It seems like the world is changing at a breakneck pace, and it can be overwhelming to navigate the “new normal” that COVID-19 has ushered in. Dickinson Jewelers has been a part of this community for more than 60 years, so we are right there with you. We are all in this together, though, and in that spirit, we wanted to share some community resources and tips to support you in these difficult times.
Flattening the Curve
You have likely heard the phrase “flattening the curve” all over the news and social media. To put it simply, flattening the curve means using best practices to limit the spread of the virus so hospitals are not overwhelmed.
The Center for Disease Control recommends many things to help flatten the curve, including practicing proper handwashing technique. Not sure if your technique measures up? Check out this video from Johns Hopkins.
The CDC has also been emphasizing proper disinfecting procedures. At Dickinson Jewelers, this looks like frequent sanitation of cases, jewelry, doors, and other surfaces that are touched often. You definitely want to use appropriate disinfectants on things like doorknobs, shopping carts, faucets, and other high-use areas in your day-to-day life.
Finally, the number one way to flatten the curve is to stay home. COVID-19 is so dangerous because a person can be contagious before they show symptoms. Practicing social distancing by staying six feet away from others and by avoiding going to public places if unnecessary is a great way to keep yourself and others healthy.
Both of our stores are currently closed, but we welcome window shoppers online. We adore our customers and want them to stay healthy, so we were happy to comply with the governor’s shelter in place order. Your safety is the most important thing to us!
Supporting Calvert County
We know that Calvert County currently has 10 COVID-19 cases. With Maryland’s total number of cases nearer to 1,000 and the country’s cases growing daily, many lives will be impacted or disrupted by COVID-19. We are all in this together.
We count ourselves fortunate to be in Calvert County, a place with some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.
The CalvertHealth Foundation is currently raising money to help support our local hospital’s response to COVID-19. Gifts to this foundation will help make sure our doctors and nurses are able to most effectively treat the sickest in our county. To give, please visit this page.
The American Red Cross has sounded the alarm that blood donations nationwide are at critically low levels. As long as you take the appropriate precautions, like scheduling an individual appointment, donating blood is completely safe at this time. There are several blood drives scheduled in the county, and you can keep up with them by visiting the Southern Maryland Red Cross website.
We know this is an uncertain financial time for many in our community. Please know there are many food pantries available to the public, and if you have a school-aged child, check with their school to see what options are available for them.
For the most updated list of needs, check out the CalvertHealth website.
Staying Busy
As schools and businesses close, we find ourselves navigating a new world of homeschooling and WFH (that’s work from home). For many of us (ourselves included!), this has been a big adjustment. We wanted to share some tips to make this work for you as well as some educational resources for students.
One of the most helpful things you can do for both students and adults is to stick to a schedule. It’s tempting to sleep in, but schedules help our minds feel productive and ensure that we tackle all of the necessary tasks. Children in particular benefit from structure and knowing what to expect. When many things in the world are in flux, it’s important to control what you can.
Experts recommend making a designated space for school and work. Make sure this space is clean and free from distractions. Set limits for the people using it: what will you use technology for in this room? How long will you work? This allows you to separate work from more traditional home activities, like sleeping and relaxing. The mental space really does make a difference!
We know our teachers are working hard to completely revolutionize how students learn! There are tons of amazing resources out there to support parents as they become teachers, too. Some of our favorites are offering free subscriptions right now! Here are just a few:
BrainPop (and its sister site BrainPopJr) offer educational, interactive videos to students. How cute is this one about handwashing?
The publisher Follett has thousands of eBooks for free.
Journalist Steve Hartman is teaching Kindness 101 on Facebook Live daily.
And — just for fun — you can take a virtual tour of Disney World from the comfort of your own home.
We know that these are uncertain times. We are right there with you, and we hope these resources were helpful. If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to let us know. After all, we are in this together!