead to more serious mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

NHPR's Peter Biello spoke with Kallie Provencher, the school social worker at Nashua High School North, to learn more about how teens are coping with the COVID-19 crisis.

Many once face-to-face interactions have moved online during COVID-19, including for people who are in recovery from a substance use disorder.

But the pandemic has also introduced challenges to providing treatment in a time of social distancing. 

Laura Byrne has been spending more time driving around the Upper Valley these days. 

She’s been meeting clients for a mobile syringe exchange.  With COVID-19, the organization Byrne leads - the HIV/HCV resource center - had to ramp up its mobile services. 

Small businesses are struggling right now...but people *are* trying to help. Are you a small business owner? Are you doing your best to support the businesses you love? We want to talk to you!

This program aired on Tuesday, April 14th. 

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While large sectors of the economy are shuttered at the moment, there are still plenty of products to ship, and goods to deliver to peoples’ homes.

Truckers, a loud but often invisible piece of the market, are in the middle of those transactions, logging thousands of miles back and forth across New England.

Health care workers in New Hampshire are at the center of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Patients rely on them, hospitals scramble to buy gear to protect them, and citizens laud them as heroes in this national crisis.

But what is it like be a health care worker right now? NHPR’s Jason Moon reports the experience of working on the front lines during this pandemic can be complicated.

For the past few weeks, Rabbi Mark Melamut has been practicing the traditional four questions that are asked during the first night of Passover with his 10-year-old son. 

Passover started on Wednesday this year, and in normal times, Melamut would invite friends and family to his home for a Seder, a big ceremonial meal.

Most of us have never experienced anything quite like this moment. But Sharon Eng and her husband, who today own a manufacturing company in Belmont, happened to find themselves in the middle of another disease outbreak, on the other side of the world, in 2003. 

“My husband and I moved to Hong Kong in 1989, and we returned to the States in 2005,” said Eng. “So we got to see a lot of changes happen around the world. But in the latter part of our stay there, of course one of the most impactful changes, was when SARS hit.”

Stay-at-home orders and quarantine measures may have life-threatening consequences for those experiencing domestic/intimate partner violence, and also present challenges for law enforcement and support organizations. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 866-644-3574.

Air date: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 10-11 a.m.

For children experiencing abuse or neglect, schools and support services are essential. With schools closed and stay-at-home orders in place until at least the beginning of May, we talk with those working with vulnerable children about how they're adapting to these challenges, and what we all can do to keep kids safe. 

If you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, please call 800-894-5533 or 603-271-6562.

Air date: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 9-10 a.m.

There’s a gem of a plot of land in Kensington, in the southeastern corner of the state, that is usually closed to the public.

But with the stress of the coronavirus taking a toll, the owners of the Alnoba property are opening their arms to the community.

Are there people in your family or community helping out in unique ways? We want to hear about that. Send us an email or give us a call during the show.

This aired on Tuesday, April 7th. 

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While first responders often face danger under normal circumstances, the COVID-19 pandemic has added another threat to that line of work. We discuss how New Hampshire's first responders are coping with the new demands that coronavirus has put on them and what safety measures are in place to protect them. 

Air date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Katie Rivera is scared. She’s 38 weeks pregnant, sitting in her car in a doctor’s office parking lot. She’s far enough along now that she’s supposed to see her doctor every week.

She used to like these appointments - they were calming. She’d bring her 2-year-old Elle, the nurses would give Elle stickers - it was nice. 

But now, Elle’s not allowed. Katie is waiting until the last possible second to go in there, to minimize any potential exposure.

With bars, restaurants and venues closed down indefinitely, it's harder than ever to be a working musician. But that doesn't mean New Hampshire artists aren't performing.

NHPR's Morning Edition Host Rick Ganley spoke with Campton musician Jim Tyrrell to ask what he's doing while he can't play on stage.

You can watch Jim Tyrrell and other local New Hampshire musicians play live shows here.

Some people find themselves right now with a lot of extra quiet time in the house. You could  stew. You could tweet. Or, how about you get some reading done? 

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With the temporary closing of stores, New Hampshire’s Main Streets, the places where young and old, commuters and locals, all mix together, are suddenly silent.

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With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe, everyone is being urged to isolate at home and distance themselves from one another. But what happens if you’re in recovery for substance use disorder and isolating yourself is detrimental to your health? We discuss how recovery centers are providing care remotely and how those in recovery are coping.

Air date: Thursday, March 26, 2020

As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout New Hampshire, communities are shutting down and people are isolated as they practice social distancing.

But in Tamworth, a group of nurses is working to keep their community connected through this pandemic.

NHPR's Morning Edition Host Rick Ganley spoke with Jo Anne Rainville, the executive director of the Tamworth Community Nurse Association, which provides free medical care and counseling to people in town.

(Editor's note: this transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.)