Local : City Beat Gilroy
City Beat
Celebrating Our City of Gilroy Team
L iving through a pandemic has made this year like no
other . Hopefully , by the time this article is published , life will be one step closer to normal . And as we move forward to a new normal , we want to take a moment to reflect on this year and to celebrate our City of Gilroy team .
By Rachelle Bedell Communications and Engagement Manager
Images provided by City of Gilroy : cityofgilroy . org
Over this last year , our team has continually stepped up to find solutions to challenges and circumstances that none of us had ever faced before . Our team showed up for our community on tough days , in situations that were unknown , and in new roles and responsibilities .
In the first few weeks of the pandemic , while many in our community were sheltering safely in their homes , we knew that our unhoused community was going to need additional support . Porta potties were secured , and City staff , dressed in personal protective equipment , began increased cleaning and sanitization of restrooms in public spaces .
Early on there was an increasing need for food . Our team organized and assisted with multiple food distribution events stretching out over weeks and months as we worked to help protect the vulnerable in our community .
As we headed into the holidays , COVID-19 cases began to rise at an alarmingly high pace . To help protect the health and safety of our community , we stepped up our efforts to educate the community on the need for social distancing , testing , and staying home over the holidays . These efforts included weekly emails , social media messages , information handed out at testing sites , door-to-door conversations , and banners raised in targeted areas of town .
City staff increased efforts to provide ample clean restroom facilities throughout the city .
When vaccines first began being distributed in our County , our team stepped up to help bring vaccines to Gilroy . Firefighters were trained as vaccinators , staff helped schedule appointments , and volunteers spent days providing support to the County at the mobile vaccine clinics .
We only have space in this article to highlight a few of the ways our team stepped up this year . But we celebrate each and every employee of the City who adjusted and adapted and provided services to the community in new ways . Thank you .
Thank you for serving the community of Gilroy with passion and integrity . Our community is a better place because of you .
Firefighters were provided vaccinations and manned mobil vaccine clinics along with volunteers and city staff .
42 SUMMER 2021 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com