Artist Michelle Nahmad ’10 designed a poster “With a Little Help” to contribute to Apart: Posters from a Social Distance, started by Paradowski as a way of processing the COVID-19 pandemic. They invited other creatives to join them and opened up an online store with 100% of the proceeds from print purchases going directly to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The poster description reads, “Friendly faces across the screen (for team check-ins, happy hours, family gatherings, holidays, birthdays, bachelorette parties, workouts, game nights, movie nights, book clubs and more) are most welcome guests, getting us through these weird times.”

Samantha Unger Katz ’97 volunteers as Food Logistics Coordinator for the NYC COVID-19 Rapid Response Coalition, a community of healthcare executives, hospitals and service agencies that have come together to help provide clinical and social services to NYC's more vulnerable populations. Thanks to the support and incredible efforts of so many, Samantha and fellow volunteers officially set up one of the largest operations in the city, delivering food to the homebound and immobile due to COVID-19. They are able to provide meals to people who cannot get to a "grab & go site" and have not been able to get on the city's delivery system. The partners involved in the project are NYC COVID-19 Rapid Response, Public Health Solutions, Rethink Food NYC, RCano Events and Happi Foodi. 

Dr. David Arnold ’86 — A story about Dr. Arnold from Sandra Orlando: "When my father-in-law got diagnosed with acute leukemia in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, we were immediately panicked. To make matters worse, he was in Florida and we were1000 miles away in New York. My father was in rough shape with a very elevated white blood cell count and in need of a blood transfusion. Because of the ongoing virus, my mother-in-law could not accompany him into the hospital and had to leave him at the door of the emergency room. He was weak from the cancer and disoriented. We felt helpless and were concerned how my father-in-law would manage in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. Through a friend of a friend located in Miami, we were given Dr. Arnold’s contact information. Dr. Arnold having never met me, my father-in-law or anyone in my family not only took the phone call on a Sunday, he immediately called to the hospital where he was being treated and got all the latest information on his current condition and future treatment to share with us. When my father-in-law was relocated to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center where he would be undergoing his treatments, Dr Arnold came by and met with him personally. He assured him he was in good hands and was being well looked after. You can imagine how comforting this was to my 80-year-old father-in-law – he no longer felt alone. Dr Arnold’s compassion and kindness has meant the world to me and my family stuck on the sidelines in New York. My father-in-law is now undergoing his chemotherapy at Sylvester and despite us not being able to be there with him, we feel a huge sense of relief knowing that Dr. Arnold is there looking out for him and keeping his spirits high. We are forever grateful."
Dr. Matthew Cummock ’03 is working a minimum 12-hour hospital rotation in an ICU filled with COVID-19 patients. He is on lockdown at Rutgers Hospital system in New Jersey, which has hundreds of sick patients. Doctors don’t have enough protective gear and must reuse and resterilize their masks. 

Tara Mirmelli Aladeff ’93, P’23 is a therapist for Destination Hope, a substance abuse and mental health facility in Broward County. She works to keep patients safe while they receive the treatment they need.

David Baron ’98 of BASS Industries has pivoted his marquis signage company to create coronavirus protection panels for essential workers to assist in protecting the community.

Guido Antezana ’89, P’20 ’21 is on duty throughout this outbreak as a Sergeant of the Coral Gables Police Department. Guido and the members of the police force work tirelessly to help keep our communities safe as we navigate through COVID-19.

Dr. Luke Samson ’03, an anesthesiologist for South Miami Hospital, volunteered with Dream Defenders to assist with their outreach to the homeless community in Downtown Miami. Luke, along with a few dozen volunteers, took to the streets to pass out tents, food, drink, sanitary supplies, masks and clothing to individuals in need. He and fellow medical volunteers administered COVID-19 nasal swab tests on those in the vulnerable homeless community that wanted to be tested.

Dr. Divya Sridhar ’99, an interventional radiologist, is organizing a fundraiser to support first responders and emergency department workers in New York City with food and water packs. To date, they have delivered over 450 care packages. For more information or to support Divya’s efforts, visit here.

RE alumni on COVID-19