The joyous laughter of children playing under the shining sun, the warmth of a friend’s smile and company, how long has it been since we last experienced these things? The carefree attitudes that many used to carry has now been replaced with constant fear and paranoia:“Is this clean? Is this safe to touch?” How frequently do these thoughts and worries occupy our minds? So many yearn for the past, for the ability to reunite with our loved ones, for a chance to see those that we have lost from the pandemic, and for safety of those we care for. This masked and gloved world is our unfortunate reality; the Coronavirus will not stop on its path of carnage unless we arm ourselves with caution and speak out on behalf of those at risk. Although the present may seem bleak and the future is unknown; there is still hope.
The first step in the fight against the pandemic is properly arming the valiant medical workers. According to wired.com, “Schechter-Perkins is one of several doctors and nurses who told WIRED they’re reusing N95 masks, which are thick, particle-filtering face coverings designed for single use.” With the situation continuously worsening, society’s youth has begun to create new non-profit organizations in effort to aid the fight against the Coronavirus. One such organization is Project Pulsera- a student founded charity- which creates and sells affordable, handmade bracelets and donates the proceeds to varying hospitals and healthcare foundations. Project Pulsera believes that ordinary people are capable of making extraordinary changes. The main purpose of the project is to help fund and support local hospitals and clinics by selling these bracelets to the public. In an interview conducted via FaceTime, the project member, Emily Zhang, explained that the foundation is making an effort to spread the message- “regardless of age, everybody can work towards a brighter future.”
With the intention of raising awareness for Covid-19, Project Pulsera has partnered with several different clubs, such as DB Interact and Key Club. The group has collectively made nearly 150 bracelets, and raised $451. Since it is a nonprofit project, the money is donated to different hospitals each round (which consists of a $250 donation). So far, proceeds have gone to UCI Medical Center and St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, CA. The project plans on donating the next round to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, in hopes of helping the health care workers battle this deadly virus.
Project Pulsera has hand-made a total of five designs that include “Chevron”, “Tied Together”, “Promise”, “XOXO”, and “Bolt”. The prices range from $5 to $7 plus additional fees. Project Pulsera founders say, “It is important to remember that the main goal is not to do this for the money. It’s to support the cause and our health care workers who are protecting us on the front lines.”
The world has become a place many of us never dreamed of. The harsh reality is that the lives we once lived might never be the same again. Even after the threat of Coronavirus has subsided, our lives will still be significantly different, but we should push towards working together to overcome this threat. It’s important for people to support projects like Project Pulsera, to help move the world towards becoming a better and healthier place.
